Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR FAQ

What is the Arcade2TV-XR?

Arcade2TV-XR, also called Tankstick VR in some support articles, is an X-Arcade controller made for VR, PC, Steam Deck, and selected console-adapter setups. It can be used wirelessly with the X-Arcade wireless dongle or wired through the USB-B port, depending on the platform and game.

For VR use, the wireless dongle is normally the preferred connection because it gives the headset a direct controller input path.

Useful links:

What is the difference between USB-C and USB-B on the Arcade2TV-XR?

The ports do different jobs:

For wireless VR use, disconnect USB-B and power the controller only from USB-C wall power. If USB-B is connected, the controller may stay in wired mode and the wireless dongle may not receive button input correctly.

How do I pair or re-pair the wireless dongle?

Before pairing either dongle version:

  1. Make sure the Meta Quest headset is powered on.
  2. Power the Arcade2TV-XR from the rear USB-C port.
  3. Do not connect the USB-B printer-style port to a computer or console during wireless pairing.

If USB-B is connected, the controller can stay in wired mode and the wireless dongle may not pair or receive controller input correctly.

Gen1 wireless dongle pairing

  1. Press and hold the button on the Gen1 dongle.
  2. While still holding the button, plug the dongle into the powered-on Meta Quest headset.
  3. Release the button to start pairing.
  4. Once paired, the green light on the dongle will blink quickly.

Gen2 wireless dongle pairing

  1. Plug the Gen2 dongle into the powered-on Meta Quest headset.
  2. If the dongle blinks slowly, it is powered but not connected to the controller.
  3. Press and hold the side button on the dongle for about 5 seconds, then release it.
  4. The dongle will start pairing with the Arcade2TV-XR controller.
  5. After pairing, move the trackball or press buttons to test input.

What is the difference between Gen1 and Gen2 wireless dongles?

Gen1 dongle:

Gen2 dongle:

If you are unsure which dongle you have, contact support before updating firmware.

Recommended firmware/remapping tool: Start with the Arcade2TV-XR Web Configurator for controller remapping and supported firmware upgrades for the Arcade2TV-XR controller, Gen2 wireless dongle, and Haptics PCB. It runs in a browser on Mac and Windows PC. If the web app is unavailable, use the downloadable software fallback from the main software and firmware guide. Always choose the firmware for the correct component; Gen1 dongles are not firmware-upgradable.

Which firmware should I use?

Use the firmware recommended in the current Arcade2TV-XR firmware article for your dongle generation and setup:

<https://support.xgaming.com/support/solutions/articles/12000101199-arcade2tv-xr-tankstick-vr-software-and-firmware-usage-guide>

Important rules:

<https://support.xgaming.com/support/solutions/articles/12000106968-gen2-wireless-upgrade-for-arcade2tv-xr-tankstick-vr->

Original XR: Williams upper flippers moved to joystick buttons after a Pinball FX VR update

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR playing Williams tables in Pinball FX VR on Meta Quest. This is not a wiring guide for Tankstick MAX, integrated XR MAX or the Pinball FX Edition, and not the separate Xbox Back-button mapping issue.

If lower flippers and other controls work but the upper left/right flippers now activate from joystick buttons instead of the original side buttons after the game update, support identified this in October 2026 as a known game-side mapping change, not a controller or controller-firmware fault. Support stated that no controller update changes this behavior. Do not prescribe a firmware flash, PCB replacement, repeated pairing or an Xbox adapter/profile change as a fix for this exact symptom.

  1. Confirm the exact controller, Quest game/build and affected Williams table; distinguish upper-only mapping changes from complete input loss or physically sticking buttons.
  2. Report which joystick and side buttons activate each flipper, and when the change began. Keep existing mappings and firmware details for support rather than making unrelated hardware changes.
  3. Ask support for the current game-side status if this branch matches. A customer proposed a legacy option allowing side buttons to fire upper and lower flippers together, but it was a suggestion, not an available setting or confirmed workaround.

Support reported that Zen Studios was investigating. No released fix, delivery date or customer-confirmed restored side-button operation was established in the reviewed reply. Do not promise an update, tell customers to buy new hardware, or assume all game versions/platforms are affected. For total input loss instead, use the model-specific connection, pairing and mode checks below.

Why does Pinball FX VR not see the flipper buttons?

For the upper-only Williams game-update symptom, use the branch above instead of repeating these general input-loss checks.

Check these items first:

  1. Disconnect USB-B from the Arcade2TV-XR.
  2. Power the Arcade2TV-XR only from USB-C wall power.
  3. Pair the dongle again.
  4. Set the dongle to the correct mode before launching Pinball FX VR.
  5. Plug the dongle into the headset before starting the game.
  6. Fully reboot the headset if the game still does not detect input.

If the trackball works but the buttons do not, the controller may be in the wrong connection mode, the dongle may not be paired to the controller, or the game may have been launched before the dongle was ready.

Can I use the Arcade2TV-XR with PC VR or SteamVR?

Yes, but the dongle must be plugged into the device that is actually running the game.

If a PC is running Visual Pinball X, SteamVR, or another PC game, plug the Gen2 dongle into the PC. Plugging the dongle into the Quest headset does not send Arcade2TV-XR input back to the PC through Steam Link, Virtual Desktop, Meta Remote Desktop, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.

How do I test which mode the Arcade2TV-XR is in on Windows?

For keyboard mode, open the online keyboard tester at <https://en.key-test.ru/> and press buttons. You should see key presses appear in the tester.

For XInput or pinball mode, use Windows joy.cpl:

  1. Press Windows key + R.
  2. Type joy.cpl and press Enter.
  3. Select each listed controller.
  4. Click Properties.
  5. Test the buttons, nudge, and plunger there.

In the original XR configuration software, “X-Input: Unavailable” means XInput remapping is unavailable there; it does not by itself mean the controller cannot work in Windows or that a dongle is required. Keyboard and DirectInput assignments are the configurable profiles in that software. Test actual gamepad input with joy.cpl before treating the label as a fault. This clarification is not a confirmed cure for a controller that genuinely fails the Windows input test.

Can I use third-party battery head straps with the dongle?

Compatibility is model/setup-specific. Successful use of one strap does not guarantee another: a reviewed BOBOVR S3 Pro / Gen2 setup dropped input even after pairing first and adding the battery later. See the scoped failed-startup case below. USB/power behavior varies by headset, battery strap, hub and cable.

If the dongle is not recognized:

  1. Test the dongle directly in the headset first.
  2. Fully power off and restart the headset.
  3. Connect the battery strap before plugging in the dongle.
  4. Try a short USB-C extender or powered hub if there is a physical clearance issue.

Avoid heavy cable strain on the dongle's USB-C connector.

USB accessories and spinner/trackball mixer mode on the original XR

On the original Arcade2TV-XR spinner USB board covered by this guidance, accessory USB data through the internal board ports and combined spinner/trackball mixer operation are mutually exclusive. This is separate from the controller's wired versus wireless connection mode.

Before changing a setting, have support identify your spinner USB board and confirm the applicable instructions. Do not change the controller main board's DIP switches or assume this limitation describes Arcade2TV-XR MAX or Tankstick MAX.

  1. Test the accessory and its cable directly on the computer to confirm data operation; receiving power alone is not a successful data test.
  2. Use the original XR's USB-B wired data connection. Record whether the accessory works at the accessible USB socket beside a spinner but not at the internal spinner-board USB-A port.
  3. If support confirms this setting for your installed spinner USB board, follow its instructions for DIP switch 4 ON. Disconnect power and USB before opening the controller or changing internal settings.
  4. Retest accessory detection and software control. DIP switch 4 ON enables accessory USB data on this board but disables mixer mode, so the spinners and trackball operate as separate devices. Recheck and adjust the game or emulator assignments for those separate inputs.

This setting cannot provide both accessory data through those internal ports and combined mixer mode on the board described here. If you need both, ask support to confirm a suitable connection arrangement for your exact hardware before changing it. No firmware fix or compatibility with other board revisions is established by this guidance.

If these checks do not resolve the issue, provide support with your controller model, spinner-board photo, operating system, wired connection, accessory model, tested port locations, and whether the mouse inputs are combined or separate.

If it still does not work after these steps

Please include:

Source article: <https://support.xgaming.com/support/solutions/articles/12000108452-arcade2tv-xr-tankstick-vr-faq>

Controls work but LEDs are off after an update

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR. Do not apply these button combinations to Tankstick MAX, XR MAX or another board without its own guide.

  1. Confirm that normal buttons and joystick input still register. This distinguishes a lighting-only problem from loss of controller power or input.
  2. Check the controller's LED configuration. For the original XR, hold X-logo and use P1 Turbo to raise brightness. P1 MODE + X-logo lowers brightness and can turn the lights down/off; it is not the same command.
  3. Confirm that the LEDs illuminate and normal input still works before changing firmware again.

A customer whose LEDs were off after a 3.64 update reported recovery after checking LED configuration. That confirms the configuration-check path in that case, not a proven universal firmware defect or proof that the toggle alone fixed it. Earlier resets and power changes had not resolved that report. If lighting remains off, send support the exact model, firmware, LED settings and whether input still works; do not repeatedly flash unrelated firmware.

Original XR mode selection and switching off

This section is for the original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR, not XR MAX. With USB-B connected for wired PC use, hold P1 MODE for about five seconds to cycle the input mode; a short tap is not the same action. On the standard firmware discussed here the indication blinks red for Keyboard, blue for DirectInput, green for XInput and purple for the special Pinball/Solo profile when that firmware includes it. Dedicated VPX firmware may use different mappings: consult its exact version's layout.

The original XR has no dedicated power-off switch. Disconnect its power source when finished; a suitable switched power strip can make this more convenient. Do not interrupt power during a firmware update.

RetroBat menus work but games ignore the controls

Scope: original XR on PC. Mouse movement or frontend navigation does not prove that an emulator core has the correct gamepad assignment.

  1. Record firmware, input mode, RetroBat version and affected game/core. Test joystick/buttons in Windows joy.cpl, separately from the trackball.
  2. For standard arcade gamepad use, check the green XInput profile and the game's player/input assignments.
  3. If green mode was already tested without success, do not keep repeating it. One customer recovered only after both a firmware update and uninstalling/reinstalling RetroBat. The report did not isolate which change was responsible.
  4. Before any reset or reinstall, back up configurations, saves and custom mappings. Ask support which change is appropriate; do not treat reinstalling or flashing firmware as a universal first step.
  5. Confirm controls in the same affected games afterward. If still failing, provide the Windows test result, exact core/game, mode and already-tried changes.

That case confirms a combined recovery, not an identified firmware defect or a guarantee that reinstalling RetroBat will fix another setup.

A separate customer explicitly confirmed that P1 Turbo + X-logo restored the lights after earlier firmware rollback and repeated general video guidance had not restored illumination. Input and lighting were separate issues. Check that the LEDs illuminate and controls still register; escalate persistent failure with the actual combination tried rather than automatically declaring a dead LED board.

Gen1 input stops after a Gen2 controller update

Identify the dongle generation before another flash. In one original-XR case, support identified a Gen1 dongle after controller 3.64 was installed. Returning the controller to the support-supplied compatible 2.28 branch restored Pinball FX VR input on Quest 3. This was a controller rollback, not a Gen1 dongle update: Gen1 is not firmware-upgradable.

Use the current official component-specific guide or support to select the correct file for the identified hardware. Do not apply this historical rollback to Gen2/Haptics systems or XR MAX. Restored Pinball FX VR controls did not establish that Age of Joy, Arcade Ranger or PCVR Pinball FX2 were working; those remained separate setup issues in that conversation.

Marquee stuck at one color, then dark after checks

For an original XR lighting complaint, first identify whether the failed light is the marquee/display or the controller's button LEDs; do not assume these are the same component. Confirm that controls still register, check the supplied USB-C wall-power path, and check the P1 Turbo + X-logo brightness command described above.

In one reviewed case, the customer had already checked for bent pins, reseated the cable, power-cycled and reflashed firmware after a marquee stayed white/blue and then went dark. Support suggested wall power, the brightness command and a video of the overall power/connections. The final result was not reported.

If those checks have already failed, send support the exact model, which lights are affected, whether brightness commands beep/respond, and a video/photos of the marquee cable and power arrangement. Disconnect power and external cables before support-directed connector inspection; do not repeatedly reflash the same firmware or reseat a powered connector. A beep shows that the command is being received, not that the LED bar or its wiring is proven healthy. A loose terminal or LED-bar fault remains a possibility for review, not a confirmed diagnosis or automatic replacement.

BOBOVR S3 Pro: battery-last startup did not prevent later dropout

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with separate X-Force Haptics Kit, Gen2 dongle and BOBOVR S3 Pro battery strap. A customer reported normal Pinball FX VR use without the external battery, then controller input stopped after the battery was connected through the dongle's charging port. The game itself continued.

Support recommended pairing first, launching the game and only then connecting the battery. The customer clarified they were already using that order: it worked briefly and then disconnected. Do not describe battery-last startup as a confirmed solution for this setup, repeat it as though untried, or infer universal S3 Pro compatibility from another strap's success.

Support next suggested a full headset shutdown/restart with the dongle attached but the battery disconnected, and observing the charging indicator when input dropped. No subsequent result was reported. A USB/power-negotiation interaction was a hypothesis, not an identified defective chip or proven cause. A charging light alone cannot establish why input stopped.

Compare direct dongle operation without the strap against the identified battery/hub path, and report exact headset, strap, firmware, charging indicator, dropout timing and already-tried order. If the strap triggers repeated disconnects, remove it and ask support for a model-specific setup; avoid connector strain and do not buy another accessory on a blanket compatibility claim. These observations do not establish that all BOBOVR models fail or that an official Meta strap is guaranteed to work.

Original XR ball-top, bat-top and supplied spares

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR, not Tankstick MAX or XR MAX. Support identifies the supplied bat-top joystick knobs and matching swap tool in the controller's bottom compartment. Check there before buying a third-party top; use the joystick-handle instructions in the manual matching your unit. If the parts are missing or the grip will not fit normally, stop and ask support with your product/revision and a photo rather than forcing it.

The reviewed reply did not specify the shaft thread diameter/pitch or validate any third-party bat-top model. Do not infer those dimensions from pedestal feet, cover screws or another controller family. This is a staff-provided supplied-parts fact, not a customer-confirmed swap result.

Original XR side flipper button sticks or feels inconsistent

Distinguish physical sticking/failure to return from an in-game mapping issue. Support says the flipper buttons should feel consistent and identified spare microswitches in the small accessory box supplied with the reviewed original-XR unit. It recommended a microswitch replacement for that customer's intermittent sticking, but no installed replacement or confirmed recovery was reported. Do not call the switch a proven cause or promise the swap will cure every sticking button.

Disconnect power and USB before any support-directed internal work. Use the button troubleshooting guide to check the matched button's socket, obstruction, connections and switch path; do not transfer internal part instructions to XR MAX. After an approved correction, verify free button return and input registration separately. If the button still sticks, or the matching spare/revision is uncertain, send support its physical location, product label and a short video showing its movement and already-tried checks.

Several original XR bundle accessories appear missing

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR bundles, not integrated XR MAX or Tankstick MAX. If several expected physical items are absent together, check the controller packaging for a small accessory box as well as the documented storage compartments before treating each item as a separate failure. In a reviewed direct-purchase case, support identified the expected accessory box as missing; arranging another box did not establish that it had arrived.

Compare the actual order's contents with the items received. Give support the purchase source, order details privately, photographs of the opened packaging and a precise missing-item list. Do not presume another bundle/revision includes every item named in an old ticket, or assume a code is missing solely because it is not in a physical box. Support must verify entitlement and the applicable resolution; a knowledge article does not dispatch parts, approve a refund or guarantee delivery timing.

When a replacement wireless dongle arrives, identify its generation and use the corresponding pairing section above with the original XR on USB-C wall power and USB-B disconnected. A staff shipping update or the customer's thanks is not proof of received accessories, redeemed games or working input. Confirm receipt and test each missing function separately afterward; report anything still absent without repeating the same shipment promise.