Playing a racing game in VR is an immensely satisfying gaming experience. The rush of cars blazing past you, the thrill of drifting around corners, and the detailed interiors of some of the world’s most exotic vehicles is all enough to take your breath away when viewed from inside a VR headset. When you look down in a racing game though and see your character’s hands grasping a steering wheel it can take you out of the experience if you’re just holding a regular old gamepad in your real hands instead. That’s why you need a certified racing wheel to really take the immersion to the next level.
The Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition Racing Wheel is designed to offer a top-of-the-line racing experience for PS4 and PC gaming (as well as PS3 too) and it works right out of the box. As soon as I opened it up and set everything up I just plugged it into my PS4 and the wheel automatically started spinning for calibration. No other setup required.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha4enJrFdpQ
When I reviewed the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS Flight Pack I noted that I wasn’t exactly a rabid connoisseur of realistic flight simulators, but I could more than appreciate the audience and their tastes. I’ve got a high-level of respect for gamers that take the time to master flight control systems and perfect flying a craft in a realistic way. The same can be said for excelling at a high level in racing games with wheels like the T300RS.
Setting up this wheel was a little confusing at first, but that’s only because it came in a few more pieces than I expected. When you open the box the wheel itself is actually disconnected from the base and you just have to slide it into a socket and spin it around a bit to lock it in place. On the bottom you can attach a table mount that tightens to the edge of a table (or TV tray or something similar) and once that’s done it feels great to use. The pedals just plug into the back of the base, the base plugs into the wall and the PS4 via USB, and that’s it.
Ergonomically it’s fantastic, the material on the wheel itself is nice to grip and it spins in my hands very easily. There is nice resistance while turning and it spins back to a centered position when you let go, which is great for straightening out after turns or a collision. The subtle force feedback is noticeable when it needs to be and just subtle enough to add that extra ounce of immersion that’s missing most sorely from using just a gamepad.
I spent most of my time testing the T300RS GT Edition with my PS4 Pro and PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset in DriveClub VR and DiRT Rally. The setup also works out of the box for PC and does a wonderful job of increasing the level of immersion in titles such as Project CARS and iRacing.
Making the transition from gamepad playing to using a racing wheel took a few races. Instead of alternating the brake and acceleration with trigger presses I was shifting my foot between two different pedals. The setup even comes with a clutch already, which is great for fans of driving manual transmission vehicles. I don’t possess that skillset, but everything else about the T300RS GT Edition was wonderful for me to use.
Final Recommendation: Absolutely
There are more expensive wheels on the market and there are more affordable wheels on the market. The Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum, but you get what you pay for. It’s wonderful to use, easy to setup, and feels amazing in your hands. I can’t imagine playing a game like DriveClub VR, Project CARS, DiRT Rally, or any other racing title without a wheel like this now.
The Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition Racing Wheel is now available for purchase from Amazon for $390 as well as other retailers online and in stores.
