Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick Drivers Windows 10 Upd

The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 is a legendary piece of hardware. Built like a tank and famous for its optical sensors, it has outlived many of the flight sims it was designed for.

4. Game‑Specific Notes

| Game | Works out of box? | FFB works? | Fix | |------|----------------|------------|-----| | IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover | Yes | Yes | Native DirectInput | | DCS World | Yes | Yes | Set FFB = 1 in config | | Elite Dangerous | Partial (x360ce) | Yes | Use x360ce | | Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 | No | No | vJoy + Gremlin + Feeder | | Star Wars Squadrons | No | No | x360ce (FFB may be weak) | | Warthunder | Yes (force legacy input) | Limited | Use “Full real controls” + FFB slider | | X-Plane 11/12 | No | No | vJoy chain | The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 is a

Since the original Microsoft SideWinder software from 2000 does not run on modern 64-bit systems, the community has built several tools to "handshake" with the joystick: The game must use DirectInput , not XInput

Force Feedback works in test but not in game

• The game must use DirectInput, not XInput.
• If the game is XInput-only (many modern arcade games) → use x360ce.

Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaProperties\PrivateProperties\Joystick\OEM\VID_045E&PID_001B. The game must use DirectInput

Stick is detected but no axes move

• Open joy.cpl → Properties → Check raw input values.
• If all axes show 50% (center) and never change → You installed the wrong driver (probably the old GamePort version). Remove and use Vin64’s driver.

Recommendations

Because the FFB2 uses internal motors for centering, it requires its own power source.

The good news is that you don’t actually need a "driver" in the traditional sense. Windows 10 has built-in support. Plug the USB into a direct port (avoid unpowered hubs).