Driver for Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2

Question

Driver for Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2

Anonymous

Hi Team,

I would like to ask for your help finding the driver for my Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2. I know it is an old piece, but it was always reliable and have a nostalgic love for it. I know there was support for win10. Unfortunately lost the CD and couldn't find the driver online.

Windows detect it and actually works in games too, but without the force feedback. I believe the forcefeedback function required the driver. I am running latest patch Win10 (64bit).

Could you please help me get the driver or how I could make the force feedback work again?

With thanks,
Peter

****Moved from Xbox*****

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3 answers

Answer 1

Same question here: I got back my old (but like NEW) SWFF2 and it perfectly work except force feedback (that was a great feature for this HOTAS).

I'd love too to use it with Squadron 42 (in "short"), Star Wars and MS Flight Sim.

Any ideas out there?

It would be great if Microsoft might get back to support this joystick (a simple recompile in 64bits? or an update to standard system game drivers), that would still represent one of the best in the market, even 20 years later...

Microsoft - my humble opinion - would might turn this to a significant marketing campaign in suporting top level retro devices, a device that MS designed so many years ago and that is still top of the line!

Thanks

Answer 2

Hello Tommy,

Thank you for your quick reply.

I am using my SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2 with Star Citizen. Works great, but without force feedback. Tried also with Star Wars Squadrons. Same situation. The driver included with win10 can only calibrate the joystick, but doesn't have the option for changes such us level of resistance or force feedback.
Tried a few 3rd party software and one called 'simFFB' worked best as it let me amend the resistance levels, but still no FFB. (also not perfect as sometimes drops the setting back to default)

I have also tried re-plugging it multiple times as I thought my usb hub had something to do with it. Tried direct usb 3.0, 2.0 but always the same result.

Regarding the forum link, my situation is better as I do have some resistance and centering. I was hoping with the official driver I will adjust the settings and have ffb.

Do I understand it correctly that the driver was never updated for x64 systems? That would be really sad.

In case you have any ideas what else I should try (even 3rd party), please let me know.

Thank for your time!

Regards,
Peter

Answer 3

Hello Dfg93210.

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Regarding to your information I assume that you want the driver for Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2.

This device is too old and it's not supported now. We find a post about this device that using on Windows 11 and Windows 10 from the

Flight Simulator BBS where some professional flight simulation gamers gather.

According to the post in Flight Simulator, it seems that this device doesn't need to install the driver as before.

Is "Force Feedback" gone in Windows 11? Any Sidewinder FF2 users here? - General Discussion & Community Support / Tech Talk - Microsoft Flight Simulator Forums

Which game do you play now with this device?

It may be some compatibility issues, and in this post, some people just disconnect and connect several times and it works maybe you can try it.

Best Regards,

Tommy-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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Driver for Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick 2

3 answers