Saitek is a designer and manufacturer of consumer electronics founded in 1979 by Swiss technologist Eric Winkler. Originally established as a producer of electronic chess games under the name SciSys (renamed Saitek in 1987), the company is best known for its PC gaming peripherals, particularly analogue flight simulation controllers such as joysticks, throttles, and rudder pedals, as well as mice, keyboards, and other gaming hardware.
History
Saitek was founded in 1979 by Swiss technologist Eric Winkler as a manufacturer of electronic chess games. In 1987, Saitek developed the Pocket Plus in collaboration with chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. By the early 1990s, the company had established distribution and design offices in the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, and had built a factory in China, where it also provided outsourced manufacturing services to Western brands.
In 1994, Saitek acquired Hegner & Glaser's Mephisto line of chess computers. The company subsequently diversified into PC peripherals, concentrating on game controllers for flight simulation, driving, and first-person gaming, as well as general PC input, connectivity, and multimedia devices. In 2005, Saitek introduced a high-fidelity audio product line for PC and iPod.
Corporate ownership
On November 14, 2007, Mad Catz announced that it had acquired Saitek for $30 million. Following this acquisition, Saitek's manufacturing operations remained independent and were renamed Ryder Industries, which continued to operate as an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider.
On September 15, 2016, Logitech announced that it had purchased the Saitek brand and its simulation product line assets from Mad Catz for $13 million in cash. Following this acquisition, most Saitek products were rebranded as Logitech G products.
Notable products
Saitek produced a wide range of flight simulation hardware under its Pro Flight line, including:
- Pro Flight Yoke System and Throttle Quadrant
- Pro Flight instrument, radio, multi, and switch panels
- HOTAS systems, including the X-52 Pro (2007), X-55 Rhino (2014), and X-56 HOTAS (2018)
- Flight sticks such as the Cyborg F.L.Y. 5, Cyborg Evo, and ST290
- Pro Flight Rudder Pedals and Cessna-branded controllers
- Heavy equipment (farming simulation) bundles and side panels for PC
- The programmable Saitek Cyborg keyboard for PC
Legacy
Saitek is widely recognized in the flight simulation community, and its controllers have been used by flight enthusiasts for home simulation use. Under Logitech ownership, the Saitek product lines continue to be sold and supported, with compatibility confirmed for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on Windows. The company also produced gaming products under other brands, including the GameShark line of cheat devices and audio products under the TRITTON brand, reflecting the breadth of its product portfolio prior to and during its ownership by Mad Catz.
