Video games in the automotive world are constantly evolving, each with its own approach, some more realistic, others more arcade. Every year, more and more games are released on the market, all of them hyper realistic in terms of image or experience and, with the evolution of the sector, accessories are democratized to make the experience more immersive, even going towards the integration of virtual reality.

Nowadays, if you want to feel the best possible sensations during the game, there is nothing better than to equip yourself with a cockpit. In this field, the manufacturer Playseat is the number one brand in the field of gaming and racing simulation seats. That’s why we decided to tell you everything there is to know about this brand!

In this article we will tell you about the history of Playseat, its qualities andwhat makes it the current leader in the cockpit market. But we will also help you to choose which model is best for you, what criteria to consider before choosing your Playseat and we will of course offer you a selection of the best models of the brand.

 

The best Playseats at a glance

The history of the Playseat brand

The founder and current president of Playseat Company, Dr. Fernando Smit, is a big fan of motorsports. He drove karts at a professional level and was Dutch enduro champion in the 125 cm³ categories in 1997 and 1998.

One day, he had an idea and mounted one of his old Sparco seats on a metal frame. He attached a steering wheel and pedals to the frame and it was all there: the ultimate racing sensation. That’s how the first Playseat was born.

He soon found himself building frames for friends and the business began to thrive and continued to grow. In 2002, production shifted from the Netherlands to China.

Today, Playseat is a well-known concept in the gaming world, a worldwide registered trademark with numerous patents, a manufacturer and a well-established international company. The Playseat concept is unique because of its patented seating system for easy storage and small packaging.

Is it really necessary to buy a cockpit?

Buying a cockpit can be a big investment and you’re probably wondering if it’s really worth it. If you’re a sim-racing enthusiast, using a simulator seat has only advantages for you. Here’s why:

It improves the gaming experience

The cockpits greatly enhance the gaming experience, it’s much more immersive and fun, that’s obvious. This allows us to enjoy the games more, especially if they are racing simulation games. In addition, most models offer a driving position that is virtually identical to that of a race car.

It can be stored and folded

Not all of us have enough space at home to let the seat constantly take up space. The good news is that the vast majority of seats can be folded in at least two parts and also offer the possibility of folding the backrest so that we can store it taking up much less space.

It improves your performance

An ergonomic, fixed position allows the brain to better memorize your movements, so for competitive Sim-racing, having a fixed position (excluding the problems of rolling office chairs) and static references improves our long-term performance. They also help you get into the atmosphere of the game and immerse yourself more in what’s going on.

It improves comfort

Thanks to its ergonomics, it is more comfortable to play from the cockpit than from a chair. Also, if we have bad postural habits – like maintaining a forced posture – it can help us prevent back pain, especially if we usually play long sessions, because our back will be supported evenly with the help of the seat.

It can be adapted to our size

Cockpits don’t work by size, they give us the opportunity to adapt them to our size and make some adjustments to get the most out of them. Some have adjustable backrest tilt, the vast majority have longitudinal adjustment, ideal for legs and arms, especially if you’re playing with a simracing wheel and pedalboard.

 

Why choose Playseat?

The vision of the brand is to be able to feel the true emotion of professional drivers during a race with the Playseat racing seats. And she is doing everything possible to make it happen.

Playseat works with real racing drivers to test their products, and we are not talking about just any drivers, but world famous stars like Daniel Ricciardo and Maz Verstappen (F1 drivers).

Playseat’s ecosystem of products is wide, there is something for every taste and every budget, which makes it possible to delight all audiences. You’re bound to find a model that suits you!

In addition, they use top-quality materialsin the manufacture of their various models to guarantee robust and long-lasting seats.

Their simulation seats are almost fully compatible with all video game consoles. Whether you have a PlayStation, an Xbox, a Mac or a PC, it doesn’t matter, you will have the choice among all the Playseat models and you will inevitably find one compatible with your gaming platform.

Playseat is an ever-evolving company that never stops surprising us with more realistic models and the best possible technology.

And if you have any questions about their cockpits, you can always count on the very good customer service that will be happy to help you.

 

How to choose your Playseat cockpit?

To properly choose a simulation cockpit, there are certain factors to consider to make sure the model best fits your needs, budget and specific situation. We will explain what these factors are.

Compatibility

There is no point in buying a super cockpit model for F1 if it is not compatible with your console, pedalboard or steering wheel, as you will not be able to install it. Most have universal adjustment features built in to ensure that you can adapt it to your simulation equipment, but be sure to check that this is the case to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Construction and materials

It is important to look at the structure of the frames, the legs and the layout of the articulated arms to ensure that they are completely stable. We recommend that you purchase Sim-racing cockpits made of very strong materials such as steel and aluminum. This way, they stand up well to the weight and long play sessions.

Additional features

Additional features and components are very important when purchasing a cockpit. For example, some incorporate recliners, height adjustments and the incorporation of lever stands, monitors and more. Keep in mind that each of the additional features adds an additional cost to the purchase.

The available space

Before deciding on a particular model, it is necessary to take into account the available space you have to install it in your home. Some cockpit models are foldable and allow you to save space, or even to store them in a closet. Check the dimensions of the model you are interested in to make sure it will work for you.

The price

Prices for sim-racing cockpits vary widely and depend greatly on their functionality. It is important to determine what your budget is and what minimum features you want to achieve to help you select the category that best meets your needs.

 

What should a good cockpit have?

There are various cockpit designs and not all of them are very good. In our opinion, a good cockpit should have the following elements:

Stability

All drivers will agree that a racing simulator is usually a very extreme experience, with sudden changes and movements. That’s why you need to find a stable cockpit that can handle all these movements without moving to avoid accidents.

A non-slip base

Although some sim-racing cockpits have wheels on the base, we recommend that you purchase one with a non-slip base, which may have lockable wheels, metal feet with rubber tips, or a silicone coating on the bottom of the structure.

A good fit for the pedals and steering wheel

It’s important that your pedals and steering wheel fit snugly into the frame to avoid all kinds of unexpected movement. So we recommend a universal frame that you can adjust as much as necessary to hold the rest of your equipment in place.

 

The best cockpits of Playseat

To help you choose the ideal Playseat cockpit model for you, we have prepared a selection of their best models in order of price.

 

Playseat cockpit models for less than €350

In the entry-level category and for less than 350 €, the Playseat brand offers cockpit models that are among the best-selling on the market.

Playseat cockpit models for less than €600

Here we have selected for you our two favorite Playseat cockpit models in the mid-range category.

Playseat cockpit models at more than 1000 €.

In this category, we offer you the top of the top Playseat cockpits with two high quality models.

Conclusion

As we explained above, what will determine the choice of your Playseat model is first of all your budget. But it is also based on the style of games you like to play.

Indeed, if you are a F1 racing fan, we recommend you to turn to the Playseat Formula Pro which will meet all your expectations since it was designed for this style of racing. If, on the other hand, you are more of a GT enthusiast, we obviously recommend the Playseat Gran Turismo.

For those who are new to Sim-racing and don’t want to be burdened with a seat that takes up all the room in their living room, the Playseat Challenge is an ideal model that doesn’t require a large investment.

In any case, you will have among the Playseat cockpit models the best on the market today.