Logitech acquires flight- and space-sim controller maker, Saitek

With its recent acquisition, Logitech is preparing itself to further integrate itself into the simulation controller market.

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Logitech has announced its acquisition of the Saitek brand and its line of flight, farm, and space simulation game controllers.

Fans of games like Elite Dangerous, Eve Valkyrie, Star Citizen, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Farm Simulator games will be familiar with the Saitek brand as it’s been a go-to manufacturer of simulation controllers for some time now.

Saitek was first founded in 1979 as a developer of electronic chess games, but then entered the PC peripherals market in the 1990s. Since then, the company has released its own keyboards, mice, and audio products for the PC market, although it has always stayed true to its original calling: simulation game controllers.

Logitech’s acquisition of Saitek means it’ll now be able to be a bigger part of the simulation games community, as it already creates gaming wheels for the driving simulation market. Having Saitek on board means it’ll now be able to offer a more complete experience to its fans as it has a vision to take its established products further by delivering products within the flight, farm, and space simulation realms.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 16, 2016 9:10 AM

    Daniel Perez posted a new article, Logitech acquires flight- and space-sim controller maker, Saitek

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      September 16, 2016 9:10 AM

      Is anyone else making sticks? Madcatz?

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        September 16, 2016 9:16 AM

        Thrustmaster, CH

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          September 16, 2016 9:57 AM

          Didn't even know they were still in business. Good though.

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        September 16, 2016 8:18 PM

        i thought Madcatz bought Saitek!? because the mouse i have was branded saitek, and then a bit later the site and branding changed to madcatz... but it was all the same mice.

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          September 16, 2016 9:39 PM

          Madcatz had purchased them a while back but now have sold them to Logitech for $13 million in cash money.

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      September 16, 2016 9:14 AM

      That's bad news. Competition is good. I guess Thrustmaster is still out there.

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        September 16, 2016 9:19 AM

        What competition? Maybe at the lowest price bracket, but otherwise they had basically divided up that niche market. Once you got above integrated stick, Thrustmaster and Saitek basically took over each level of HOTAS.

        If anything, this might bring some hope to having a true competitor.

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          September 16, 2016 9:24 AM

          Presumably if Logitech wanted to get into that space and didn't buy Saitek there would be another player which is good

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            September 16, 2016 9:25 AM

            Maybe. I have a hard time believing the market can support that many makers.

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              September 16, 2016 9:29 AM

              At the mass market level it probably can't. But once you're at the level of Thrustmaster's Warthog there are a lot of individuals who make super high end components - all metal rudder controls, actual aircraft parts, etc.

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        September 16, 2016 9:56 AM

        Saitek going down would be worse than being bought by Logitech who have hands down the best customer support (to a degree that it was abused by sleazy shackers) and overall really good products.

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        September 16, 2016 9:59 AM

        I don't know, Saitek HOTAS in its current state is kind of garbage and maybe Logitech can steer them in a higher quality direction.

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      September 16, 2016 9:20 AM

      Whoa. That's...interesting.

      What's gonna happen to all my old Saitek stuff? :|

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      September 16, 2016 9:51 AM

      Didn't MadCatz buy them not too many years ago? O_o

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      September 16, 2016 9:56 AM

      They acquired Saitek from Madcatz which the article doesn't seem to indicate. Hopefully their QC will improve under Logitech

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      September 16, 2016 3:05 PM

      Damn, 13 million? That sounds like a bargain.

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        September 16, 2016 7:24 PM

        Yeah doesn't seem like that much, niche market though

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      September 16, 2016 7:14 PM

      I just hope keep hosting the drivers for my dad's X45. Was shocked to see them still on the website when my parents got their new computer

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      September 16, 2016 7:46 PM

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