Retro games have never been more popular, with each old system becoming popular again for the generation that played it in their younger years. There are also some peripherals from the era that evokes fond memories with just a mention. Such is the case of the QuickShot II joystick, a controller that just got a revival under the name THEQUICKSHOT II, by classic computing purveyor Retro Games.
The new-old kit hews closely to the original with its distinct directional microswitches, auto-fire functionality, and suction cups at the bottom. Modern accoutrements include a USB-A interface and six extra buttons you can use in contemporary games if so desired, or just as an easy way to map shortcuts in an emulator. Retro Games will be selling the joystick starting on January 30, 2026, for the price of £29.99, or around $40 or 34€.
The QuickShot II's iconic design will be immediately recognized around most of the western world, being a staple of many homes in the 1980s and into the 1990s. In North America, it was "the" Commodore 64 joystick, although it was also quite popular with Atari ST and Commodore Amiga systems, among others. Over in Europe, most folks used it as a companion to their ZX Spectrum, Amstrad machine, or the Amiga later on. It's also the perfect companion for the Commodore 64 Ultimate we just reviewed, and loved.
The basic flight-stick shape had immediate visual and tactile appeal, being quite ergonomic for the era. The trigger-mounted button was reminiscent of an airplane's stick, immediately evoking the feel of movies like Top Gun. At the time it looked like a serious bit of kit, and its affordability made it a no-brainer purchase.
The basic design went unchanged for several revisions, until QuickShot diversified its offerings with a plethora of options for consoles and PCs, including some very quirky designs.
The unreliability of the QuickShot sticks was also a strong memory, though not a fond one. Even though the QuickShot II and posterior versions used micro-switches instead of dome switches, they were extremely prone to breaking under continued use. The fact that many early 8-bit era games like Decathlon and Track & Field had simple button-mashing mechanics pretty much ensured replacing the joystick was a matter of when, not if. This was such a prevalent issue that joysticks started including auto-fire and even separate dedicated buttons for these games.
To the relief of many parents, clones of these designs were plentiful, as most machines simply used the same DB9 plug and protocol stemming from the original 8-bit Atari home consoles. And let's be honest, it's not like folks were spoiled for choice at the time, nor had easy access to replacement electronics.
