PowerA's modular flight controller aims to fill the Xbox sim gap
If you've ever tried flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator with a regular Xbox controller, you know the frustration. PowerA and startup Meridian GMT want to fix that. The two companies revealed Project X-Ray Flight Deck at FlightSimExpo 2026 on June 12 — a wireless, modular controller designed specifically for flight sims, officially licensed for Xbox and compatible with PC, Xbox Series X|S out of the box.
The controller
X-Ray starts from a standard Xbox controller base, keeping the Xbox button, left stick, and ABXY buttons — then strips out almost everything else. In their place: a throttle lever, flap controls, landing gear toggle, trim wheel, autopilot buttons, and lighting/radio switches. The right side features a swappable faceplate, using magnetic connectors, so you can reconfigure the layout for fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. Sensors use QuantumLeap TMR technology for precision tracking, and the battery is rated for 30 hours on a USB-C charge. It connects via Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth — no dongle needed for console play, per Windows Central.
Something big is in the works, and we can finally share the news!
— PowerA Gaming (@PowerA) June 12, 2026
We joined forces with @MeridianGMT to develop the Project X-Ray Flight Deck Wireless Controller.
Project X-Ray is in active development, but you can sign up for updates! We'll reach out the moment it lands. pic.twitter.com/mKjhnILeWI
The gap it targets
Right now, Xbox players serious about flight sims face a binary choice: use a standard gamepad and miss dozens of controls, or buy a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-And-Stick) setup from Thrustmaster, Logitech G, or Honeycomb for $300 or more — plus find desk space to mount it. The only officially licensed HOTAS for Xbox is the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One, which sits at the lower end of the market. X-Ray is pitched at the couch player who wants more than a gamepad but isn't ready to build a dedicated sim station, as noted by Windows News.
Meridian GMT was founded by Nicki Repenning, former CEO of Honeycomb Aeronautical, so the sim-hardware pedigree is real. PowerA's official Xbox licensing — a Tier 1 partnership — means the controller will work natively on console and Windows 10/11 without workarounds.
What's still unknown
X-Ray is still a prototype. No price, no release date, and no confirmed UK or US retail availability have been announced. A sign-up page is live on the PowerA/Meridian site for anyone who wants to be notified. Given that the product was shown at a niche expo and is still in active development, expect at least several months before it ships.