Thrustmaster Unveils One More Detail of Upcoming Direct Drive Wheelbase

Thrustmaster Direct Drive Quick Release 02.jpg
Right on schedule for January 20th, Thrustmaster shared a detail about their upcoming direct drive wheelbase.

Thrustmaster has chosen an interesting marketing campaign for their upcoming direct drive wheelbase. While we commonly see a short buildup followed by an availability date for most new sim racing hardware, TM has chosen instead to release only a trickle of information.

A post in late December was our first tease of the hexagon shaped wheelbase, and Thrustmaster promised to share more details on January 20th. True to their word, we now know a little more about the product.

Those seeking a price, availability date, torque ratings or other highly anticipated information will surely be disappointed by what was revealed today. All Thrustmaster chose to share today was a glimpse at the new quick release system.


The news shared here was brief, though not insignificant. Having shared previously that the upcoming DD wheelbase would be compatible with existing Thrustmaster add-ons, concerns were raised in the community about the strength of the existing plastic coupling mechanism used on TM wheels when subjected to the forces of a direct drive wheelbase. The new quick release system has a locking feature, which could help stabilize the coupling.

The next batch of news is due on the 3rd of March. What the next announcement will focus on is anyone's guess, but those in the market for a DD wheelbase and holding off their purchase until more is revealed from Thrustmaster will surely be hoping for significantly more information.

Do you have any interest in the Thrustmaster direct drive wheelbase? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Premium
Hopefully that quick release works with 3rd party wheels OR can be dismounted, otherwise its a massive own goal.

And whats with the delayes and 'teasers'? Shouldnt it be done by now? With Fanatec unable to deliver their world conquering CSL DD at any steady pace, the opening to snatch customers is there for the taking.
 
If it's compatible with TM ecosystem rims, it will be less expensive for TM wheels owners to upgrade than buying a complete set from another brand. If TM can't keep this promise, it has to release a really competitive product, because owners of other brands wheels will not change for TM, that's logic.
 
I now want a DD, I'm not willing to pay for DD1 and need more than CSL DD, either Fanatec give us a CSW DD or I look to this TM product.
 
I now want a DD, I'm not willing to pay for DD1 and need more than CSL DD, either Fanatec give us a CSW DD or I look to this TM product.
What makes you think that this will be better than the CSL DD?
I'll be happy if it is, of course. I can only say that I've had my CSL DD for two months now and it's really good, so good luck to TM.
 
All this is just telling me that they aren't ready and are far from ready. Worse, they're rushing to get a DD out while making bold promises about how the plastic QR on all past TM rims will work perfectly fine on a DD wheelbase.

I would really hold on to my money first and let the diehard TM fanboys test it out first.
 
What makes you think that this will be better than the CSL DD?
I'll be happy if it is, of course. I can only say that I've had my CSL DD for two months now and it's really good, so good luck to TM.
There is a market that fits the gap between CSL DD and DD1 (12nm) and if Fanatec don't go for the gap, well, I'll leave that to the G.O.A.T

"If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver" - Ayrton Senna
(Insert-Sim Racer*)
 
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"Next-gen quick release" = doesn't take several minutes to swap and can be done without a screwdriver or a lot of subsequent cursing when it "quick-releases" on you in the middle of a race.

Next gen indeed :roflmao:
 
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Premium
Looking at the picture supplied, it reminds me of the latch on my Xero-play Quick Release...if they did a design similar to that then they might have a winner on their hands as those are some of the best QR's available in simracing IMO. This is of course assuming everything else about it performs well compared to the Fanatec offerings (I only mention them because this is obviously a mass-market battle...besides, the best price/perfomance DD wheel is the VRS DirectForce Pro #IYKYK :cool:)

Thrustmaster wheels never really appealed to me marketing wise in the past (but I've never tried one), but competition is usually good for the consumer price-wise in the mass market, so hopefully they get it right.
 
"Right on shedule" should be a phrase strictly reserved for physical release dates - and not this kind of marketing roulade, which is now a growing desease originating from a certain vendor, but these years unfortunately spreading rapidly.

You've talked the talk, Thrustmaster. Now is the time for walking the walk and letting a physical product out for all the splendid in-depth reviewers.

(off-topic): Btw, having tried quite a few DD/DD2 now, but don't think I'll aim this way for my personal sim gear, still extremely happy with my cheap T300RS-GT in combo with my T8HA/T3PA/G27pedals and my flexible NLR F-GT Lite.

This mainly due to, though the theoretical max torque of 3.9-4.2 Nm (of what I read) is right for most of my modern sims, I discover, as well as I did with my G27 wheel, enormous forces driving certain mods of older sims, just a bit reminiscent of DD, which I think was also the cause of my G27 breakdown, so careful with my T300RS-GT device.
 
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Premium
I've owned Thrustmaster hardware (controllers, joysticks, wheels, pedals) for years already. They are all good, as mass-produced products go on their niche markets, so I am curious about what TM can achieve diving into DD technology. :coffee:

A quick-release is certainly not getting me one bit excited about it because, at this point, offering a wheelbase without one is like starting a race from the pitlane. The same goes for not being compatible with their own previous wheels (add a hefty ballast to that pitlane start) and other peripherals such as pedals and shifters (add a fluffy time penalty to that pitlane start). By not doing that they will be putting their loyal customers at a crossroads, to say the least, right from the start. Now, if the quailty (reliability, functionality, ease-of-use) of their DD wheel is at least on-par with what's already out there (and seen as benchmark), the price will be the decider in that regard. TM often sells their simwheels as a set with pedals (with exceptions like the TS-PC), so their best shot at scoring in the current market would be to stick to that formula and bring their DD-wheel out with a (not yet announced) NEW set of load-cell pedals for example.

Now, that would be a plot-twist ain't it? :D

Being the quality of their DD wheelbase good and at 8Nm as default, bundling it together with a good set of pedals and shifter (their current T-LCM's and T8HA being the obvious choice), as a set for, let's say, €/$899 could give them a true killer-combo.

Being the quality of their DD wheelbase good and at 8Nm as default AND being compatible with TM previous wheels, they have to price it at least at the same tier of the 'vanilla' CSL-DD if they want to hit the ground running.

But seeing other brands putting solid DD-wheelbases out there already (Moza for example) and gaining momentum, Thrustmaster may be too late to the party already, I fear. :unsure:
 
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I'm reading all these comments and still trying to figure out why everyone is "Thrustmaster" or "Fanatec".. People, for the same damn price as this mass produced 8nm Fanatec wheelbase, the boost kit and a wheel, you can get yourself the AccuForce V2 13nm complete set that comes with a wheel and arguably the best damn software in the industry.. Ok.. Maybe it's an additional $100.. Maybe.. But that depends on which wheel from Fanatec that you buy. Either way folks, there are way better options out there than these 2 companies.
I get what your saying but the AccuForce doesn't come with an array of wheels let alone pedals and gearshifters. Nor is it just plug and play like the of two companies. This is not about which product is better its all about which is mass market, buy AccuForce and your going to end up buying top pedals and shifters whereas the other two you can buy a bundle for good quality and price. Higher end gear are for people with that budget but they are not getting that much more quality for their buck since this is still just sim racing and someone on a Logitech can still beat me no less.
 
I get what your saying but the AccuForce doesn't come with an array of wheels let alone pedals and gearshifters. Nor is it just plug and play like the of two companies. This is not about which product is better its all about which is mass market, buy AccuForce and your going to end up buying top pedals and shifters whereas the other two you can buy a bundle for good quality and price. Higher end gear are for people with that budget but they are not getting that much more quality for their buck since this is still just sim racing and someone on a Logitech can still beat me no less.
What is not "plug and play" about Accuforce? You mount the wheel base, plug in the cables, install the SimCommander software, and away you go. And with the cloud tuning feature it can't be any easier to use.
 
Thinking Thrustmaster product history, the motor is going to be decent/good, but the rest plastic fantastic. Even the quick?release in the image looks like a polymer to me.

But hey, it looks like it has RGB to match your gaming PC!
 
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I get what your saying but the AccuForce doesn't come with an array of wheels let alone pedals and gearshifters. Nor is it just plug and play like the of two companies. This is not about which product is better its all about which is mass market, buy AccuForce and your going to end up buying top pedals and shifters whereas the other two you can buy a bundle for good quality and price. Higher end gear are for people with that budget but they are not getting that much more quality for their buck since this is still just sim racing and someone on a Logitech can still beat me no less.
What the hell are you even talking about.. Accuforce V2 wheel system, SimForge pedals (which cost the same as the Fanatec V3s and are about 30 times better).. and maybe an Aiolog shifter.. The point is, it's all cheaper (and better quality) than the mass produced Fanatec stuff. And costs the same or less.
 
What the hell are you even talking about.. Accuforce V2 wheel system, SimForge pedals (which cost the same as the Fanatec V3s and are about 30 times better).. and maybe an Aiolog shifter.. The point is, it's all cheaper (and better quality) than the mass produced Fanatec stuff. And costs the same or less.
Just a couple of quick questions. How did you determine one pedal set is 30x better than another ? Is there data somewhere that supports this statement ? Next are you saying Accuforce components are hand-made? It is my understanding that if a product isn't mass produced, it is handmade. That usually ups the costs.

Please explain.
 
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Premium
SimForge pedals (which cost the same as the Fanatec V3s and are about 30 times better)..


This review put the brakes on my want of these pedals. I'd rather have the CSPs with the brake performance kit, than to deal with the teething issues. Hopefully Sim Forge can redeem themselves with a future model.
 
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This review put the brakes on my want of these pedals. I'd rather have the CSPs with the brake performance kit, than to deal with the teething issues. Hopefully Sim Forge can redeem themselves with a future model.
Wow.. I dont even know who this guy is.. but have you watched both of the SRG (Sim Racing Garage's) reviews? It seems to be if Barry says they're pretty damn nice, then they probably are.. He didn't nit-pick any thing at all in the hour and a half that I watched..
 
Premium
I watched one of SRG's reviews, and Barry didn't say anything critical of the pedals. Nothing good and nothing bad. His review came across as if he were simply saying they exist. Thats why I started looking for additional opinions.
 
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