Sim racers on Microsoft’s system look set to get a new option in the increasingly-crowded affordable wheel market. Fanatec released the above image on Facebook yesterday, showing a leather-clad wheel with an integrated information panel and centre-line. Visible behind the wheel are the expected flappy-paddles, but beyond that, there isn’t much more info available in the original image Fanatec supplied.
Luckily, our CSI-grade lab equipment (read: a simple Levels adjustment in Photoshop) reveals quite a lot more info. The standard, coloured Xbox ABXY buttons are clearly visible on one of the three spokes, with the XBox button located on the bottom spoke. Surrounding the wheel boss are the L/R shoulder buttons. One of the most interesting details is what looks like a radial knob on the left spoke, but it isn’t completely clear from the teaser.
What is clear is that, with the integrated paddle-shifters, the wheel is targeting the market under Fanatec’s current offerings, which focus on their customizable Clubsport Universal Hub and the many detachable wheel offerings that work with it (like the recent Forza 6 rim).
We won’t have to wait long to find out all the details, either. In sharing the image, Fanatec announced that the wheel is already in stock in warehouses in the US and Europe, and will go on sale in the next week. We’ll have a full report when that happens.
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See more articles on Accessories, Fanatec, and Steering Wheels.
Turns out it’s just a new wheel for existing bases.
You’d think that if it’s in stock and ready to ship they’d be rolling out the Youtube campaign already. C’mon, impatient gamer here looking at new wheels!!
No kidding…
Is this seriously gonna be another gen where you cant buy one wheel that works on both consoles? Why do people like me have to pick a side or buy TWO DANG WHEELS?
We’ll have to wait and see, if it’s anything like the Xbox Universal Hub where it can do Xbox/Playstation/PC.
Interesting!