11 Dec 2021 2:59 PM +00:00 UTC

What is Force Feedback in a racing wheel?

If you're planning to purchase a wheel for your sim racing setup, or you already own one, you've probably wondered 'what is Force Feedback in a racing wheel?'

You may have heard of the term, but you may not know how it works, what it aims to replicate, and whether or not it is necessary to improve your racing game experience.

Thankfully, we're here to talk you through everything Force Feedback-related in this guide.

What is Force Feedback?

Force Feedback is a simulation technique used in racing wheels to deliver a true-to-life representation of what it is like to race for real.

In other words, it tries to replicate what the driver would feel if he were to race under the exact same conditions in the same location in real life and, ultimately, provide you with a ton of extra information on how your car is performing so you can make minor adjustments to improve it.

These days, top racing wheels, like this Logitech G923 featured in our list of the best racing wheels for Xbox, include Force Feedback.

logitech g wheel — Image Credit: Logitech

In Logitech's case, this comes in the form of TrueForce which, Logitech boasts, utilises both in-game audio and game physics to deliver vibrations and more accurate feedback responses to the steering wheel.

How does Force Feedback work in a racing wheel?

The Force Feedback technique is achieved through a combination of in-game code from whichever title you're playing, the right configuration, and several electric motors inside the sim racing wheel.

The electric motors create resistance in conjunction with what's occurring on your screen, and it alters as the driving conditions change.

For example, if you run wide on a game like F1 2021 and end up driving in the gravel, you'll begin to feel a sudden change of resistance and vibration as your wheels begin to spin on the uneven surface. This will therefore cause you to fight with the car to get it back on track, much like how it would feel in real life.

Do you need Force Feedback in a racing wheel?

The short answer is no, Force Feedback isn't necessary for racing games, however, if you want to take your sim experience to the next level, you may find picking up a racing wheel with Force Feedback to be beneficial.

Ultimately, Force Feedback adds more signals and interaction for you to respond to, giving you extra opportunities to react to those signals more precisely and accurately so you can improve as a racer.

Additionally, with the increase in signals and interactions, you should feel more immersed in the racing action as the whole experience becomes a greater and more accurate representation of what it is like to race in real life.

How much do Force Feedback racing wheels cost?

Generally speaking, the addition of Force Feedback to a racing wheel adds to its price tag.

For example, this mid to high-end Thrustmaster T300 RS GT as featured in our list of the best racing wheels for PS5 will cost significantly more than a wheel without the added simulation technique.

However, most top racing wheels these days include Force Feedback, and devices like the Hori RWA Apex are a great example of a relatively inexpensive bit of kit that still includes Force Feedback for added in-game immersion.