THEQUICKSHOT II revives the classic QuickShot joystick for modern play

Interest in retro gaming keeps building, and along with classic systems come the accessories that defined an era. One unmistakable symbol of that time — the QuickShot II joystick — is officially making a return. Retro Games has announced an updated version of the controller called THEQUICKSHOT II.

On the outside, the newcomer stays almost entirely faithful to the original: the familiar silhouette, directional microswitches, auto-fire, and those signature suction cups that anchor it to the desk. Under the hood, it’s tuned for today’s devices with a USB-A port and six additional buttons that can be used in modern games. Sales begin on January 30, 2026, at £29.99 (about $40 or €34). The pitch is simple: classic feel, modern plug.

The original QuickShot II was among the most popular joysticks of the 1980s and 1990s. In North America, it was closely associated with the Commodore 64, while in Europe it found a home with ZX Spectrum, Amstrad, and Commodore Amiga owners. Versatility and comfort turned it into a fixture of home gaming setups across those years.

Its design stood out for the time: an ergonomic shell and a trigger-mounted button that evoked aircraft yokes and big-screen action, the kind that made Top Gun a cultural touchstone. Despite its simplicity, the QuickShot II earned a reputation as a serious gaming tool — and a price within reach helped it go mainstream.

There was a flip side: the joystick also became known for being fragile. Even with microswitches, it often failed, especially in games that demanded rapid, repeated button presses. That spurred the rise of auto-fire features and a wave of clones using the same DB9 connector. The updated THEQUICKSHOT II is all about recapturing that atmosphere without the constraints of old hardware, landing as a natural fit for 80s-style retro setups. It feels less like a novelty and more like a thoughtful bridge between muscle memory and modern play.