Thrustmaster T500RS – The New Official GT5 Steering Wheel?

Accessories Gran Turismo 5 December 1st, 2010 by Jordan

A brand new steering wheel, the Thrustmaster T500 RS, first popped up in the game’s settings, as noted by TomN here in our forums. Today, Tom also discovered this teaser animation on Thrustmaster’s website, revealing the T500 RS’ new logo alongside official GT5 branding. The teaser provides us with our first peek at the new wheel (aside from the in-game icon), though many details remain unknown. What we do know, however, is that the T500 RS will feature “unmatched steering accuracy, thanks to the built-in H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology)” and “16-bit resolution with 65,536 values in the wheel’s rotation”.

Until we know more about the wheel’s specific features, its most notable attribute is what appears to be its official endorsement by Polyphony Digital. Only the Logitech Driving Force GT wheel has carried the GT logo since its release back in 2008, and Logitech’s loss of branding could mark a significant change in the balance of power in the sim racing accessory market. Thanks, once again, to TomN for digging this information up – stay tuned for more developments.

UPDATE: Kazunori Yamauchi has now also commented about the T500 RS, via Google Translator: “T500RS has great potential.I can not wait to launch the device.” (thanks, matteo!).

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115 Comments

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  1. December 3rd, 2010 at 1:40 pm - #
    BWX

    Thrustmaster wheels are garbage.

  2. December 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 am - #
    riph

    better they use optical sensor for paddles.im sick with old tech,obsolete potentiometers.my G25 started to brake-sticking. :(

  3. December 3rd, 2010 at 2:17 am - #
    Dave-o

    From following GTplanet for year it seems to me that Kazanouri DOES listen to the collective view of GTPlanet users, and attempts to rectify the issues. Surely they will support Logitech wheels in the face of such scathing.

  4. December 2nd, 2010 at 11:30 pm - #
    Markyy

    well, I just bought a Driving Force GT last month to prepare for GT5 and I’ve used it in GT5Prologue to feel it.. Of course GT5 is beyond the driving physics of prologue.. I am now satisfied with this DFGT, it’s comfortable and amazing. :)

  5. December 2nd, 2010 at 5:59 pm - #
    dearlybeloved

    the acronym issue reminds me of the episode of the simpsons where homer learns some fancy words during his sleep with this subconcous tapes and wakes up talking all elaborate and fancy. The funny bit is he wants a spoon and keeps up coming with all these descriptions until someone goes ‘spoon’

    This is what this t500/H.A.R.T. malarkey reminds me.

    Funny as hell, mind.

    peace out.

  6. December 2nd, 2010 at 5:47 pm - #
    AGTFan

    Here are my thought on this:

    PD and Sony should have supported their local fans by supporting the dominant wheels on the market properly (G25 and G27) instead of taking Thrustmasters money for hyping their product.

    The beneficiaries of this deal are Sony, PD and Thrustmaster but the customers are screwed and stuck with great Logitech wheels, which PD can’t be bothered (or not allowed to) support all buttons on.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm - #
      John

      Except they are going to support G25/G27.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 11:14 pm - #
      AGTFan

      @John, is there any official info about this?

      PD decided to support the Thrustmaster wheels for the GT5 release version, which took more resources than supporting G25/G27 buttons as they already supported G25/G27 in Prologue.

      So it’s not like it’s an accident that we have a new wheel by a new vendor in there now and thousands of old wheels not fully supported.

  7. December 2nd, 2010 at 5:09 pm - #
    Patrocles

    “unmatched steering accuracy, thanks to the built-in H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology)”

    To paraphrase Michael Bolton from film Office Space…
    ‘HallEffect Accurate Technology?’ What the f**k does that mean!!

  8. December 2nd, 2010 at 1:55 pm - #
    tyl0r_r

    About $ 500.
    Is a high-end.
    RT @ Tomm_N : @ Kaz_Yamauchi , Could You Tell U.S. Price range in which the Thrustmaster T500 INTO RS Will Fall? Thanks a Lot!

    — Kaz tweets it’s a $500 wheel? My first CAR was $500.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:06 pm - #
      FlareKR

      I guess that’s what the 500 in the name stands for.
      RS is for Raging $#@^.

  9. December 2nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm - #
    Ryan

    About $500 for this?? No thanks

  10. December 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 am - #
    Brandon

    I’m glad I keep delaying buying the G27. Hopefully the T500RS will be at a reasonable price, and have a clutch.

  11. December 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 am - #
    mocheelz

    C’mon PD, they have the time and effort to support a new wheel but not the G25/G27 that’s been around much longer? What the hell is going on. I swear these guys have their priorities out of wack. Please add full support for the G25/G27. PD should realize that any hardcore GT fan will own one of those.

  12. December 2nd, 2010 at 10:58 am - #
    dearlybeloved

    Personally I think that this is unfair to all the Logitech G25/27 owners as it seems to me that their loyalty has not paid off. It would have been better to have had a mention of a new steering wheel to be announced by all those parties concerned.

    I for one would love to get a better wheel but have chosen to stick with the DFP until all issues regarding the game e.g. clutch are resolved.

    Peace out.

  13. December 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 am - #
    jpro01

    So whats next, Madcatz!

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:04 pm - #
      FlareKR

      Oh no, those things break on contact, they might as well have been made by Chinese kittens.

  14. December 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 am - #
    Schumito

    My G25 works great with GT5, I have no issues with it. It is 100% responsive etc. I am not bugged by anything in the game, I’m too concentrated with driving to note that a shadow is out of place. Standard cars look great, Premium car look awesome. Why do people always need to grumble?

    The only thing it annoys me is that certain races that need for eg: European cars prior 1960, the cars are not listed so I go an buy one. For the rest, it is fine.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 am - #
      GTRob

      The problem is not PD, it is Logitech, since the G25 and G27 wheels are made for the PC sim racer.

  15. December 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 am - #
    Skyfox85

    I’m hoping they still gonna be adding official support for g25/g27 so all buttons and stuff can be configured and used.

    About the game, I don’t get people who are whining about some shadows and other pretty unrelevant stuff. I’m more dissapointed in the quality of the standard cars instead of some shadows wich you won’t be paying attention to when your freaking racing!

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 am - #
      speedthrill

      One button doesn’t work on mine. most above are like a controller, square triangle circle cross.
      Under that arrows, all functioning. Under that, select and start, under that 6 gears.

      On steering wheel, left is to watch behind, other one is to use the beamers….

      You guys are flipping out…

  16. December 2nd, 2010 at 5:34 am - #
    DrTrouserPlank

    The sad thing is all these “official” wheels are actually the reason why they won’t fully support the G25/27 which are still the best wheels you can get along with the Fanatec.

    If they supported the 25/27 fully, people wouldn’t buy the branded GT wheel, and therefore they’d not be able to sell the GT tie-in to the wheel manufacturers for as much. To that end it’s a shame that Logitech don’t pony up some money to stick the GTbranding on the G25/27 and that way we’d have the best of both worlds.

    I guess they think a £200 wheel is too much for most people though.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 10:38 am - #
      speedthrill

      Stop it, G25 is fully supported, it just doesn’t have a xmb button, wich is why you can use both controller and wheel at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:03 pm - #
      FlareKR

      Even after GT5′s release, DrMorningWood has nothing else better to say but complain and complain.

  17. December 2nd, 2010 at 3:20 am - #
    MAidioPT

    I may Sell my DFGT that i bought 1 month ago if this is a great wheel.

    100 bucks. who want my wheeeel !? XD

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:02 pm - #
      FlareKR

      Isn’t there something called a recession? And you’re already selling your wheel, I think you should keep it, the DFGT is a great wheel.

  18. December 2nd, 2010 at 12:48 am - #
    thisisajoke

    so instead of fixing the problems they have in the game….they introduce something else to the idiots to distract them from what the real issues are..

    I swear you kids act like ferrets with keys in front of them…

    FIX THE GAME BEFORE YOU START BRINGING IN MORE S^^T TO RUIN THE ALREADY BOTCHED EXPERIENCE

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 am - #
      ChicoMaloXD

      Go F^^K yourself : )

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:40 am - #
      thisisajoke

      hey i got some shiny keys…shiny shiny!!

      go get it!

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 3:48 am - #
      robbie

      At least you have your name right.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 4:05 am - #
      Keyz13

      referring to your name~ means ‘this is = you are”. I have an ole G25 with a broken reverse gear. To me this game is FULLY supported for the G25, no tri to activate the clutch, it all just works, but I’m all for some competition to keep the driving wheels up to snuff. I have loved driving this game, especially the dirt/ snow stuff, way better than the GT4 to me. No botched experience for me.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 4:25 am - #
      JesseDeya

      @imajoke

      Say what? Your post is several layers of fail.

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 am - #
      speedthrill

      with keyz here, finally some dignity in a post, and no lies!!!

    • December 2nd, 2010 at 5:51 pm - #
      viejaloca

      Are you dumb?? Game devs don’t concentrate on ONE thing at a time! They have different departments for seperate parts of the game!

  19. December 2nd, 2010 at 12:46 am - #
    RTSolvalou

    Here is the newer, better racing wheel I said would come out some close time after GT5s release, I hope no one bought the outdated wheels! you were warned. (33% survey topic)
    Good Stuff.

  20. December 1st, 2010 at 11:16 pm - #
    A_A_B

    Great, another wheel to distract them from supporting the G2x’s.