I have been playing racing games as long as I can remember. Not to brag but I think I am pretty good at them, even making it into nationals on a competitive level. I did all this without ever using a wheel accessory. I have always wanted one, but they are damn expensive. And life is such that once you can afford something you do not have the time.
Enter Logitech and their generosity… Three weeks ago, I got a delivery and it was the Logitech G923, meant for Xbox and PC. I was ecstatic. This was something I always wanted but due to my Scrooge McDuck DNA never did get. I ripped into the box like it was nobody’s business.
Time Trials and Errors
Ideally, I would have loved to test this on Gran Turismo but alas, that isn’t available on Xbox. I went with my other favourite racing sim, F1 2021. The game itself has a nightmare of a menu but gameplay is spot on.
Now I don’t have a racing rig (more on that later), so I jumped in with pedals on my floor and steering on my lap. I had no illusions. I knew that that setup would be rough. Regardless I was itching to take the new toy for a spin around Imola.
It did not go well. The awkward placement of the wheel and pedals made it hard to properly control the car. When I did get the steering right, the pedals began to slide away. Curse you porcelain tiles.
Enter the wife, problem solver, cutie pie and all-round goodness. She managed to find a right sized table and a door stopper and put together this makeshift rig which included our couch. And presto, our right was working and working well.
To Rig or Not to Rig
Rig. Most definitely rig. I know it super expensive. But if you love to race it’s worth every penny. The Logitech G923 is a very good racing wheel. Its precise and the tension and force (TRUE FORCE?) feedback take you deeper into the game.
However, without it being fixed into a solid comfortable position, all that amazing features falls flat. Like we said earlier you don’t need to buy a rig, but a solid fixed position is essential to fully appreciate the accessory. With a rig you will get the full benefit of DRS… errr… I mean the steering.
Review
I love the Logitech G923. It has opened a whole new world of gaming to be. Honestly, there is no going back to driving with a regular controller. It allows for those finer, more precise turning angles which allows you to get better entry and exit speeds or traction in the corners.
The pedals really do allow for better acceleration and control. I was able to hold speed far better in fast corners and slow corners than I ever did. Even the braking felt more controlled. I think this is due to the tension in the pedals. Unlike controller the feedback to the player /driver much like a real car would. This then creates are more real experience.
Soon I was starting to shave time on my lap times as got more comfortable with the wheel. The feedback from the wheel is great but sometimes intense. The worst being when you run of track and feel the grind of your error. You can turn this off, but you lose a lot of the realism.
The Logitech G923 Wheel is pretty robust and feels like it can stand the test of time. The wheel has nice soft wrap which gives you comfort for those full-length races. Even the pedals have protectors for them. So, the price is very relative. Sure, the once off feels stiff but once you factor in the longevity then it kind of levels out.
My only real gripe is that it isn’t universal. For someone like me owning both XBOX and PS, getting 2 wheels is not really an option. Having a universal set up with buttons that can be mapped would be my first choice.
Checkered Flag
I would rate this device a solid 8/10. Sure, I may a little biased since this is my first wheel. And sure, I have not compared it to another. But it ticked all the boxes that I would want. And in case it really is a solid machine. Like I said earlier, the only issue is not with the device but the actual set-up. I would love to test the PS version to gauge the difference if any. More than that I am going to get me a rig and put this wheel to the proper test. The fire has been lit…. there’s no going back now.
