The short answer
Identify the exact model and PC compatibility first. Thrustmaster says AC8 requires NEO mode on T.Flight HOTAS NEO/NEO X, with the appropriate PC driver. Test axes and buttons in the manufacturer’s utility: failures there need device checks; inputs working there but not in AC8 need AC8 mapping and input-path checks.
Different symptom or still not fixed? Find the next check →Key facts
- Record first
- Exact model, PS/Xbox/PC edition, connection and missing axes/buttons
- NEO-specific requirement
- AC8 needs NEO mode; PC needs the matching driver. Do not apply this to every HOTAS.
- Detection is not full support
- A Windows device name does not prove that every axis works in AC8.
Find your symptom
Start with your symptom. Skip steps that do not apply to your setup.
| What you see | What to check | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| Device absent or manufacturer input test fails | Check connection and model-specific driver first | Step 3 |
| Some NEO axes or buttons are missing | Check PC driver and NEO/Legacy mode | Step 2 |
| Input tests pass but AC8 does not respond | Check AC8 compatibility and native mapping | Step 4 |
| Stick works but pedals do not | Compare pedal model, connection and axis separately | Step 5 |
Fixes, in order
Continue this issue
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Step 1｜Match the exact model to the platform list
Product editions within one series can support different platforms.
Time: About 3 minutes · Risk: low
- Close the game and record the label/model and PS, Xbox or PC edition. Check the STEAM column of the publisher’s tested-controller list. Similar product names are not interchangeable.
- For an unlisted device, check the manufacturer’s AC8 support too. Absence from the list alone does not prove failure or impossibility; confirm support before buying replacements or installing a mapper.
Step 2｜For NEO/NEO X, check the PC driver and NEO mode
This requirement applies specifically to the T.Flight HOTAS NEO family.
Time: About 5 minutes; installation extra · Risk: low
- Open the manufacturer’s NEO/Legacy article and your model’s support page. On PC, the matching driver enables NEO mode: the article identifies a green LED for NEO and a red LED for driver-free Legacy. Do not confuse PC indicators with PS5 indicators.
- If a driver is needed, follow the matching official installation instructions, including when to connect USB, then restart. Avoid generic driver updaters. If already installed, continue with an input test rather than assuming it works.
On October 16, 2026 the NEO product page said no firmware update was required. Flashing firmware is not the first check.
Step 3｜Test axes and buttons outside the game
Confirm the connection before adding game-setting changes.
Time: About 5 minutes · Risk: low
- Follow the manual to connect to the PC’s USB port; compare another port if necessary. In the manufacturer’s control panel/input test, move each stick, throttle and pedal axis and test the buttons individually. Record what responds.
- If the device is absent or an axis fails, recheck wiring, operating mode and the matching driver, then contact the manufacturer. If all work, continue. Do not reuse another product’s axis modes or drivers.
Step 4｜Compare AC8-specific mapping after input tests pass
The NEO product page links an AC8 native-mapping diagram.
Time: About 5–10 minutes · Risk: low
- Record current assignments and compare the manufacturer’s AC8 mapping for your exact model with your screen. Use the same practice scene and input, following the game’s displayed controls. Do not copy AC7 Input.ini entries or device IDs.
- Only if you already use an external mapper, close the game and mapper normally and compare with one physical setup. Improvement suggests overlapping input paths; otherwise restore the recorded setup. Neither enabling Steam Input universally nor installing a new mapper is a required fix.
Step 5｜Separate pedal-only failures from game-only failures
A PS5 player report is not a confirmed PC bug.
Time: About 5 minutes · Risk: low
- For pedals alone, record their model, connection point, axis movement in the input test and the separate AC8 result. Consult the manual for that combination before changing connections or modes.
- Contact the manufacturer if its test fails; contact game support if inputs work outside AC8. Include model, OS, driver, mode and working/failing inputs. Use the related guides for ST-3100001 or the game closing.
The linked TFRP post concerns PS5; neither a solution nor reproduction on PC is established there.
Avoid
- Do not copy AC7 configuration files or unverified device IDs into AC8.
- Do not begin with bulk driver removal, security changes or a new external mapper.
Important cautions
- Sources checked October 16, 2026. No hands-on device test or guarantee for all HOTAS/pedal combinations is claimed.
- Keep the publisher’s tested list, model-specific manufacturer guidance and player experiences distinct. Comment counts do not measure failure rates or compatibility.
FAQ
Does NEO mode guarantee every pedal works in AC8?
No. Device mode, pedal connection and in-game mapping are separate checks. Compare manufacturer compatibility, the input test and the AC8 result.
Can I reuse a stick setup that worked in AC7?
AC7 operation does not confirm AC8 support. Check AC8-specific guidance; do not assume its configuration paths or Input.ini format are identical.
Sources
We checked these official pages and wrote the steps in our own words. Follow the publisher’s page if it has changed.
Game publisher: tested controllers by platform (Japanese)Thrustmaster: NEO/Legacy modes and AC8 compatibility, October 3, 2026Thrustmaster: NEO PC driver, input tests and AC8 native mappingPlayer report: TFRP pedals not working on PS5; not official guidanceACE COMBAT 8 (Japanese)Japanese version of this page