HOTAS & Joysticks

Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS: What's Actually in the Box

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The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is one of the most documented HOTAS systems on the market, and its current specification is worth reading closely before you buy, because two details — the PC-only connection and the dual independent throttle levers — decide who it actually suits.

What comes in the box

Per Thrustmaster's own listing for the HOTAS Warthog MKII, the package includes the HOTAS Warthog base, a dual-throttle unit, a Viper HOTAS add-on grip, and a desktop mounting plate. Everything connects to a PC through a single detachable USB-C cable — there is no wireless option and, as of the current spec sheet, no console connection at all.

Built for repeated, heavy use

The grip uses a metal structure, and the base pairs metal construction with anti-stiction ball bearings — details aimed at simmers who fly often enough that a plastic base would wear or flex over time. The grip carries 19 action buttons and an 8-way hat switch, and the system as a whole supports up to 128 buttons and 8 axes once you count the base and throttle together. Thrustmaster's H.E.A.R.T. Hall-effect sensors run at 16-bit resolution, which is a meaningfully finer input resolution than the potentiometer-based sensors in many lower-priced sticks.

The dual-throttle design is the real differentiator

The throttle unit runs two independent levers with a locking system, built specifically for twin-engine aircraft where each engine needs its own throttle input. If you mostly fly single-engine aircraft, this feature does less for you, and a single-lever HOTAS may serve you just as well for less money.

Weight and desk footprint

The full base-and-throttle system weighs roughly 6.6 kg and measures about 320mm wide by 260mm deep by 440mm tall assembled, per Thrustmaster's own dimensions for the current MKII version. That's heavier and deeper than most single-stick HOTAS units, mostly because of the metal base and the dual-throttle unit's extra footprint. Before you buy, measure your desk: the base and throttle sit side by side, so you need enough flat width for both plus the desktop mounting plate that holds everything in place, and enough depth that the throttle's forward travel doesn't run off the edge.

Setting up your profiles

The included T.A.R.G.E.T. software is where you map the Warthog's buttons and axes to whatever you're flying — it ships with preset profiles for well-known titles, per Thrustmaster, so you're not always starting from a blank mapping. Because the system supports up to 128 buttons and 8 axes across the base and throttle, a first-time setup benefits from deciding on a small set of core functions (gear, flaps, trim, weapons or system toggles depending on what you fly) before you start assigning buttons, rather than mapping everything you can reach and sorting it out later.

How it stacks up against a lighter HOTAS

Compared with a plastic-built single-lever HOTAS, the Warthog's advantages are all about longevity and twin-engine control, not day-one ease of use. A lighter stick is quicker to set up on a small desk and cheaper if you're not sure flight simming is a long-term hobby. The Warthog earns its size and weight back if you fly often enough that a lighter base would eventually flex, or if you specifically fly twin-engine aircraft where independent throttle control is a real, felt difference in the cockpit — not just a spec-sheet number. If you're not sure yet which category you're in, it's worth starting with a lighter, cheaper HOTAS and upgrading once you know you'll use the extra capability.

The one thing to check before buying

Thrustmaster's current spec sheet lists the HOTAS Warthog as PC-only. If Xbox compatibility matters to you, this is not your HOTAS — look instead at hardware explicitly built and licensed as "Designed for Xbox," such as Thrustmaster's own T.Flight HOTAS One Xbox edition. The Warthog line is officially licensed by the U.S. Air Force, but that licensing is about the aircraft likeness, not a stated guarantee of compatibility with any specific simulator title.

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII

Availability and what to check before you order

Higher-end HOTAS systems like this one see periodic stock gaps, since they're a smaller-volume product than mainstream single-stick options. If a listing is out of stock or back-ordered, check the seller directly rather than assuming a substitute product is equivalent — a "similar" HOTAS at a different price point may not carry the same metal-base construction, dual-throttle design or Hall-effect sensors that make this one worth its footprint on your desk.

Who this is for

Built for PC-only simmers who fly often enough to want metal construction and independent dual-throttle control, especially if twin-engine aircraft are part of your regular flying. It's a poor fit for someone who only flies occasionally, only flies single-engine aircraft, or needs the stick to work on a console — in any of those cases, a lighter and cheaper HOTAS covers the same ground for less money and less desk space. If you need console compatibility specifically, check the HOTAS overview above for models that are actually licensed for Xbox.

Should you buy the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick & Throttle Set?

Verdict: Best for someone who wants a metal-built, U.S. Air Force-licensed HOTAS and flies on PC only. Skip it if you need Xbox compatibility — the current Warthog line connects to PC only, not console.

Who it suits: simmers who matched their platform and use-case against the specs above and want this exact model, not a lighter or heavier alternative.

Trade-off: this is one specific model in a wider lineup — check the "Related" links on this page if your platform or budget doesn't line up with what's described above.

Check the current price on Amazon: Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick & Throttle Set