Thrustmaster: a complete sim-racing range for all budgets!
Whether you’re new to the world of sim racing or a veteran of virtual tracks, you’re bound to have thought about acquiring a Thrustmaster steering wheel at one time or another. The brand has been present in the world of car simulation for some thirty years. And they’re everywhere. Whether on the Internet or in supermarkets.
Their entry-level and mid-range steering wheels are among the most popular and best-selling in the world. And Thrustmaster’s strength lies in its excellent price/performance ratio and convincing feel. In this article, we look at their sim racing range and the crazy story behind the brand.
A steering wheel for every profile
Whether you’re on a console or a PC, whether you’ve got a small budget or a big one, whether you’re a beginner or an expert… Thrustmaster has a solution for you.
Thrustmaster T128
Thrustmaster T150 low price
Thrustmaster T248 New
Thrustmaster T300RS Best Seller
Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel
Thrustmaster T-GT 2
Thrustmaster T818
The history of the brand
Since it was founded in the USA in 1990, Thrustmaster has made a name for itself as one of the world’s leading suppliers of video game peripherals. Flight simulators, joysticks, and, above all, sim racing wheels – this field in which the company has been successfully operating for over 30 years. Thrustmaster produced the very first Ferrari-licensed steering wheel, the Ferrari 360 Modena.
Thrustmaster steps on the gas!
In the 2000s, the brand acquired by the Guillemot Corporation group in 1999 began accelerating production and innovation. First participation in the E3 show 2001, first Ferrari F1 steering wheel, a replica of the Ferrari Enzo steering wheel… Thrustmaster’s new steering wheels have left motorsport enthusiasts breathless!
In 2010, a legendary Thrustmaster steering wheel is joining the living rooms of thousands of gamers: the T500RS. It’s a huge success, partly thanks to its collaboration with Gran Turismo 5®! The precision and quality of the steering wheel are acclaimed by the press and gamers alike. The powerful, detailed force feedback is almost unanimously praised. And the now-famous T3PA Pro crankset makes competing cranksets look like pieces of plastic.
Thrustmaster T500RS
Four years later, Thrustmaster followed suit with the T300RS. Today, it’s one of the world’s most widely used sim racing steering wheels. But the brand doesn’t stop there! In 2015, it also tackled the entry-level market with the T150, offering unrivaled value for money!
At the time, Logitech was even considering ceasing production of sim racing equipment. That’s saying something! Next came the no less famous TS-PC Racer, an excellent mid-range wheel for PC only. Then, in 2017, the long-awaited arrival of the Thrustmaster T-GT under the Gran Turismo license came.
The T-GT marks a turning point for the brand. While critics had always hailed its innovations since the launch of the T500RS, the elitist aspect of the T-GT, some of whose features only work on Gran Turismo Sport, tended to annoy a section of the community.
The cataclysmic turn of 2021
2021 saw the arrival of the T-GT 2 and the SF1000. Both models promise to shake up cockpits and are the first time the brand has taken a real step upmarket. The T-GT 2 is the first steering wheel with an official PlayStation 5 and Gran Turismo license. Unfortunately, its release coincides with the arrival of the first Fanatec Direct Drives at low prices. A bitter blow!
Stung to the core, Thrustmaster reacted with a stunning announcement: A Direct Drive is coming! Accompanied by a new hybrid steering wheel for the consumer market: the T248.
Unfortunately, Thrustmaster’s marketing campaign leaves gamers feeling extremely frustrated. Many are losing patience and turning to competitor Fanatec, who at least has something concrete to offer!
The Thrustmaster ecosystem
At the same time, Thrustmaster decided to expand its range of accessories. Previously limited to the TH8A gearbox, it now includes the TSS Handbrake Sparko Mod. But also the T.Racing Scuderia Ferrari Edition, a helmet inspired by the F1 paddocks. And the T-LCM pedalboard, Thrustmaster’s first foray into high-end pedalboards equipped with Load Cell!
Thrustmaster SF1000
Thrustmaster TH8A
Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake Sparco
Thrustmaster has chosen to partner with the Jean Alesi eSport Academy, which trains the professional drivers of tomorrow. If you feel like a champion, you can apply by following this link!
Tough competition
For fifteen years or so, Thrustmaster and Logitech have been battling it out with innovation and marketing campaigns. At stake: the hearts and wallets of the general public!
But this was without counting on Fanatec ‘s arrival in the mid-range segment. Until then, the German brand had been more accustomed to designing high-end equipment. Now, with the CSL Elite and CSL DD, it also targets console gamers and those who don’t have a money tree at the bottom of the garden.
Fanatec’s arrival in the mid-range represents a major challenge for Thrustmaster and Logitech. It’s a challenge that should benefit gamers since tomorrow’s mid-range steering wheels must come closer to high-end standards while maintaining attractive prices!
No doubt, the future will be bright for sim racers!