Flight Stick · Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
VKB Gunfighter IV MCE Pro
MSFS Performance Score
- Sensors30% 40
- Throttle & Rudder25% 58
- Build Quality15% 90
- Platforms15% 50
- Adjustability15% 73
Biggest contributor: throttle and rudder (25% of the score), rated 58/100. How we score
Verdict for MSFS
The VKB Gunfighter IV Modern Combat Edition (MCE) Pro Joystick scores 75.0/100 for MSFS, with full metal construction and 6 axes delivering precise control through dense photogrammetry approaches. Built for sim pilots who want a durable, modular stick at the budget tier, though the lack of force feedback limits immersion in turbulent live-weather legs.
Updated March 2026
Pros & Cons for MSFS
Strengths
- Full metal construction handles aggressive rudder and aileron inputs without any chassis flex during turbulent VFR legs — at this price tier, most alternatives still rely on plastic gimbals and housings, making this a standout for longevity.
- 6 axes and 30 buttons map cleanly to MSFS's control binding system, giving you dedicated inputs for pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, and trim without running short during complex IFR approaches into dense AI-traffic airports.
- Modular design means you can swap cam and spring configurations to tune center resistance for everything from light GA stick forces to heavier airliner-style inputs — a level of adjustability rarely available at the budget tier.
Trade-offs
- No force feedback means you lose tactile stall warnings and buffet cues during slow-speed final approaches in MSFS's live-weather environments — you're reading instruments and visuals where a FF-equipped stick would put that data in your hand.
- Compared to mid-range options, there's no integrated throttle axis on the stick itself, so VFR cross-country legs requiring frequent power adjustments demand a separate throttle quadrant to avoid constant hat-switch workarounds.
Full Specifications
- Connection
- USB
- Force feedback
- No
- Axes
- 6
- Buttons
- 30
- Works with
- PC
- Released
- 2022
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good Flight Stick for MSFS?
75.0/100 for MSFS reflects a stick that handles the control-binding depth and hardware demands of the sim without compromise on build quality. It excels during VR city flyovers and photogrammetry zones where precise, repeatable axis inputs keep your heading and altitude locked without fighting a loose gimbal. Where it shows limits is in extended online multiplayer sessions where force feedback cues from wake turbulence or crosswind gusts would add a layer of situational awareness that this stick simply cannot provide.
Is it worth the price for MSFS?
At the budget tier, the combination of full metal construction, a modular cam system, and 30 programmable buttons is genuinely uncommon — most options in this bracket ship with plastic housings and fixed spring weights. The 6-axis input and swappable internals mean this stick can grow with your sim setup rather than becoming a bottleneck when you upgrade your sim rig.
What should I look for in a Flight Stick for MSFS?
Axis count and button layout determine whether you can manage flaps, trim, view control, and ATC inputs without leaving your primary flight controls during a busy ILS approach into a photogrammetry city — MSFS rewards sticks that keep your hands on the hardware. Build quality matters because MSFS sessions run long, and a gimbal that develops slop after months of VFR cross-country legs will introduce center-point drift that shows up as unwanted roll on autopilot handoff. The VKB Gunfighter IV MCE Pro scores 90/100 on both axes and buttons and build quality, which drives its 75.0/100 composite — the hardware spec is strong, with the score reflecting the absence of force feedback and integrated throttle axis rather than any weakness in construction or input resolution.
Is the VKB Gunfighter IV MCE Pro compatible with MSFS?
The VKB Gunfighter IV MCE Pro connects via USB direct and is recognized by MSFS without additional driver installation, appearing in the control settings detection screen as a standard HID joystick. You will need to manually bind pitch, roll, rudder twist, and any auxiliary axes in MSFS's control options, as MSFS does not ship with a pre-built default profile for this stick — allocate time to map your hat switches for view control and set your button assignments for ATC, autopilot, and flap increments before your first flight.
How should I configure this in MSFS?
Set your pitch and roll sensitivity curves to a slightly negative response curve (around -20 to -25%) in MSFS's control sensitivity panel to soften the self-centering spring feel during fine corrections on long final approaches, and apply a 3–5% dead zone on all primary axes to eliminate any residual gimbal noise at center. For the rudder axis, increase the dead zone slightly to 5–7% and keep the sensitivity linear — the MCE Pro's rudder input is precise enough that aggressive curves will make crosswind corrections feel twitchy on short-field landings.