A Controller for the Fields
You may think that the farming genre of gaming is a bit niche. But whilst that may be true, it’s also a bit big. In fact, it’s massive, breaking out of the confines of PC a good few years ago to sow and seed on console. We may not be the biggest fans of the genre, but we fully understand the draw that it has, especially across the Farming Simulator games.
It’s that genre with which Thrustmaster are muscling in on, after plying their trade across racers with a variety of steering wheels, and flight sims with the T.Flight Full Kit X and TCA Sidestick X Airbus Edition. They got their wellies dirty with the release of the FarmStick on PC a year or so ago, and are now hoping to tempt in Xbox players with the Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X.
If you’re a fan of farm life, but need something to help you plow your way to glory in an all-encompassing way, this is a controller that could well feel a bit of a necessity.
Design and Features of the FarmStick X
It comes as no surprise to see that the FarmStick X looks very much like a flight stick. It feels like one in hand too, and so you’ll want to come to this in the knowledge that it is about as far removed from a standard Xbox controller as you are likely to get.
But what is included is a ton, and I mean a TON, of buttonry, features, gadgets and more. We’d go as far to say that initial use is a little overwhelming, due to the sheer number of buttons that are present. We counted them so you don’t have to – 33, if you include the little switch which allows this to be used on Xbox or over on PC. Of course, you’ve also got the stick too.
That’s a lot to get to grips with, but if you’ve played anything like Farming Simulator 25 or the plethora of other games that see you heading to the fields and getting dirty, you’ll understand that many of those are required.
Of course, an Xbox Nexus button is front and centre of the kit, flanked by both a Menu and View, accompanying the now-standard Share button. Face buttons are also in place, diamond in design and hugely oversized. They sit just to the right of the ‘stick’ part of the FarmStick X, along the base, well within reach of any required press. Across on the other side are four direction pads, with B01 through to B04 also present.
A small throttle sits on the left of the base, bright orange in style, ensuring that you can power your way through fields like there is no tomorrow.
And then we move onto the stick itself. It’s here where a ton of extra buttons suitable for the joys of farming life are found, with camera controls, both ‘Driving’ and ‘Working’ options and a ton more sitting pretty right underneath your thumb, with two further buttons hiding under your trigger finger. Whether it be a switch, a dial, or a knob, each and every press of the equipment on the FarmStick X feels solid and well defined, with the ergonomics of the stick itself of the very highest standard.
Feel and Feedback: Ergonomics and Button Quality of the FarmStick X
Whilst the buttons on the base of the FarmStick X are solid in design, those integrated onto the stick itself are soft-touch, and feel great. We just wish the thumb-utilised mini-stick that is atop the main stick was coated similarly. It’s fine and all, slightly concave, but there is some slip to it. In the heat of a farming day, that’s not totally ideal.
That stick twists and spins with aplomb too, running three directional axes that in turn include two that are complete with H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) magnetic sensors. We’ve used those on the Thrustmaster HEART Controller in recent months, and would expect everything included here to last well into the long term.
Setting Up Your Farm
It’s all pretty easy to connect up too, although if you’re going big with what Thrustmaster provide then expect to be treated to a plethora of cables.
In the box, the FarmStick X comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable to hand, ensuring it is pretty much plug and play out of the box. But then, include other peripherals, and you’ll also want to make the most of the Din9 and TFRP ports. Thankfully it’s all hidden away at the back of the controller, but much like any piece of dedicated kit, you will need to ensure you have space for a compatible set-up.
Xbox and PC: Platform Limitations and Expansive Setups
Downsides? Well, the SimTask FarmStick X on Xbox seems to only be compatible with an Xbox Series X|S console, and – currently at least – for play with Farming Simulator 25; we’ve tried it with Farming Sim 22 through Game Pass, but to no avail. And if you want to run it over to PC, the options open up considerably, but perhaps that is something which is par for the course in the gaming sphere; you know, us console folk being behind the times.
We would also personally prefer suction pads on the bottom of the stick as while the eight included rubber pads are fine, a bit more stability when farming would be much more preferable.
Further to that, to make full use of what Thrustmaster are offering up, you’ll need a wheel too – the T128 Wheel or T248 Wheel for instance – with an additional SimTask Steering Kit then attached to create more of a farming feel. Consider that if you have a wheel, you probably also have some pedals, and maybe the TH8S Shifter, as well, then things start to spiral.
That’s a big old outlay and does mean that the FarmStick and SimTask kits that are in place will only really be suitable for those veterans of the farming genre. Of course, if that’s you, then splashing a good couple of hundred quid on some new kit may well feel worthwhile.
The SimTask Steering Kit: A Deep Dive into Immersive Farming
A little word on that SimTask Steering Kit, and don’t expect this to be something you’ll set up every time you want to play. For us, it’s a complex piece of equipment, full of multiple pieces of metal and screws that would be best setting up for long term use. If you’ve got the space, and can commit to a full long-term run, it very much does what it says on the tin, switching up your usual racing wheels for a flatter, more heavy cargo driving experience. It works by clamping into place on a desk system, with Thrustmaster stating it can handle anything between 15-50mm in depth.
Compatible with both the T128 and T248 wheels, our very favourite bit of the SimTask Steering Kit is a little spinning knob that attaches to the wheel, aiding the immersion ever more; you’ll know exactly why that is useful if you have any interest in the long-haul or heavy-driving worlds. There’s plenty of adjustment included in that kit too, so setting it up for your own desires should be well within reach.
A Well-Crafted Controller for Dedicated Farmers
Price and costs aside though, we can’t help but feel that Thrustmaster have, once again, absolutely nailed what is required of a niche gaming controller; one set-up with a primary goal and use in mind. The Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X Controller really is a well crafted, well created, well designed controller that feels great in hand, more than capable of taking your farming experiences to the next level.
Consider yourself at one with the farm, and Thrustmaster’s SimTask FarmStick X Controller for Xbox and PC is about as good a piece of kit as you are likely to find.
Buy For Yourself
Huge thanks go out to Thrustmaster for providing the SimTask FarmStick X controller, as well as the SimTask Kit for review purposes.
Hit them up direct to grab a unit for yourself. The Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X Controller will cost you around £99.99, whilst the SimTask Steering Kit is another £69.99. But of course, you’ll need a wheel too!
