Hardware maker VIRPIL revealed their next gen space sim oriented grip at a community event in Moscow yesterday. The Constellation Alpha was teased just a couple of weeks ago and now its broken full cover and we’ve got new details to pour over. Would this stick work for a flight sim fan? It sure looks like it has the feature set to compete!
Let’s check out the Alpha!
Though appearing to appeal to space combat fans I do think that the Constellation Alpha looks more the part of a serious combat grip than the Delta. In many ways this looks like the Delta and the T-50 grip got together.
Here are the details as reported by VIRPIL’s Facebook page:
★ Left and Right hand variants (Non-ambidextrous)
★ 1 x Dual-stage trigger
★ 1 x Dual Position Flip Trigger (tactile switch trigger + proximity sensor to detect UP position)
★ Combination Trigger Stages – flip trigger and dual stage trigger and be pressed simultaneously as a combined trigger for additional trigger stages
★ 1 x Analogue Stick (+ Push)
★ 3 x 5-way Hats (4-way + Push)
★ 1 x 3-way Hats (2 way + Push)
★ 3 x Momentary buttons
★ 1 x Brake lever (VPC Contactless Sensor) + Momentary button
★ 1 x Scroll Encoder (+ Dual Push)
★ Lockable Twist Axis (VPC Contactless Sensor)
★ Adjustable Hand Rest
It’s an impressive list of features offering a mix of just about everything that a space or flight sim pilot might need.
Price and release date
VIRPIL confirms through their Facebook page that release date for the new grip are scheduled for November. Current Delta owners will also likely have the opportunity to get first crack at the grip before it becomes available to everyone else.
Pricing is currently unknown, however, VIRPIL is saying in their comments that pricing will be roughly similar to that of their other grips. As usual, VIRPIL hardware tends to be on the premium end of things, but they tend to also be worth it for serious sim pilots who want the higher quality feel.
Notable attendees in the audience
When it comes to the combat flight sim community the names of 1C Game Studios, Eagle Dynamics and Gaijin Entertainment are well known ones representing IL-2: Great Battles, DCS World, and War Thunder respectively. For a stick that has been designed as a space sim stick it seems that this has attracted lots of attention from combat sim developers.
Though their attendance shouldn’t necessarily be considered as anything more than checking up on the latest cool hardware, it is still important for hardware and software developers to get together. Connections and support between those groups can only, in my opinion, lead to better things for flight sim fans.
More from VIRPIL’s Facebook page
VIRPIL’s website appears to be down at the moment so if you’re looking for more information, be sure to check out the VIRPIL Facebook page for more images and forthcoming details on the Constellation Alpha.
Stormbirds 
I would buy some of their stuff, but stock levels seem to be pretty random. My hope would be to get their throttle, but none available.
I appreciate the need for a development pipeline, but surely just making the damn stuff for your consumers also counts?
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They seem to be in a rock and a hard place there with their hardware being popular but them not being able to produce enough units to keep up with demand.
On their forum they have a restock schedule. My advice is to hit the store at the time of the restock.
When I got my throttle from them it was in stock for several days. After the restock – so things seem to vary.
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Let’s announce a product….
8 months later still can’t buy one
Biggest troll company in the world. Complete and utter joke … for double the price of any other similar product.
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Hi Naen, I assume you got the restock notice and weren’t able to secure limited supply? VIRPIL’s Achilles heel is their slower production capacity in the face of high demand.
Getting their products can be tricky although time it right with their announcements and usually you can get what you want. But it’s not easy.
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