Sim-racing on the PC is popular, and has been for a very long time. In fact, the big names in the industry made their name on the PC gaming platform, then began to extend their range to home consoles.
Somewhere between the Xbox 360 and the X/S Series, we began to see bases, steering wheels and pedalboards for game consoles. Of course, this also applies to Sony’s Playstation, because what’s done on one platform is also available on the other.
Today, the console sim-racing market has undergone a major evolution, much to the delight of racers. Gone are the days of belt- or gear-driven bases, as these have been replaced by Direct Drive bases. What’s more, the latter have seen their selling price drop drastically of late, making them the perfect opportunity to set up a complete sim-racing setup on Xbox Series X/S. And that’s just what we’re going to talk about today.
The best entry-level Xbox Series sim-racing setups
CSL DD Ready2Race GT3 5 nm Bundle
Fanatec is a well-known brand on the sim-racing market, present on both PC and consoles, notably the Xbox Series X and S. For this list, I’ve chosen the CSL DD Ready2Race GT3 bundle, which includes a 5 nm torque Direct Drive base, a GT/endurance-specific steering wheel, and the standard CSL Pedals.
So, the CSL DD in this bundle develops 5 nm of maximum torque, but you can increase this to 8 nm with the boost kit. The CSL DD is an excellent starting point for improving your sim-racing skills. The feel is very natural with this device, offering just the right balance between immersion, feedback and sensation.
The steering wheel is a slight evolution of the CSL McLaren GT3. The design remains largely the same, but there are a few changes to the paddles. These are now made of aluminum for greater immersion in the race.
The CSL Pedals is a very basic pedalboard from Fanatec, featuring an all-steel structure, but with the advantage of being upgradable. This means you can add a Load Cell kit or a clutch pedal.
Let’s turn now to the chassis and the final bill. For the cockpit, Fanatec offers a
The Moza Racing R3 bundle
Moza Racing is a young brand in the sim-racing industry. However, it is backed by engineers who have long made gyroscopes for cameras. So to say that this manufacturer knows a thing or two about electric motors is to underestimate its expertise in the field.
For our entry-level list, I took the R3 bundle for Xbox, developed in partnership with Microsoft. It must be said that this comes as a bit of a shock to the console peripherals market, as Moza is a young brand in the segment, but it still managed to convince Xbox to supply it with chips for its bundle.
But that’s not the point. This bundle includes a Direct Drive base which develops 3.9 nm of peak torque. This power is just right for starting out in sim-racing, as you won’t have to worry about steering jerks if you screw up.
The steering wheel is a variant of the ES, specially designed for Xboxes. It features the buttons of the Xbox controllers, with a leather-like material on the hoop, and a complete aluminum structure.
As for the crankset, it’s the SR-P Lite, in 2-pedal version and without Load Cell. It’s a minimalist metal device, but can easily be upgraded with an LC kit and a clutch pedal.
Let’s end this bundle with a chassis and the total price. For the cockpit, you have the Playseat Evolution trading at €299, and the R3 bundle costs €399, for a total of €698.
The best mid-range Xbox Series sim-racing setups
ClubSport DD, ClubSport R300 V2 and ClubSport Pedals V3
For the first mid-range entry, I didn’t take a ready-made bundle from Fanatec, because the ones currently available on the brand’s site, with good power, come with a GT wheel for Xbox. I’ve got nothing against this discipline or this type of wheel, but it’s still a wheel aimed at a specific sim-racing segment.
As for the base, the ClubSport DD develops 12 nm of constant torque, which is delivered in a linear and very precise manner, favoring total immersion in racing. Attached to this base, we have the ClubSport R300 V2 steering wheel, which is 30 cm in diameter, with a flat bottom and controls that are on a hub at the rear. The steering wheel is swappable on the Fanatec store. If you don’t like my choice, you can pick up another as long as it’s Xbox-compatible.
And as for the crankset, it’s none other than the ClubSport Pedals V3, considered one of the best in its class in Load Cell 90 KG. What’s more, it’s customizable, and available in an inverted version. And before we get to the price tag, I’d like to suggest the ClubSport GT Cockpit as the chassis to complete this setup.
The price is around €2,880, including ClubSport peripherals and chassis.
The Logitech G Pro + Pro Pedals bundle
The G Pro Racing is Logitech’s first Direct Drive base, developing 11 nm of constant torque, which puts it right up there with the ClubSport DD. In terms of design, I have to admit that Logitech’s base is large, even big I’d say. It takes up a lot of space, but it’s still visually appealing.
As for the steering wheel, it’s magnificent, with its brushed aluminum and leather hoop. What’s more, the steering wheel features 14 controls on the faceplate, 4 paddles on the rear and a racing-inspired QR.
Unfortunately, this bundle is no longer available with the Pro Racing Pedals. Logitech has decided to sell this peripheral separately, but that’s okay, because you’ll still get 3 pedals, a Load Cell on the 100 KG brake and an all-metal structure.
Let’s talk price now. The base + steering wheel bundle sells for €1099.99, the pedals for €389.99, and the chassis is based on the Fanatec ClubSport GT, which costs around €1300 with its bucket. The total is around €2,780.
The best Xbox Series sim-racing setups at the top of the range
Fanatec Podium DD2, Porsche GT3 R and ClubSport Pedals V3
Let’s end this list with the best of Xbox and Fanatec. For the basics, the
The base develops 25 nm of peak torque, which is enormous for sim-racing. The feeling is very immersive if you have the experience to control this monster. I’ll tell you right now: if you go all out, there’s a risk of getting hurt with the Podium DD2 when you hit a wall at over 200 km/h.
As for the steering wheel, it’s a replica of the wheels found on some Porsches, and the design is just magnificent. Nothing more to say about that. The same goes for the pedals, which haven’t changed since the last Fanatec setup on this list, and neither has the chassis.
For the total price now, expect to pay around €3750. That’s still expensive, yes, but you can pick up another Xbox-compatible steering wheel, or upgrade to the ClubSport DD+, which will save you €500.
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