[KB-004] How do I set up my TankstickVR for solo/single-player or pinball games on PS5?

Product: TankstickVR | Platform: PS5 | Confidence: High

Answer:

For solo, single-player, or pinball games on PS5, use this simplified setup. Xgaming recommends the Tankstick VR (Arcade2TV-XR) over the Tankstick MAX for console pinball gameplay because the VR model supports dedicated pinball firmware and a simplified single-adapter connection:

Upgrade the firmware to v2.27

Switch the controller to either Red (Keyboard Mode) or Blue (D-Input Mode). For Pinball FX on PlayStation 5, the Arcade2TV-XR must be set to blinking purple mode, which is the dedicated Pinball/XInput-Solo mode introduced in firmware version 2.27. Firmware 3.X also have this pinball mode. For solo/pinball games, you may need to experiment with Red or Blue mode depending on the game's input requirements. In Red or Blue mode, the left and right side buttons are mapped to specific keyboard keys or D-Input buttons, Player 1's joystick acts as the left thumbstick, and Player 2's joystick acts as the right thumbstick.

Connect the controller USB to one Brook Wingman FGC2 adapter

Plug the adapter into the PS5. For the most stable connection when using Brook Wingman adapters on PlayStation 5, the adapter should be plugged into one of the console's rear USB ports.

Manually initiate the handshake to establish the connection: press and hold the left flipper button and the Player 1 button together. This manual handshake is required to establish a connection and activate Player 1 controls for controllers like the TankstickVR or Arcade2TV-XR when using a single Brook Wingman adapter (e.g., FGC2, XE2) in Keyboard Mode (Red) on consoles such as PS5, Nintendo Switch, PS4, or PS3.

The Brook Wingman FGC adapter bundle is compatible with PS5 for fighting games only. The original Brook Wingman FGC adapter has been discontinued and is no longer being restocked, as it has been replaced by the newer Wingman FGC2 model. For PlayStation 4 (PS4) compatibility, the Wingman XE2 adapter bundle is required, as the Wingman FGC adapters are specifically for PS5 use. You do NOT need the full 2-player cable setup for this use case.