Everyone knows that the Danish brand Asetek is a premium brand, with high-performance bases and magnificent wheels. Quality and performance are the watchwords, and Asetek knows how to delight and satisfy the world’s most demanding sim-racing pilots.

Except that offering premium-quality peripherals comes at a price, literally. Let’s take the example of the Direct Drive La Prima base, which represented the brand’s entry-level product. It develops 12 nm of torque and costs nearly €790, which is expensive for an “entry-level” product. But the brand wants to add another string to its bow by tackling a market where racers expect a 3-figure bill for a sim-racing setup, not 4.

Fanatec and Moza Racing offer bundles that can’t be exchanged for an arm, so why shouldn’t Asetek do the same? It would open up the Danish brand to a very general audience, especially those who want to get into sim-racing.

Gamescom 2025 saw the unveiling of Astek’s Initium, a range of sim-racing peripherals designed for novice drivers who want to have fun and learn to drive, without breaking the bank or taking out a loan.

The 2 Initium bundles for novice pilots

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The entry-level market is largely dominated by Logitech and Thrustmaster, at least when it comes to non-Direct Drive bases. Fanatec, meanwhile, has a good share of the market with its CSL DD, a versatile and, above all, inexpensive base compared with the competition.

Asetek is targeting the same segment in which Fanatec and Moza Racing are battling it out, that of bases with less than 6 nm of torque. The first Initium bundle therefore includes a 5.5 cm torque DD base, pedals and steering wheel, all for… hold on to your seatbelts… €680! Yes, you read that right, Asetek is offering a complete bundle that costs less than its La Prima base.

As for the second bundle, it’s the same thing, with just one difference: a rather basic, pit-style chassis, but one that’s just right for Sunday drivers. The price is almost double, at €1,180. Some might say that’s an expensive price for such a chassis, but Asetek includes a bucket in the package, in addition to the Initium bundle.

Initium base

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Not surprisingly for the price, the Direct Drive base develops just 5.5 nm of torque, which puts it up against the likes of CSL DD, Moza R5 and Thrustmaster T598. You can buy this base on its own, and it costs €420. That’s a very reasonable price for this high-performance product, and you get PC and Xbox compatibility, which is a first for Asetek and the console market. The Danish brand has expressed its desire to offer peripherals for Xbox and Playstation, and it has kept its word.

The Initium steering wheel

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A new range means a new wheel. The Initium is a handsome wheel, entirely round, which is quite a change from the others offered by Asetek. The design is rather flashy, I think, with what appears to be leather all around and a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite faceplate, probably, at least from the colors.

There are a total of 21 controls, a RevLED and 2 paddles at the rear, as well as the brand’s QR which was developed in partnership with Simucube, but Asetek’s product makes it possible to swap wheels more quickly without resorting to the safety pin. The wheel is priced at around €180, which is not bad at all. However, no information on its diameter, but I’m guessing 30 cm from the pictures.

Initium crankset

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Let’s move on to the brand’s crankset. On the menu: 2 pedals, Hall sensors and a composite structure reinforced with carbon fiber. It’s visually beautiful, minimalist, with a few orange accents. Price-wise, expect to pay around €140, which again isn’t too bad considering the competition and the brand’s pedigree.

The Initium chassis

5% discount with code SRFR5

Let’s finish quickly with the chassis, which is a hybrid of GT and F1. The structure is metal, with a fabric bucket seat. It’s basic, yes, but the aim is to offer an inexpensive option to attract as many racers as possible to the brand’s ecosystem.

Let’s just wait until we’ve tested this new bundle from Asetek before giving our verdict.