So, I bought a Logitech G923...
Now all of this sounds like I'm deep into super realism and playing hundreds of online laps in simulators. But no, this is simply for my huge love for racing games, at a casual level when it comes to difficulty and realism. Sure, I have a ton of experience with racers, and probably play them fairly well by now, but I don’t participate in online competitions or anything. I have a laid back attitude, focusing on just enjoying the thrill of controlling a car on race tracks or through beautiful landscapes.
So, disclaimer, this overview of my racing setup is coming from a player who's in it for the thrills, not the hyper realism. As such, it's not a guide for someone looking to upgrading an existing setup to something more elaborate. More aimed at those people out there considering buying a wheel in the first place.
I've previously owned two wheels in my gaming years, a Logitech GT Force for the PS2 & PC and the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel. Both of which I had a lot of fun with through the years. Last generation I decided not to go forth and get a wheel, although it often rested as a dream in the back of my head.
Fast forward to summer this year and I decided finally jump in on getting a wheel and seat for my Xbox Series X. Let's take a look at each component I bought!
Logitech G923
The main part of the show, the only must-buy of all the parts I will be talking about here today. There are cheaper wheels, but I’ve always found the Logitech ones to be the perfect balance between a mid-range price and good quality.If you're into racing games and never experienced playing them with a steering wheel, you're definitely should look into them. It brings a whole new dimension to the genre, and what better way to start, than with some good quality? Logitech wheels have usually filled that space for me.
Right from the first time you grab the G923, it genuinely feels like great quality, with a lovely leather finish to the grip. It feels like a wheel from a real car, albeit a on the small side. It sports a 1080 degree turning radius, probably way more than you’ll ever need. There's a lot of built-in vibration and feedback tech, making the wheel harder to turn in terrain and gives force feedback when hitting things or just traversing uneven road surfaces.
Backwards compatible to previous Logitech feedback instructions on older games, plus sporting the newest kind of Trueforce vibration tech. This allows the wheel to not only give bumps in the road feedback, but also a constant vibration to give a sense of the car rolling over surfaces or the engine running. This latter sensation various a bit in quality from game to game, generally Codemasters racers are very good at it. While WRC games rattle a little too noisy.
Dirt Rally 2.0 or Grid (2019) both support this new Trueforce feedback, if you're curious for games to test it out on! Logitech feedback of the older style is supported surprisingly far back. I booted up the Xbox 360 HD version of Daytona USA and low and behold it supported force feedback.
The actual wheel has a large selection of buttons and even an adjustment wheel, clearly aimed at the more hardcore players. Complete with flashing, coloured, lights for motor revs and perfect gear shift moments at the centre of the wheel. All the buttons feel like good quality when pushing them.
The pedals, large and chunky, are three in number. Offering differences in pressure when comparing the gas, brake and clutch pedals. With the brake button sporting a distinctly harder resistance to press down, a big upgrade from my older wheel setups that had the same pressure on all pedals. Although, this pressure is a constant and provides no force feedback vibration.
While I personally feel this should have been part of the G923 package, I can understand that it costs extra when you look at its quality. Not only does it convey the mechanical sensation of a gear shifter, it has a lovely leather coat over the shifter tracks, plus a nice size to its grip ball.
Not a must buy, by any means, but it’s cool giving it a go in games like Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, where you can have a manual clutch plus this gear shifter. Giving you the sensation of using a real manual transmission. Most players will do fine with the built-in F1 shifters on the back of the steering wheel though, so this is purely if you're interested.
When this chair went on sale, I jumped in. It's an incredible way of getting both the car seat feeling, while having the ease to stow it away in a cupboard when not in use. Key for a busy family house, where floor space is a luxury.
Dirt Rally 2.0 or Grid (2019) both support this new Trueforce feedback, if you're curious for games to test it out on! Logitech feedback of the older style is supported surprisingly far back. I booted up the Xbox 360 HD version of Daytona USA and low and behold it supported force feedback.
The actual wheel has a large selection of buttons and even an adjustment wheel, clearly aimed at the more hardcore players. Complete with flashing, coloured, lights for motor revs and perfect gear shift moments at the centre of the wheel. All the buttons feel like good quality when pushing them.
A small vibration engine would have been cool to have built into the pedals, but alas this is something more expensive setups offer.
You can perfectly fine get going with this Logitech G923 purchase alone. Manual shifting is supported through some tactile, F1 gear shifter pedals behind the steering wheel. The actual base of the wheel can be clamped securely on a table, or screwed on to a mount with screws for further stiffness.
Some complaints are that not all racers support Logitech wheels, shame on titles like the Need For Speed titles for instance, or the stupidity that Logitech have launched this wheel in two separate versions for Xbox and PlayStation. It also has a cheap plastic rattling noise when it vibrates at it's most intense.
You can perfectly fine get going with this Logitech G923 purchase alone. Manual shifting is supported through some tactile, F1 gear shifter pedals behind the steering wheel. The actual base of the wheel can be clamped securely on a table, or screwed on to a mount with screws for further stiffness.
Some complaints are that not all racers support Logitech wheels, shame on titles like the Need For Speed titles for instance, or the stupidity that Logitech have launched this wheel in two separate versions for Xbox and PlayStation. It also has a cheap plastic rattling noise when it vibrates at it's most intense.
Altogether though, I'm impressed how far the Logitech wheels have progressed in quality. A warmly recommended wheel indeed.
Logitech Driving Force Shifter
This shifter has been around a while, before the G923 even launched and it works fine with the older G920 and G29 wheels too. The actual steering wheel is compatible with other gear shifters too, brands like Thrustmaster etc., but you'll have to research this on your own.
While I personally feel this should have been part of the G923 package, I can understand that it costs extra when you look at its quality. Not only does it convey the mechanical sensation of a gear shifter, it has a lovely leather coat over the shifter tracks, plus a nice size to its grip ball.
Not a must buy, by any means, but it’s cool giving it a go in games like Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, where you can have a manual clutch plus this gear shifter. Giving you the sensation of using a real manual transmission. Most players will do fine with the built-in F1 shifters on the back of the steering wheel though, so this is purely if you're interested.
Playseat Challenge
This racing chair was the "make or break" part of my steering wheel purchase. Having previously set up wheels rather cumbersome to tables, I read about a chair that folds up and can be packed away without dismantling everything. This was key and, sure, you can get more comfy and bigger racing chairs, but they can’t be folded up and packed away easily like this Playseat Challenge.
A quick, two minute, unfolding each time you want to play is important or you'll end up never using it. In the box there are screws for mounting, Velcro strips for cable management and all the holes needed for properly mounting various brands of steering wheels.
The chair provides a solid metal plate for the wheel base to be mounted on. This avoids the frustrations of the plastic clamps loosening over time, typically what happens when mounted on tables. There's also a strong Velcro strip holding down the pedals and they're fastened to an extendable rail, so you can adjust it to the length of your legs. I'm 1,85m and I still have a lot of rail to extend the pedal section even further.
The actual chair offers some slight adjustments too, I found it very comfortable to sit in for longer play sessions. The wheel base swings open to allow easy access in and out of the chair. The position you sit in is so much more natural for driving and is a massive upgrade if you’ve only previously played in a sofa or ordinary chair. You can angle the steering wheel base for a desired tilt of the steering wheel too.
There are no mounting brackets for a gear shifter provided, sadly.
These work as described, but pay extra attention to which side they are meant for. I come from a country with left-handed cars and wanted the shifter on my right, sadly I didn’t pay attention and ordered a left mounted one.
There are no mounting brackets for a gear shifter provided, sadly.
3D printed(?!)
To get the gear shifter connected to the PlaySeat Challenge however, there are work-around's. Sure, you can have it mounted to a small table next to you, but I went on eBay. Low and behold, a lot of people 3D print a holder bracket to mount on the side of this very seat!
It's not a massive deal breaker as it feels fine when driving Japanese or British cars that have this setup anyhow. But keep it in mind when ordering and be aware that when you fold up your racing seat this will stick out on one side!
If you decide on not buying the racing seat, I'd give it a second thought. Steering wheels need a good seating position to be comfortable and feel natural. Otherwise, it doesn’t really represent what it's like to sit in a car.
Summary
Provided it's something you are willing to pour the money into, without it reaching crazy simulator levels of expense, I'd highly recommend this combo. You can just skip the shifter all together and go for the G923 and Playseat, maybe even find a slightly older Logitech wheel model for a fair price.If you decide on not buying the racing seat, I'd give it a second thought. Steering wheels need a good seating position to be comfortable and feel natural. Otherwise, it doesn’t really represent what it's like to sit in a car.
Sure, you can go on a super budget, setting yourself up on the floor with a low table and get creative to replicate the position with some pillows and your back to something. I did this back in the day on the Xbox 360. The important part is having a firm place to rest your back to, a more horizontal positioning of your stretched out legs and closer distance to reach the steering wheel.
However, strongly consider a seat, especially a one that can be folded and packed away like this. It's as a great way of getting a neat racing position to sit in and at the same time being able to tidy it away quickly.
I’m super impressed and happy with how it all came together. Each component has a good quality feel to it. It’s an investment for sure and not a thing to consider if you play racers seldom. But, if you're like me, and play all the Forza and Dirt games, plus others that pop up along the way, this is a far superior experience than a standard controller!
However, strongly consider a seat, especially a one that can be folded and packed away like this. It's as a great way of getting a neat racing position to sit in and at the same time being able to tidy it away quickly.
I’m super impressed and happy with how it all came together. Each component has a good quality feel to it. It’s an investment for sure and not a thing to consider if you play racers seldom. But, if you're like me, and play all the Forza and Dirt games, plus others that pop up along the way, this is a far superior experience than a standard controller!
With Forza Horizon 5 literally out tomorrow, why not look into purchasing a steering wheel and seat setup to bring the experience to a new level?!