Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 20 July 2026
I would say sim racing is more popular than it has ever been, but that would likely be a lie. During a recent interview with Logitech New Zealand’s National Manager Jamie Hall, it was revealed that Covid times were the peak for the hobby, and introduced a new audience to the prospect. Sales have reportedly calmed down since those times, but sim racing is still at the forefront of the e-sports world.
The drive directive
While Logitech has always been the go-to brand for those looking for a more immersive driving experience within their games, its products were viewed as entry level compared to other options on the market.
Though the G27 and G29 wheels were the benchmark for casual gamers, they were gear-driven. This meant the in-game feedback was capped by how quickly the internals could function.
It wouldn’t be until 2022 when Logitech brought its first direct drive wheel to the market in the form of the G Pro Racing Wheel. This put the brand on the map as a serious player in the sim game, and gave consumers more options when building out their rigs. This G Pro hit the market with an 11Nm, which remains near the higher end of options on the market.
Given the large Nm figure, and how serious the machine was, the NZ$2,000 price tag it came with was little surprise, but meant only the more serious consumers would consider it.
Late last year, Logitech brought another direct drive wheel to the market in the form of the RS50. With an 8Nm motor, and a price tag in the region of $1,300, this wheel bridges the gap between the entry-level equipment and the range-topping G Pro.
Modularity master
As one of the biggest technology brands in our part of the world, Logitech products can be found everywhere. Their compatibility with other devices is what makes them so useful, and this extends to the ‘G’ gaming division.
Aside from the actual functionality of the RS50 itself, I’d argue the biggest benefit in purchasing it over its competition is just how modular everything is.
For example, I received the RS50 wheelbase, a set of RS pedals, and the RS H-pattern shifter for this review. Each of these elements are purchased separately, meaning buyers can start with the wheelbase, and work their way up from there. They don’t even have to purchase the new pedals alongside the wheelbase, as Logitech sells an adapter allowing G29 pedals to be used alongside these newer wheels. The same goes for the older H-pattern shifter.
The wheel itself can also be swapped out with other special edition wheels from Logitech, which fits around the hub.
While the pedals come with a metal mounting plate, they can be fitted to any sort of rig you need, with an array of fastening holes on offer.
The real deal
Like most casual racing gamers, I didn’t have any supporting gear when I first received the RS50, so I set it up at my desk. Thanks to the RS50’s clamping system (which is much improved from the earlier models), the wheelbase can be fitted and removed from a desk in a matter of seconds.
Right out of the box, the RS50 feels like a premium product. The wheelbase itself weighs over 4kg, and the rim is made of solid-feeling metal.
I set the pedals up on the floor, clamped the shifter to my desk, and was ready to race. My experience with a direct drive wheel was limited to my short stay in the Logitech offices earlier this year while interviewing Jamie, so I knew what to expect, but not in this environment.
Thankfully my desk is quite a solid one, as right away the effects of the 8Nm motor become clear. On one hand it provides a genuine-feeling driving experience, but on the other, it’s a lot of force to be put through a desk. So while it can be used with a desk in a pack up/pack down situation, like any other direct-drive wheel, I figured a proper rig was in order.
For those wanting to stay within the Logitech ecosystem, the Playseat Trophy Logitech G Edition can be purchased for $600. I figured I would try my luck on Facebook marketplace, and ended up snagging a second-hand rig for a couple of hundred bucks.
While the official Logitech rig comes with the correct holes already drilled to mount the RS50, my marketplace find did not, so some amateur fabrication was in order. Thankfully a reddit user has uploaded the dimensions for mounting the wheelbase, so drilling these holes was made significantly easier. I also had to do the same for the pedals and shifter.
Once I had everything mounted to the rig, it was time for a test drive. Right away, the RS50 felt much more at home on the rig, and the lower seating position provided a far more familiar driving experience.
The RS50 includes Logitech’s ‘TrueForce’ tech, which takes the sound output from a game, and transfers it into vibrations translated through the force feedback system. When the wheelbase is bolted to a rig, this means these vibrations are sent through the whole seat, making it feel like a car is revving beneath you. Throughout my time testing on Xbox, I have found some games support this TrueForce system better than others.
As for the actual driving experience? The RS50’s direct drive system is no joke. While 8Nm might not sound like a lot in an automotive sense, it’s plenty of torque for your arms to struggle with when you’re driving a tail-happy race car. Obviously the big movements are there through steering inputs, but it’s the little things that astound me more. If there’s a puddle on the track, the RS50 will momentarily loosen to mimic a loss of grip at the front wheels. If you hit a rumble strip at the apex of a corner, it will push in the other direction.
The drive profiles are another feature worth highlighting, as it’s something I find myself using every session. From the force feedback settings to the wheel dampening and rotation, there are a number of settings that need to be adjusted between games. These profiles allow you to switch between preset configurations on the fly, and even within races. They are displayed on the wheelbase’s LED screen, and can also be re-configured on the fly.
Considering the popularity of sim racing, there are plenty of options available in New Zealand, and Logitech’s RS50 lands reasonably centrally. Wheels such as the Moza R5 are cheaper, but don’t offer as powerful direct drive systems. There’s also Fanatec CSL DD at a similar price, but you miss out on the compatibility and modularity from Logitech’s comprehensive ecosystem.
