Many pinball enthusiasts want to use their Arcade2TV-XR (Tankstick VR) controller to enjoy pinball games on PC and various consoles. Thanks to a new firmware update and a simple adapter, this is now possible across all platforms at minimal cost. This guide will help you update your Tankstick VR and configure it to play popular pinball titles (like Pinball FX™, Pinball FX3™, Pinball M™, The Pinball Arcade™, Zaccaria Pinball™, Visual Pinball X (VPX), etc.) on PC, PlayStation™ 4 & 5, Xbox™ consoles, and Nintendo Switch™. We’ll walk through the firmware upgrade to enable a special XInput mode for pinball, switching the controller’s mode, and connecting to each system. By the end, your X-Arcade controller will function as a dedicated single-player gamepad for pinball on any device .

Tested Compatible Games

We’ve tested the following titles and confirmed full support for gameplay using the Arcade2TV-XR/Tankstick VR in XInput mode across PC and supported consoles via Wingman™ adapters:

PC (Windows)

  • Pinball FX™ (Epic Games/Steam)
  • Pinball FX3™
  • Pinball M™
  • The Pinball Arcade™
  • Zaccaria Pinball™
  • Visual Pinball X (VPX)

PlayStation® 4 / 5 (via Wingman XE2 / FGC / FGC2 Adapter)

  • Pinball FX3™ (PS4 version)
  • Pinball FX™ (PS5 version)
  • Pinball M™
  • Zaccaria Pinball™

Xbox One / Series X / Series S (via Wingman XB2 / XB3 Adapter)

  • Pinball FX™
  • Pinball FX3™
  • Pinball M™
  • The Pinball Arcade™

Nintendo Switch™ (via Wingman XE2 / NS Adapter)

  • Pinball FX3™
  • Zaccaria Pinball™
  • Star Wars Pinball™

Note: Games not listed above may still work as long as they support standard XInput/Xbox controller input. Button remapping via Brook’s software may be required in some cases.

 

Firmware Upgrade to v2.23_3 (Pinball XInput Mode)

The first step is updating the Tankstick VR’s firmware to v2.23_3, which introduces a specialized XInput mode optimized for pinball games on PC and consoles . This firmware makes the controller behave like a single-player XInput gamepad, ideal for use with Brook Wingman adapters on consoles (Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation™ 4/5, Xbox Series X/S™, etc.) without needing any old X-Arcade console adapters . Follow these steps to update the firmware:

  1. Download the Arcade2TV-XR Configuration Software: Install the latest Arcade2TV-XR Configuration Tool on a Windows PC. (Download link). This tool lets you update firmware and configure the controller.
  2. Download Firmware v2.23_3: Get the firmware file (version 2.23_3 .bin file) to your PC. (Download link). This is the Pinball Mode firmware that enables universal XInput support .
  3. Connect the Tankstick to PC: Using the included USB-B to USB-A cable, plug your Arcade2TV-XR/Tankstick VR into a USB port on your Windows PC. Important: Ensure the unit is not in XInput mode during the update (switch it to Keyboard or D-Input mode first) , or the firmware tool won’t be able to program it.
  4. Launch and Update Firmware: Open the Arcade2TV-XR Configuration Tool on your PC. In the software, click the “Firmware Upgrade” button (usually at the bottom left) . When prompted, select the v2.23_3 firmware .bin file you downloaded, then proceed to flash it. The tool will upload the firmware to the controller; do not unplug the device during this process . The Tankstick will reboot automatically once the flash is complete. After it reconnects, the new firmware version should be indicated in the software.
  5. Confirm the Firmware: The configuration tool will show the firmware version (v2.23_3) and that the device is in “Gamepad/XInput” mode. Your Tankstick is now essentially a single-player XInput controller, optimized for pinball across all platforms .
  6. (Optional) Factory Firmware Rollback: In case you encounter issues or want to revert to the original stock firmware (v2.22), you can roll back. To do this: power off/unplug the controller, then press and hold the Player1 bottom-left button while plugging the USB into your PC. This puts the unit in recovery mode. Use the configuration tool’s firmware upgrade function to flash the stock v2.22 firmware file . This will restore factory settings. (Refer to the official rollback guide for details .)

NOTE: As of firmware version v2.23_3, the P1 Start button has been specially programmed to function as the Guide / PS / Xbox Home button for convenience. This means no need to rely on adapter-specific shortcuts for accessing the console home screen or login.

 

Switching the Controller to XInput Mode

After updating the firmware, you must ensure the Tankstick is operating in XInput mode (the mode required for it to act like an Xbox/PC gamepad). The Arcade2TV-XR features a Tri-Mode touch panel that toggles between Keyboard, DirectInput, and XInput modes. To switch modes:

  • Locate the “P1 MODE” button on the Tankstick’s touch panel (usually near the player 1 controls). Press and hold this button for ~5 seconds. The panel’s LED will start blinking to indicate mode cycling.
  • Release when Green blinks: The modes cycle in order – Red blinking = Keyboard mode, Blue blinking = D-Input mode, and Green blinking = XInput mode . When you see the indicator flashing green, let go of the button. The touch panel should then blink green three times to confirm it has switched into XInput mode.
  • Verify XInput Mode: In the config software or Windows “Game Controllers” settings, the device should now register as an “XInput Gamepad” (e.g. it may identify as an Xbox 360 controller). In XInput mode, both player sides of the Tankstick function as a single XInput controller. This is crucial for console use and for PC games like Pinball FX that require gamepad input .

 

Tip: If you ever need to use the Tankstick in Keyboard mode again (for other PC games/emulators), you can switch back by holding P1 MODE ~5s until red blink, etc. But for multi-platform pinball gaming, keep it in green XInput mode. 

 

Connecting to Your PC or Game Console

With firmware updated and XInput mode enabled, you’re ready to connect the Tankstick to your platform of choice. The Arcade2TV-XR can now act as a plug-and-play controller on PCs and consoles alike:


PC Setup (Direct USB)

For a Windows PC, the setup is straightforward: connect the Tankstick directly via USB. Use the USB-B port on the back of the controller (the same one used for the firmware update) and plug it into your computer. The PC should recognize it as an XInput gamepad automatically – no other adapters or drivers required. Once connected, you can launch your pinball game (e.g. Steam versions of Pinball FX3™, Pinball M™, etc.) and configure controls if needed. In most cases, the game will already have default Xbox controller mappings, so the Tankstick should work immediately as Player 1’s controller. Game on! You can now play pinball on PC using the arcade controls (flipper buttons, plunger, etc.).

 

Console Setup (Using a Single Wingman™ Adapter)

To use the Tankstick VR on consoles (such as PS5™/PS4™, Xbox™, or Nintendo Switch™), you will need a compatible Brook Wingman converter for your console. The Wingman series adapters (e.g. Wingman XB2/XB3 for Xbox, Wingman XE2 for Switch/PlayStation, or Wingman FGC2 for PS4/PS5) act as a bridge between the X-Arcade (now in XInput mode) and the console’s USB port. These adapters are affordable and require no first-party gamepad once configured – just plug and play.

 

Steps to Connect to a Console:

  1. Attach the Wingman Adapter: Plug the Wingman adapter into your console’s USB port. (Ensure any required mode switches on the adapter are set properly – consult the adapter’s instructions if needed.)
  2. Connect Tankstick to Wingman: Using the USB cable, connect the Tankstick’s USB-B port to the USB-A port on the Wingman adapter. This creates a direct USB link from the Tankstick to the console via the Wingman. The Wingman should detect the XInput controller input from the Tankstick .
  3. Power On and Authenticate: Turn on the console (if not already). In many cases, the Wingman will auto-register the controller. On PlayStation consoles, you might need to press the “PS” (Home) button to authenticate the controller – since the Tankstick VR does have a physical PS button, the Wingman provides a way to emulate it. If the controller isn’t recognized immediately, try pressing Player 1 Start + Player 2 Start together once on the Tankstick. This combination can act as a signal to initiate the connection on some adapters (for example, it may register as the console’s “Home” command to log in the controller). Often, the Tankstick will be recognized without this step, but it can help in certain cases.
  4. Begin Playing: Once connected, the console will see the Tankstick as a standard gamepad. Launch any pinball game on your console (e.g. Pinball FX™ on Xbox, Pinball M™ on PS5, etc.). The joystick and buttons will control the game just as a normal controller would. Note: The v2.23_3 firmware’s mapping is tuned for pinball – for example, the side flipper buttons map to the appropriate left/right trigger inputs, etc., for most games. Enjoy your pinball with authentic arcade controls on the console!

 

Behind the scenes, the new firmware’s single-player XInput layout plus the Wingman adapter mean you no longer need the old X-Arcade console adapter boxes or dual connections . It’s a one-cable, one-adapter hookup per console. This keeps the setup simple and cost-effective.

 

Button Layout Mapping for Each Platform

With the Tankstick VR acting as an XInput gamepad, its buttons are mapped to standard controller buttons. Below we outline how the arcade buttons correspond to each platform’s controller layout. (Each Tankstick button is labeled for Player 1 side; Player 2 controls are not used in the single-player pinball mode except as noted.)

 

PC / Xbox Mapping (XInput): In XInput mode, the Tankstick is seen as an Xbox controller. The layout is:

PlayStation™ Console Mapping: When used on a PS4™ or PS5™ via a Wingman adapter, the XInput controls are translated to PlayStation buttons as follows:

Nintendo Switch™ Mapping: The Wingman adapter will translate the XInput (Xbox) buttons to Nintendo’s layout. Note that Nintendo’s A/B and X/Y are swapped in position relative to Xbox:

Additional instruction for NS2 from Brook: https://www.brookaccessory.com/support/future-proofed-brook-now-supports-ns2.php

You’re all set! Your X-Arcade Arcade2TV-XR (Tankstick VR) is now configured to play pinball across PC and consoles. This user-friendly setup only requires a firmware update and a small adapter, making it an affordable way to enjoy an authentic pinball experience on PS5™, PS4™, Xbox One™/Series X™|S™, and Nintendo Switch™ with a single controller kit. With the correct mode and firmware (v2.23_3) , the Tankstick becomes a versatile pinball controller that you can easily move between your gaming PC and console systems. If you run into any issues, refer back to the steps above, and be sure the device is in XInput mode and properly connected. Now grab those flippers and play on!