Personally, I don’t care if Winwing took inspiration from their competitor, VKB. VKB didn’t invent the mechanism, and accordingly, they don’t have a patent on it.

The joysticks were each delivered in a box, where the devices were embedded in perfectly fitting foam. In addition to a USB-A to USB-C cable, an Allen key and screws for optionally locking the axes are included. No manual, no screws for a mount. Getting them to work under Linux was a complete failure. In hindsight, I suspect the problem was with Steam Input. But since I was frustrated and Linux had been causing other headaches those days, I quickly reinstalled Windows 11. I then installed their SimApp Pro software from the manufacturer’s website. Why “Pro” is beyond me; there’s no other version. The software isn’t necessary for operating the joysticks, at least if you don’t want to use the vibration function, which doesn’t work with Elite: Dangerous anyway. Otherwise, you can use the software to calibrate the axes and adjust the lighting. More is possible with other games, but I haven’t tested that.

Both sticks were now ready for action in front of me. Almost. I still had to peel the protective films off the anti-slip pads. Initially rock-solid, their effectiveness diminishes over time. Faster than expected, but not unexpectedly. They still stand quite stably on the desk. This is surely also due to the wide base. Not as sprawling as the Saitek Cyborg V1, but wider than the VKB Gladiator NXT. In return, the VKB sticks come with more metal and thus a higher weight. Since I don’t have a VKB stick, I can’t say which is better. We’ll get to ergonomics later, let’s stick with the build quality. The plastic used is high-quality. Smooth yet grippy, and it hardly makes you sweat. Gaps are barely present and there are no sharp edges anywhere. The (many) buttons are sturdy and have a crisp actuation point. And most importantly: The axes are absolutely awesome. A slight resistance, then very smooth. Also on the return to the starting position. Only one of the four-way switches is slightly rotatable, which occasionally triggers my inner perfectionist. But otherwise: Top-notch build quality. I also like the design, which is a mix of science fiction and the Soviet Union.

But how does it feel to play with these two joysticks? Fantastic. I actually wanted to unhook the spring on the X-axis of the left space joystick and use that axis as a throttle. This isn’t supported by the manufacturer, but I did it anyway. Spring out and damper tightened. However, the damper isn’t designed for that, and so the stick simply fell forward or backward without the spring. Using the stick as a throttle was off the table. I still tested it for a few days and realized it wasn’t a good idea anyway. It’s much more practical to use this axis for small flight maneuvers and the slider for throttle control. I also have the 75% limit readily available via a button. What I still find difficult is remembering which game function I’ve assigned to which of the many buttons. The only unergonomic thing is the height of the sticks. Standing on the desk, I have to constantly lift my arms. A drawback that, as far as I can see, all joysticks have. Thanks to my 3D printer, however, this problem will soon be history once the desk mounts are finished.

I am extremely satisfied with the two joysticks from Winwing. The immersion, but also the precision of control in the game, has increased massively. The build quality is very high and the look is militaristic-modern. Only the software offers little added value, at least for Elite: Dangerous. But it’s not necessary either. At €200 for both joysticks, they are unique in their price range and good competition for the twice as expensive products from VKB.