Left stick flying is a crucial feature in the space flight simulator game Star Citizen. It allows players to experience six degrees of freedom during atmospheric flight. The right stick controls pitch and roll, while the left stick controls normal thrust and induces strafing motions that change the ship’s direction. These motions can also be achieved with the right stick, but the left stick provides more precise control, especially when control surfaces come into play.
In the future, control surfaces on the ship’s wings will take the place of maneuvering thrusters. The hope is for a hybrid system that allows players to control both the control surfaces and maneuvering thrusters simultaneously. This would retain the feeling of six degrees of freedom, allowing gentle manipulation of the vector using maneuvering thrusters while control surfaces handle more aggressive changes.
Ultimately, left stick flying enhances the immersion and playability of Star Citizen by providing players with a more direct and precise control over their ship’s movements, both in terms of normal thrust and strafing. The integration of control surfaces in the future will be important to achieve even greater control and a seamless experience between atmosphere and space flight.