There are many brands active in sim-racing. You’ll certainly be familiar with some of the best-known names in the field, such as Logitech and Thrustmaster, who are major players in the gaming industry worldwide, with a presence in every corner of the globe.

Of course, there are other players in sim-racing, such as Simagic and Fanatec. These two brands battle it out in a highly competitive market, where the emphasis is on innovation, product quality and performance. For some, Simagic wins out over Fanatec because the Chinese manufacturer has car enthusiasts, and professional drivers, on its teams, giving it an edge over the competition.

Except that Fanatec has democratized Direct Drive bases for everyone, not only making them accessible in terms of performance with CSL DD, but also lowering their purchase price. This has enabled many gamers to take up sim-racing with fewer financial constraints. It has to be said that buying a quality sim-racing setup for €500 – €600 is more attractive than shelling out €1,000 for the Direct Drive base alone.

Corsair recently acquired Fanatec, or rather Endor AG, the company that owns Fanatec. Since then, the German brand has been revived, with products and partnerships with prestigious motorsport brands. Some say Fanatec has risen from the ashes, while others remain rather skeptical about its future. Is Fanatec worth considering in 2025? Well, let’s find out.

New products from Fanatec

If you’re a fan of sim-racing, you’ll know that there was a gap in Fanatec’s catalog. On the one hand, the CSL covers the entry-level with bases of less than 10 nm torque. The top of the range is reserved for Podium DD with 20 and 25 nm. Except that virtual racers are looking for the middle ground, typically between 12 and 16 nm of torque.

For a long time, Fanatec had no products to offer customers, which made Simagic and Moza happy, to name but a few. But that changed with the arrival of the ClubSport DD and DD+, Direct Drive bases developing 12 and 15 nm of constant torque respectively.

Even if these basics are modern, the Fanatec sauce is still very much present. We’re talking about excellent force feedback, excellent feedback management, numerous settings and typically German reliability.

Then we had the Quick Release 2, FIA-certified this time in the Pro version. Revamped and simplified mechanism, greater sturdiness especially in its Lite variants, and also a connection system that’s less likely to cause damage if you don’t insert the QRs correctly.

This new QR2 currently equips all Fanatec steering wheels, as well as DD bases. What’s more, it’s fully backwards compatible with CSL DD and Podium DD. This shows that the Fanatec brand listens to its customers and is committed to improving its products and accessories.

After that, the steering wheel catalog got a facelift with new entries. In collaboration with Porsche, Bentley and Sparco, Fanatec’s steering wheel catalog includes over forty wheels of all types. If you’re looking for a discipline-specific wheel, you’re sure to find it at Fanatec.

And last but not least, the handbrake is now Load Cell. The ClubSport Handbrake V1.5 is a legendary sim-racing device, recognized as accurate and reliable by the racing community. For version 2 (the ClubSport Handbrake V2), Fanatec has replaced the analog spring-loaded sensor with a Load Cell. The result is a device that’s more engaging, more precise and highly efficient in the race.

The appearance of refurbished products at Fanatec

These days, it’s not uncommon for brands to engage in refurbishing. It’s a way of saving the planet by reintroducing unsold products to the market, at a price lower than their new counterparts.

At Fanatec, the approach is similar, and especially recent: the brand offers sim-racing peripherals returned under warranty at prices ranging from -15% to -40%. These products are not only inspected by qualified technicians to ensure perfect operation, but are also covered by a 2-year warranty, so you can indulge yourself at a lower price and with complete peace of mind.

Fanatec’s refurbished range covers everything from the CSL DD to the Podium, and everything in between.

Should we consider Fanatec in 2025 compared with other market options?

Fanatec has seized the opportunity presented by Corsair to return to the scene, and in force I must say. The brand’s catalog is the richest on the sim-racing market, with literally over forty flywheels, 6 Direct Drive bases ranging from 5 to 25 nm of torque, customizable cranksets and numerous other racing peripherals and accessories.

Fanatec remains not only a reliable, reputable brand, but also one offering quality equipment, manufactured with premium materials and excellent attention to detail.

If you’re looking for a safe bet, Fanatec is there to keep you on your toes with its high-performance products. Fanatec will immerse you almost completely in sim-racing, and it’s one of the few brands, if not the only one, to offer a very complete catalog and ecosystem, from steering wheels to DD bases and quality chassis.

To answer the question of this article, yes, Fanatec is a brand of sim-racing peripherals that you can buy without too much hesitation in 2025. The company offers a wide catalog of peripherals, money-saving bundles and a warranty that covers you for several years, all backed up by maximum immersion.