For console gamers, sim-racing has long been a rather specific discipline, with players who can be counted on the fingers of one hand. For budget-friendly solutions, you have Logitech and Thrustmaster with their entry-level bundles.

Even if sensations aren’t the order of the day for a Logitech G923, you’ll still get some immersion. It won’t be at the level of a Direct Drive base, of course, but it’s still better than bungee cord solutions.

For those who want to take things to the next level, there are the basic Direct Drive and Load Cell pedalboards. In this segment, and on consoles to be precise, Fanatec is the undisputed king, and has been for a long time. But things may be about to change, more specifically with the arrival of Logitech’s first DD base: the G Pro Racing Wheel. Is Fanatec about to be dethroned by Logitech? Well, that’s what we’re going to find out in what follows.

Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel vs. Fanatec GT DD Pro: why this versus?

At first glance, you might think that it would be better to pit Logitech’s bundle against a ClubSport DD F1 (eSport or Racing Wheel), but the difference in power, and above all in driving feel, is far greater between these two bases. As a result, the fairest match-up seems to be between the G Pro and an 8 nm GT DD Pro.

As for sim-racing peripherals, Logitech offers a Direct Drive base and a specific steering wheel. You can have the Load Cell pedalboard, but that’s optional. And if you’re going to buy it, it’s best to buy the complete bundle to save money.

At Fanatec, it’s a different story. The GT DD Pro bundle includes a CSL DD with or without the boost kit, a Gran Turismo-specific steering wheel and CSL Pedals, which are not Load Cell, but can easily be upgraded to LC for a small fee.

So a duel between the G Pro Racing Wheel and the GT DD Pro makes much more sense, already from a performance point of view, as the two bases are very close in terms of power, but also in terms of peripherals, as the ClubSport DD bundles don’t come with a crankset.

Ecosystem and product catalog

First round of the duel, I tackle the ecosystem. Here, Fanatec wins hands down. Fanatec is considered the Go-To for all mid-range/high-end sim-racing peripherals, with high-performance, innovative products.

Virtually the entire range of Fanatec sim-racing peripherals is compatible with each other, including Direct Drive bases, steering wheels, pedals, hubs, shifters, handbrakes and much more. Everything works with everything from Fanatec, and that’s the strength of this sim-racing peripherals manufacturer.

What’s more, Fanatec offers a wide range of products and accessories, from simple paddle modules to F1-specific steering wheels and stickers. It’s vast, more than complete, and literally an accessory fair for those in search of the perfect sim-racing setup.

At Logitech, the story is very different. The G Pro Racing Wheel bundle is brand new, and above all the Swiss brand’s first foray into the world of Direct Drive. It’s quite a success, but the catalog is virtually non-existent. There’s a steering wheel with Quick Release, a Direct Drive base and a 3-pedal crankset. For the rest, nothing. The brand is keen to develop its catalog, as are we, but there’s no more news on this point, despite the fact that the G Pro will soon be celebrating a year on the market.

The bundle’s build quality

At Fanatec, we’ve become accustomed to aluminum, leather and premium materials in general for our peripherals. With the GT DD Pro, the change of direction has been radical, and not very well received by the sim-racing community. The steering wheel in the bundle, which is specific to Gran Turismo by the way, uses plastic to the hilt. The result: it’s cheap, it cracks when you use it, and it doesn’t really make you want to hold it.

Logitech’s G Pro is a completely different story. The steering wheel has a brushed aluminum faceplate, with leather all around. It’s very premium, with excellent build quality and exemplary finish. For a first leap into the world of Direct Drive, my hat’s off to Logitech.

Racing performance and feel

The 8nm CSL DD is borderline legendary in its class, with ultra-realistic performance for its power, as well as a very natural racing feel. Also, thanks to Fanatec’s software, you’ll be able to configure the sensations produced by the motor as you see fit, be it feedback, power, FFB, and so on. It’s complete, and above all, very reliable.

The G Pro’s base is a Logitech first, and this one develops 11 nm of constant torque. It’s more powerful in terms of raw force feedback than the CSL DD, and if you spend the time to configure it, you’ll get better performance, as well as more immersion. But Logitech’s Force Feedback algorithm isn’t quite perfected yet, and tends to saturate the steering wheel with effects that are far too excessive.

On this point, performance and feel, I’d say the two bases are equal, with a slight advantage for Logitech’s G Pro and its 11 nm of torque.

Bundle customization

So it’s night and day between the G Pro and the GT DD Pro. Even if Logitech is hoping to compete with the likes of Moza Racing and Fanatec with its G Pro Racing Wheel, it has to be said that the Swiss manufacturer’s bundle pales in comparison with the customization of other brands.

On the GT DD Pro, for example, you can add a Load Cell kit for the bottom bracket, or change it outright for a more powerful one. You can take another steering wheel from any Fanatec range and customize it yourself with paddles, hubs and so on. The same goes for the German brand’s shifter and handbrake. To put it simply: all Fanatec products are compatible with each other.

With the G Pro, you’re limited to the bundle’s steering wheel, base and pedals. Of course, Logitech has promised other products to complete its bundle and offer a new ecosystem, but this is slow in coming.

Platform compatibility

On the G Pro, you have console compatibility (Xbox/PC or PS/PC), and a PC-only version. For the GT DD Pro, technically speaking, the bundle will only work on PC and Playstation, but in reality, you’ll be able to use it on Xbox, with a few limitations. For Xbox gamers, there’s the equivalent Ready2Race Forza.

At Fanatec, the key is to have a steering wheel that’s compatible with the console in your living room so that everything works more or less smoothly, even if on paper the base is not supported with your platform.

Bundle price

If you opt for a complete bundle, with base, steering wheel and pedals, the price difference between the G Pro and GT DD Pro is just enormous. On Logitech’s side, you can expect to pay around €1,500, which, frankly, is very expensive for what you get. And Fanatec’s GT DD Pro, with the Load Cell and Clutch pedalboard kits to put it on an equal footing with Logitech’s bundle, will set you back around €980. Admittedly, Logitech’s steering wheel is much nicer than Fanatec’s, but in terms of basic performance, the difference isn’t that obvious, and a beginner or amateur would be hard pressed to find a match.

As a result, you can buy the GT DD Pro bundle with kits for its pedalboard, and you can even pick up another, more premium steering wheel, and still have money left over to buy Gran Turismo, Assetto Corsa or any other sim-racing title.