The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 joystick is a legacy USB device (circa early 2000s). It does not have official Windows 10 drivers from Microsoft, but it can function correctly using the native Windows 10 HID (Human Interface Device) and USB game controller drivers — no additional driver download is required. Force feedback works in compatible games, but installation requires a manual workaround for the “Unknown Device” issue.
The driver above gives basic FFB only in older DirectInput games.
Modern games (using XInput or newer FFB APIs) may not see the stick at all. The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 joystick is
| Game | Native FFB | Via Wrapper | Notes | |------|------------|-------------|-------| | DCS World | No | Yes | Perfect with wrapper | | IL-2 Great Battles | No | Yes | Full FFB effects | | X-Plane 12 | No | Yes | Needs plugin + wrapper | | Elite Dangerous | No | Yes | Works well | | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024 | No | Partial | Some effects, not all | | Euro Truck Simulator 2 | No | Yes | Good centering spring | The driver above gives basic FFB only in
Games using XInput only (e.g., newer arcade games) will not support FFB from SideWinder. Games using XInput only (e
If you are running older games on Windows 10, they may not "see" the FFB. This is because Windows 10 uses a newer FFB API, and the old game is looking for legacy drivers.
The Solution: Sidewinder Fixer There is a community-made tool called "Sidewinder Fixer" (created by a user named Wojtek).
After every Windows 10 feature update, simply re-run Install.cmd as admin—it re-applies the correct driver.