MAYFLASH Arcade Stick F500 Elite with Sanwa Buttons and Joysticks for Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One,PS4, PS3, Switch/Switch 2, Android, Windows, macOS and more

With the advent of Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 last year, followed by the recent release of Tekken 8, I decided it was an opportune time to invest in an arcade stick. Initially considering entry-level options, I stumbled upon the Mayflash range of fight sticks. After thorough research, I settled on the Mayflash F500 Elite arcade stick, and I must say, my decision has been more than rewarding.One of the primary draws is the inclusion of premium Sanwa hardware components, featuring 9 buttons and a 4-way joystick. The tactile quality of these buttons and the joystick lends a premium feel, enhancing the fluidity and reliability of gameplay.The arcade stick itself boasts a substantial weight, complemented by rubber feet that ensure stability when used on a surface. Alternatively, if you prefer placing the fight stick on your lap, its weight and size provide a balanced and steady gaming experience.Compatibility with my Xbox Series X has been seamless. For those mentioning poor compatibility in their reviews, it's likely they haven't completed the firmware update. Addressing this, I promptly performed the firmware update upon receiving the arcade stick. The process, outlined on the official Mayflash website, involves downloading the firmware installer to a PC. After running the installer, pressing and holding the “Start” and “Select” buttons on the arcade stick, and plugging the USB cable into the PC, the update completes effortlessly.Connecting the arcade stick to the Xbox Series X was equally straightforward. Plugging the F500 Elite USB cable directly into the front USB port of the console and using a USB-A to USB-C cable to connect the F500 Elite to the Xbox controller, I experienced flawless functionality.The simplicity of setup and the performance of the arcade stick with my console left me thoroughly satisfied. The quality components and premium feel make it more than suitable for professional players. Additional features, such as the headset port, mic mute button, and vibration wrist strap support, further enhance its appeal. The arcade stick also supports turbo functions with different speed settings.The exceptional build quality and broad system compatibility establish the Mayflash Arcade Stick F500 Elite as a stellar choice, particularly given its price point. I have nothing but praise for this product and wholeheartedly recommend it.

Mine didn't work on Xbox, fortunately I'd previously visited the Mayflash website to see what it said and spotted a new firmware on there. Instructions are in the manual for how to update and it worked straight away when done (the update only took about 10 seconds). It's good to know that Mayflash keeps on top of these things. With my Android TV and PC it worked straight out of the box. I can't imagine I will ever use the arcade stick to browse netflix on the TV but it's good to know I can in case I have some sort of finger tip impediment one day that prevents me using a remote control.I felt the price of this was a bit high and I was inclined to go for a cheaper model (of Mayflash) but went with this due to reviews of the others not being as good. I like the fact it supports every system around and hopefully the next gen consoles too with firmware updates.I'm happy with it. The build quality is good and it feels like something that will last a few years with metal plates top and bottom. The lead is nice and long and which gets stored in a section at the side. With the lead coming out of a compartment at the side it should prevent accidentally damaging it by pulling too hard on the cable (though it looks like spare cables can be bought). There is a wrist strap for rumble feature on there but I can't imagine who would want that.I've owned a few arcade sticks in the past going right back to the Dreamcast one and this feels the nicest I've had. I can't imagine I will feel the need to ever change buttons or stick as they feel pretty much perfect but it's good to know I can just in case anything ever wears out. It's also possible to customise the art work by taking off the top clear panel (held in place by magnets) but that would require removing all the buttons and stick so it's a bit of effort.I've already beaten all my high scores on shooters on MAME so the investment is paying off. I can't comment on the cheaper Mayflash sticks as to whether or not this is worth the extra but if you're a keen player of fighters or arcade style shooters and want something that feels sturdy then I recommend it.

Good quality and does what it says on the tin. I primarily use it for Mame on my desktop PC, so no problem remapping buttons etc. Comes with a total of 3 plastic restrictors, square (installed), diamond and octagonal. You have to unscrew the back (6 Phillips screws) to swap out restrictors so it's not something you would want to do often. I've settled on the octagonal one for now which is best for shooters and all-round but for games like Pacman, Mr.Do, Bombjack you might prefer diamond or square because the diagonal rests tend to hinder more than help if you're going for serious scores. The square and diamond configurations are interchanged by rotating the inner section which is not obvious by looking at it, you have to research, there's no instructions and it's tricky and scary to perform because the hard plastic looks brittle. The joystick also comes with various adapter cables for connecting USB C & Micro USB to USB type A.