Upgrading and customing your fightstick can dramatically enhance your fightstick experience, performance and appearance. Whether you’re a casual player or a competitive eSports enthusiast, fine-tuning your arcade stick with high-quality components can lead to improved performance and comfort. Here’s a little FAQ / guide we’ve put together to help make sense of the options available when upgrading your fightstick.
Upgrading the Joystick Lever
Not all joystick levers are created equal. Whilst many of the manufacturers supplied joysticks are great, they don’t offer the quality, reliability and performance of something from either Sanwa, Seimitsu or Industrias Lorenzo. Swapping out your stick is a great way of upgrading your fightstick and also offers further upgrade paths and customisation options. As with all the upgrade options detailed in this article, ensure the joystick is compatible with your fightstick before putting your money down.
Sanwa
Sanwa joysticks are renowned in the gaming community for their superior quality and performance. The most popular model, the Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT, is celebrated for its smooth and responsive movements, thanks to its high-quality microswitches and precision engineering. The stick’s sensitivity is particularly appreciated in fighting games, where quick and accurate inputs are crucial. Sanwa joysticks also feature durable construction, ensuring they can withstand the rigors of competitive gaming and long-term use.
In addition to their performance, Sanwa joysticks are highly customizable. Users can swap out various components such as the gates, actuators, and springs to tailor the feel and functionality to their preferences. This level of customization allows gamers to create a joystick setup that suits their playstyle, enhancing both comfort and control. Whether you’re a casual player or a professional competitor, Sanwa joysticks offer a reliable and adaptable option that can give you an edge in your gaming experience.
Click here for our range of Sanwa Joysticks
Seimitsu
Seimitsu joysticks are highly regarded for their precise and tactile feel, making them a favourite among fans of 2D fighting games and shoot ’em ups. One of the most popular models, the Seimitsu LS-32, is known for its shorter throw and stiffer spring compared to other joysticks. This means that it provides quick, responsive movements and a firm return to centre, which can be advantageous in games requiring precise directional inputs. The LS-32’s construction ensures that even the most nuanced movements are accurately registered, giving players a heightened sense of control over their in-game actions.
In addition to their performance characteristics, Seimitsu joysticks are also celebrated for their durability and customization options. Users can easily swap out parts such as restrictor gates and actuators to modify the joystick’s feel according to their preferences. This level of adaptability makes Seimitsu joysticks an excellent choice for gamers who want to fine-tune their gaming experience. Whether you’re navigating intricate combos in a fighting game or manoeuvring through bullet-hell shooters, a Seimitsu joystick can provide the precision and reliability needed to excel.
Joystick Gates
Joystick gates are an essential component of fightsticks, significantly impacting gameplay by shaping the directional input’s feel and precision. A gate is a plastic restrictor plate that fits beneath the joystick, limiting its movement to certain patterns. The three most common types are square, octagonal, and circular gates. Square gates are the default in many fightsticks, offering four main notches at the cardinal directions, making it easier to hit those exact points. This design is particularly beneficial for games that require precise up, down, left, and right inputs. However, some players find performing circular movements, like quarter-circles, less intuitive with square gates.
Octagonal gates, on the other hand, provide eight notches that include the diagonals, making quarter-circle and half-circle movements smoother and more defined. This can enhance the experience for games that rely heavily on these inputs, such as fighting games. Circular gates offer an entirely smooth experience without any notches, allowing for free-form movement. This can be ideal for players who prefer a more fluid joystick motion and for games that require a lot of rotational movement. Each gate type alters the joystick’s feel and responsiveness, allowing players to choose the one that best suits their playstyle and the specific demands of their favourite games.
Upgrading the Buttons
Upgrading your fightstick buttons is a great way of not only improving your fightstick performance, the variety of colour options available means you can make your fightstick your own and stand out from the crowd.
Sanwa
Sanwa arcade buttons are highly esteemed in the gaming community for their superior responsiveness and durability. The Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons, in particular, are known for their minimal actuation force, meaning they require only a light touch to register an input. This responsiveness is crucial for competitive gaming, where speed and precision can make the difference between victory and defeat. These buttons are often praised for their smooth action and audible click, providing both tactile and auditory feedback that enhances the gaming experience.
In addition to their performance, Sanwa buttons are built to last. Made from high-quality materials, they can withstand the rigors of intense, prolonged use. Their design includes a snap-in mechanism that makes installation and replacement straightforward, even for those new to arcade stick customization. Available in a wide range of colours, Sanwa buttons not only perform exceptionally but also allow for aesthetic customization, enabling gamers to personalize their fightsticks to reflect their style. Whether you’re upgrading a current setup or building a new fightstick from scratch, Sanwa buttons are a reliable and popular choice.
Click here for our range of Sanwa buttons
Seimitsu
Seimitsu arcade buttons are well-regarded for their distinct tactile feel and durability, making them a popular choice among gamers who prefer a slightly stiffer button press compared to their counterparts. The Seimitsu PS-14-G buttons are particularly favoured for their crisp, firm feedback, which can enhance precision and control during gameplay. This type of responsiveness is beneficial for both rhythm-based games and fighters, where accurate and deliberate inputs are crucial. The buttons’ construction ensures consistent performance, even under the high-stress conditions of competitive play.
Additionally, Seimitsu buttons are noted for their robustness and longevity. They are constructed with high-quality materials that can withstand repeated use without degrading performance, making them a reliable option for arcade stick customization. The design of Seimitsu buttons also allows for easy installation and customization, accommodating various preferences and aesthetic choices. Available in a range of colours and styles, they enable gamers to personalize their arcade sticks while maintaining the high standards of performance and durability Seimitsu is known for. Whether you are a seasoned competitor or a hobbyist looking to upgrade your setup, Seimitsu buttons offer a compelling blend of reliability and responsive feedback.
The majority of fightsticks feature 30mm buttons as the main buttons and 24mm buttons for additional actions such as start / select. Be sure to measure your buttons before ordering yours.
Upgrading Actuators
Upgrading joystick actuators is a nuanced but impactful way to enhance the responsiveness and precision of your fightstick. Actuators are cylindrical components that sit inside the joystick and interact with the microswitches to register directional inputs. By changing the size of the actuator, you can alter the throw distance—the distance the joystick must travel to register an input. Oversized actuators decrease this distance, allowing for quicker, more responsive inputs. This can be especially beneficial for competitive gamers who need to execute commands rapidly and accurately. Conversely, some players might prefer standard or smaller actuators to avoid accidental inputs and provide a more defined feel.
Moreover, upgrading actuators can complement other customizations, such as installing heavier or lighter springs and switching out the restrictor gate. This combination allows you to fine-tune your joystick’s overall performance to suit your personal gaming style. For instance, a stiffer spring paired with an oversized actuator can create a balance of resistance and responsiveness, making it easier to return to the neutral position quickly without sacrificing the speed of input recognition. Whether you are adjusting for fighting games, where speed and precision are paramount, or for classic arcade titles, a well-chosen actuator upgrade can significantly improve your gameplay experience.
Actuator Colours
A standard actuator is 15.8mm in diameter, the larger the actuator diameter the less travel needed to engade the joystick.
White: 16.2mm diameter
Blue: 16.45mm diameter
Red: 16.7mm diameter
Click here for our range of joystick actuators
Upgrading Springs
Upgrading joystick springs is a straightforward yet effective way to tailor the feel and performance of your arcade stick. Springs determine the resistance and tension of the joystick, impacting how it returns to the neutral position after being moved. By replacing the stock spring with a heavier one, you can increase the resistance, making the joystick feel firmer. This can be particularly beneficial for gamers who prefer a more controlled and precise feel, as the joystick will return to the centre position more quickly. A stiffer spring can also help prevent accidental inputs, as it requires more deliberate movement to actuate the joystick.
Conversely, opting for a lighter spring reduces the resistance, making the joystick easier to move. This can be advantageous for players who prefer a more fluid and effortless control scheme, allowing for faster, less forceful inputs. Light springs can be ideal for games that demand rapid, continuous movements, such as shoot ’em ups or rhythm games. Whether you choose to go with a heavier or lighter spring, upgrading this component allows you to fine-tune your joystick’s responsiveness to match your personal playstyle and the demands of your favourite games. With the right spring, you can achieve a perfect balance between comfort and control, enhancing your overall gaming experience.
Spring rates (colours)
The spring ratings are comparisons to the standard spring when half-loaded and fully loaded.
Blue: 1.5 times standard
Red: 2 times standard
Violet: 1-1.5 times standard
Yellow: 1.3-2 times standard
Click here to check out our range of joystick springs
Upgrading the appearance
Upgrading the appearance of your fightstick is an excellent way to personalize your gaming setup and showcase your unique style. One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this is by changing the artwork on the fightstick’s top panel. Many fightsticks come with a removable plexiglass cover, allowing you to insert custom artwork that reflects your personality or favourite game. You can design your own graphics or download ready-made templates from various online communities. Additionally, you can use high-quality printing services to ensure your artwork looks vibrant and professional. This visual upgrade not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your fightstick but also makes it a conversation piece at tournaments or gaming events.
Another popular upgrade is swapping out the buttons and joystick ball tops with different colours and styles. Sanwa and Seimitsu offer a wide range of button colours and translucent options that can make your fightstick pop. LED buttons are another option, adding a dynamic light show to your setup. You can also replace the joystick ball top with custom designs, such as bat tops or clear tops filled with miniature figurines or glitter. These small changes can dramatically alter the look of your fightstick, making it stand out. Combining these visual upgrades with functional enhancements ensures your fightstick not only performs well but also reflects your unique taste and flair.
Before you buy
Before you take the pluge and order your parts to upgrade your fightstick it’s wise to make sure the parts are compatible with your fighstick. There are numerous groups filled with experts on fightstick upgrades such as Reddit / Fightsticks. We’d recommend you do your research first and make sure your parts are compatible. We’re also happy to help, feel free to contact us if you’re unsure or need some advice.
Our upgrade choice (Mayflash F500 Elite)
We recently picked up this stunning Mayflash F500 Elite, as you’d expect it didn’t stay stock for very long. Out went the boring grey buttons and in went a set of 30mm Seimitsu clear green and purple buttons. To top off the looks we poped a beatiful clear green ball top to tie in the looks.
As a side note, the Mayflash F500 Elite already comes with a Sanwa JLF joystick and buttons. Our button upgrade was purely for looks.
Under the hood we swapped our the spring on the supplied Sanwa JLF joystick for a yellow, tightening it all up. Together with a red actuator it’s made for one trigger happy fightstick with minimal stiff input and some awsome look.
We’ve in the process or producing some custom Arcade Parts overlays for the F500, we’ll post about that in an upcoming article.
Parts used
- 8 x 30mm buttons
- 1 x 24mm buttons
- 1 x Yellow spring
- 1 x Red actuator
Let’s hear from you!
Have you upgraded your fightstick? What modifications have you made and how have they changed your gaming experience? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.