The best sim racing games can often be played with a controller, but for the full experience, you do need a dedicated racing wheel. Direct drive wheels are the best investment you can make, and they’re different from traditional belt-driven or gear-driven wheels. These newer wheels don’t rely on internal mechanisms to emulate feedback. Direct drive wheels directly connect the motor to the wheel shaft to get rid of delay and provide a more detailed force feedback experience. This also makes them more expensive.
Fortunately, PXN, a gaming peripheral manufacturer from China, is introducing its own line of direct drive wheels at a competitive price. PXN is well known in Asia for gaming controllers, budget racing wheels, and sim gear, but this new line of wheels is a definite step up. The line-up includes PXN’s VD10 Direct Drive Wheel Base, and the W DS R2 and W CS R2 wheels.
Can PXN Disrupt The Sim Racing Market?
If you grab PXN’s W DS R2 wheel base and the VD10 Wheel Base, you’ll be spending around $570 in total. Pair it with the cheaper VD6 wheel base, and you’ll save a bit more. The closest competitor, the Logitech RS50 System with wheel base, costs $700 (though it’s on sale right now for around $600). Eurogamer recently reviewed the PXN VD10 Wheel Base and the two new steering wheels, and the verdict is very positive.
Eurogamer praised the wheel base’s compact design, solid aluminum housing, and responsive 10nm motor. Kerb vibrations, bumps, and traction loss are clearly communicated, and overall accuracy and latency feel more premium than budget. As for both of the wheels — the entry-level W DS R2 and the premium W CS R2 — they feature magnetic paddle shifters, a quick-release system, and analog clutch paddles. The CS model leans more toward rally and endurance racing because of its full circular rim, while the DS model is lighter and more practical for games like F1 25.
Right now, there is no native console support, but third-party adapters might make it possible. The digital driver’s display is an interesting feature, allowing you to get live race data displayed directly to your phone. Scan a QR code from the PXN software, and your phone now acts as a sim racing display in a pinch.
The most surprising thing is that Eurogamer states that the feedback fidelity and quality were comparable to Moza wheels. Moza is a brand known for some of the best wheels in the market, so this is certainly high praise. So, before you splurge on that $1000 (or beyond) sim racing setup, make sure you look into PXN’s latest offerings.
