ⓘ Honeycomb
Honeycomb now says its Echo Aviation Controller XPC is “ready to fly.” Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This phrase comes from a new purchase email sent to US reservation holders, nearly a week after the company pulled its first batch of purchase links – read more here.
The same reader (u/Hilaveli) who shared the previous emails with us also received this one. He’s holding a unit for them until November 6th at 4:37pm UTC (probably based on pre-order time) and the price is still $179.99. Honeycomb gives reservation holders 48 hours to pay, so the email was likely sent around November 4th. The button now shows “Complete your purchase”. So far, no second email has followed asking buyers to wait.
Checkout also gives a better idea of timing. According to our reader, it lists standard shipping as 3 to 4 business days, with no mention of November 20th. This suggests that paid units will ship immediately rather than waiting for the official date, although Honeycomb hasn’t said this outright. The US product page also hasn’t changed yet and still asks visitors to pre-order the controller before November 20th.
Furthermore, the new invitation uses the same template as the previous ones. It probably went to more people on the waitlist than just our reader. Additionally, reservations still only accept US addresses.
However, there is a caveat to Honeycomb’s “ready to fly” claim. The company suspended sales last week because ready-made XPC profiles in the game’s Marketplace were not yet active. Back then, he said he didn’t want buyers to open the controller box only to set everything up from scratch. The new email states that some planes “may need some assigned controls” and that more profiles will arrive on the Marketplace “in the coming weeks.” So now the controller works in MSFS 2024. However, the remaining profiles will likely arrive after the first units reach buyers.
Most of my time is spent writing, and somehow, it still hasn’t stopped being fun. My work mostly revolves around everyday technology, games, watches, DIY modding, and occasional pieces on the chaos of tech politics when companies and governments collide. I try to keep things simple and honest, without sounding like a product brochure. I have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and an associate’s degree in English studies from the College of New Caledonia in British Columbia, Canada. Away from articles and deadlines, life is usually focused on making music, taking photos, or trying to finish games that should have been completed months ago.
