Thrustmaster’s newest flight stick for PlayStation 5—the T.Flight HOTAS 5 Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition—ships with a feature that most buyers overlook: an RJ12 expansion port that opens the door to dedicated rudder pedals. The port, confirmed by Thrustmaster and highlighted in a recent Simulation Daily review, lets PS5 pilots move beyond the stick’s built-in twist rudder to a separate pedal set, a capability that has been conspicuously absent from the console’s flight-sim hardware ecosystem.

This matters because Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrived on PS5 in December 2025 with a glaring gap in accessories. While PC and Xbox users enjoy a crowded market of flight peripherals, PlayStation owners had almost no way to add rudder pedals. Now they do—if they pick the right stick.

The Port That Changes the Game

The T.Flight HOTAS 5 includes an RJ12-style connector on the back of the joystick base. It isn’t a generic USB port; it’s designed exclusively for Thrustmaster’s TFRP rudder pedals. Plug those pedals in, and the stick sends their inputs directly to the console—no extra software, no dongles, no driver headaches.

Thrustmaster’s own product documentation confirms the compatibility, and Simulation Daily’s review called it the stick’s “secret weapon.” The pedals give you independent control over yaw and wheel braking, separate from the hand that’s already managing pitch and roll. That separation becomes critical during crosswind landings, precise taxiing, helicopter hovering, and any aircraft where subtle rudder inputs matter.

The stick still has a twist-rudder axis, so pedals aren’t mandatory. But once you try a physical pedal set, the difference is immediate. “You don’t realize how much you’re asking your wrist to multitask until you take yaw away from it,” as one reviewer put it.

But there’s a catch. The RJ12 port is proprietary in practice. You can’t attach generic USB flight pedals or random telephone-style accessories. This is a Thrustmaster-to-Thrustmaster connection, so buyers must treat it as a closed ecosystem—at least until the market evolves.

What It Means for You

If you fly on PS5

The HOTAS 5 is currently the most straightforward path to rudder pedals on PlayStation. Before its arrival, the only option was the aging T.Flight HOTAS 4, which also had the port but is harder to find and lacks the Microsoft Flight Simulator branding. Now you can buy a current-generation stick and add pedals when your budget—and sim ambitions—grow.

This is especially important because Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 launched with limited peripheral support. Sony’s official FAQ lists the HOTAS 5 as a compatible device, and Thrustmaster is the only manufacturer with a confirmed pedal solution through that RJ12 link. Other flight sticks, like Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Flightstick (Xbox/PC only), simply don’t work on PS5.

For simmers who also use PlayStation VR2, the pedal path is a natural next step. VR makes the cockpit feel real; pedals make the ground handling feel real.

If you fly on Xbox or PC

The news is less revolutionary but still worth noting. The Xbox version of Thrustmaster’s stick—the T.Flight Hotas One—has the same RJ12 port. On PC, you can use almost any USB pedals, so this specific port isn’t a selling point. Still, if you already own a Thrustmaster stick and want to keep cabling simple, the TFRP pedals will work without occupying another USB slot.

If you’re just getting started

The HOTAS 5’s twist rudder is a perfectly decent entry point. Don’t rush to buy pedals on day one. But when you feel ready to move from arcade-style flying to more serious simulation, the upgrade path is there. That’s more than can be said for most PS5 flight sticks.

How We Got Here

The story of console flight-sim hardware has always been one of compromise. Microsoft Flight Simulator remained a PC exclusive for decades, and when the 2020 reboot came to Xbox Series X|S in 2021, it brought with it a wave of console-compatible yokes and sticks. But PlayStation was left out entirely.

That changed in December 2025, when Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on PS5—a surprise move that suddenly created a new market for console flight hardware. The problem: the accessory ecosystem wasn’t ready. Sony’s platform had long relied on the ancient T.Flight HOTAS 4, originally designed for PS4 and games like Ace Combat. It worked, but it was dated, and few alternatives existed.

Thrustmaster’s answer was the T.Flight HOTAS 5, essentially a rebadged version of the Xbox/PC HOTAS One with PlayStation licensing. Crucially, it kept the same RJ12 pedal port that had been on the HOTAS 4. But with a new simulator now on the platform, that port stopped being a technical footnote and became a genuine differentiator.

Today, the HOTAS 5 sits at the center of a small but growing PS5 flight-sim hardware scene. It’s listed on Thrustmaster’s site at an entry-level price (around $80, though pricing varies), and it’s the only officially branded Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 stick for PlayStation. That gives it visibility that the older HOTAS 4 never had.

What to Do Now

If you’re buying: Buy the stick first. The T.Flight HOTAS 5 is sold standalone, and the TFRP pedals are a separate purchase (typically $90–$100, though check current retail prices). You don’t need pedals to enjoy the sim—the stick’s twist axis handles rudder duties out of the box.

If you’re upgrading: Verify you have the right pedals. The product name is “Thrustmaster TFRP Rudder Pedals.” They use the RJ12 connector and are explicitly listed as compatible with the HOTAS 5 on Thrustmaster’s website. Do not try to force-fit other pedals—the port won’t accept them, and adapters are unlikely to work.

Setup steps:
1. Connect the pedals to the RJ12 port on the HOTAS 5 base before powering on the PS5.
2. The console will recognize the combined device automatically.
3. Inside Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, go to controls and confirm the rudder axis and toe brakes are mapped to the pedal axes. They usually are by default, but double-check.
4. Calibrate in the sim’s sensitivity settings to avoid over-sensitive yaw.

If you’re on a tight budget: Stick with the twist rudder. It works fine for most aircraft, and you can always enable auto-rudder assists in the sim’s difficulty options. Save the pedal upgrade for when you really want to nail carrier landings or helicopter ops.

Alternative paths: On PC, skip the RJ12 port and buy any USB pedals—Logitech, CH Products, Virpil, etc. On Xbox, Turtle Beach offers the VelocityOne Rudder Pedals that connect via USB to the console, but they require a Turtle Beach yoke or stick. On PS5, no such alternative exists yet, making the HOTAS 5 + TFRP combo the only game in town.

Outlook

The arrival of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 is a watershed moment that could finally attract more hardware makers to the platform. If the sim sells well—and early indications suggest it has—expect to see more flight sticks, yokes, and possibly dedicated pedals with native PS5 compatibility.

For now, Thrustmaster’s little RJ12 port is a clever bridge between an affordable entry-level stick and a more advanced setup. It’s not flashy. It’s not new. But for PlayStation pilots who want to fly like the PC crowd, it’s the best option available.