Hi all,

Follow-up to my earlier thread.

 

The beta is open now -> https://ffb-bridge.com

 

Big change since last time: it also runs on Windows 11!

I wrote in the original post that Microsoft had dropped FFB support on Win11, so the app was Linux-only. Turned out I was half right — the old HID-PID path is gone, but DirectInput still drives the stick fine. I ported the device layer, and FFB2 effects now work end-to-end on Windows 11 against both MSFS 2024 and X-Plane 12. So if you've got a Sidewinder FFB2 sitting in a drawer and a Windows gaming PC, you're good too.

What's in the beta:

• MSFS 2024 + X-Plane 11/12, Linux + Windows 11.
• Force effects: centering spring (G-loaded, trim-shifted), airspeed-loaded pitch/roll, rate damping, AP back-drive (the stick physically flies the autopilot), stall / overspeed / Mach / spoiler buffets, turbulence overlay, runway rumble (scaled by surface — grass ≠ asphalt ≠ ice), gear/flap shudders, engine + reverse-thrust rumble, touchdown thump.
• Tuning UI with master gain + 13 per-effect sliders, per-aircraft profiles.
• Bench-test mode — every effect driven from sliders with no sim running, for dialling in the feel.
• A Doctor page that checks permissions / udev rules / SimConnect config / sim reachability and offers one-click fixes.

I've tested the Linux build on Ubuntu 24.04, Fedora 44, and CachyOS— works on any systemd distro (CachyOS, Pop!_OS, Arch, Mint, openSUSE, etc.). The udev rule install needs root once (polkit prompt on first run); after that everything is user-space.

How to get it:  https://ffb-bridge.com. Drop your email, confirm, and you'll get one email with both downloads.  The Linux AppImage (~42 MB, self-contained, bundles .NET) and the Windows installer (~36 MB, Inno Setup, per-user, no UAC).

I host the site and the mailserver and everything, no marketing lists. I just want to know who's using this, and to be able to contact you if needed.

Feedback goes through https://ffb-bridge.com/feedback
 

The app's Diagnostics page has a one-click support-bundle export (log + Doctor snapshot + system info, zipped) that you can attach to the form. Nothing goes anywhere until you send it.

FAQ refresh:

• Still free? Yes. Still a super niche product. If it somehow takes off maybe a future version with cloud saves / profile sharing gets a paid version — but this one is and will stay free.
• Source release? Still haven't decided. Beta is binary-only under a short beta testing licence.
• YOU ASKED FOR ROOT!! — only once, for the udev rule. Same story as before; the Doctor page handles it via polkit. If you'd rather write the rule yourself, the README explains how.
• AI SLOP!! — yes, AI-assisted. Yes, I read the code. Yes, I tested it. Feel free to ignore if that's a dealbreaker.
• Windows installer isn't signed  yet. SmartScreen will warn on first launch; click More info → Run anyway. Code signing is planned for 1.0.
• What about Windows 10? Should work! Give it a shot

Demo video from the original thread still holds up for the core feature set.  I'll probably record a fresh one that includes the Windows side once I've got a decent capture setup on that box. But for now you can see the older view, the app has been much improved since then though.

03:53 Mock mode walk-through

Thanks for the early interest on the first thread @Maddormo @spilok

Edited April 23Apr 23 by JonathanC

BTW, even if you don't have this stick, I'd love if you could download the app and give me general  feedback on the features. 

In addition, I would like to add more devices to this app, I just don't know which ones are out there. If you have an older FFB stick (or even a newer one), let me know the model and I'll see if I can add it to the app. I'd need you to test it as I don't have that hardware

My first tests are not going well. I did tested Windows 11 version's Mock Sim several times and the program crashes every time when I hit Arm.

36 minutes ago, Kassu62 said:

My first tests are not going well. I did tested Windows 11 version's Mock Sim several times and the program crashes every time when I hit Arm.

Can you send me the support bundle zip file? Email or upload

55 minutes ago, Kassu62 said:

My first tests are not going well. I did tested Windows 11 version's Mock Sim several times and the program crashes every time when I hit Arm.

MSFS 2024 is the Windows Store install, correct? There's a bug where it works with the Steam version but not with Windows store (looking for the wrong file). I'll install from the Store and trouble shoot. 

Root cause identified. Should have a hotfix out in a few hours

Hotfix done. You can download from the website as normal, you should get  -  ffb-bridge-setup-1.0.0-beta.2-x64.exe
https://ffb-bridge.com

Existing subscribers will get an email in a little while telling them about the new version.