Pros
Strong pressure suggestions
Clear PS4 mappings
Full 1080 diploma rotation
What is the Thrustmaster T300 RS?
The Thrustmaster T300 RS is a high-end pressure suggestions wheel, the absolutely PS4-optimised brother to the Thrustmaster T300 GTE. It prices £250 and works with PS3 and PC, in addition to PS4.
With final technology wheel heroes just like the Logitech G27 and Driving Force GT not suitable with the present consoles, the Thrustmaster T300 RS is the final word racing wheel for PS4 homeowners.
There are points: the pedals really feel somewhat low-cost and the fan kicks in noisily after some time. But in any other case we’ve no hesitation in recommending this wheel.
Thrustmaster T300 RS: Intro and Design
If you’re a racing fan who has by no means skilled a pressure suggestions wheel, that you must strive one. Wheels just like the Thrustmaster T300 RS use highly effective motors to allow them to struggle towards your turns, simulating the kinds of forces you’d expertise in the actual world.
It allows issues like letting you are feeling when the again finish of your automotive is about to lose grip round a flip, relatively than leaving you ready to see these tire marks screech out of the automotive’s bottom. This is a stage of realism no quantity of graphical gloss can present.
Of course, all these results are literally created by sport builders, with Thrustmaster merely offering the instruments with which to relay them. This is a vital level, as a result of as but the PS4 — the lead platform for the Thrustmaster T300 RS — doesn’t have a very critical racing sport in its library. As such, you’ll want endurance or one other platform (PS3/PC) to get probably the most from the wheel. It gained’t work with an Xbox One or Xbox 360.
On the plus facet, pressure suggestions wheels maintain their worth even higher than iPhones, so there’s little-to-no early adopter tax.See additionally: Best PS4 video games 2014We’ll be testing the Thrustmaster T300 RS primarily with DriveClub on PS4, Gran Turismo 5/6 on PS3, and some different racing titles on PC. For these doubtful: DriveClub is just not a very sensible sport, neither is it meant to be.
But again to the {hardware}.
The Thrustmaster T300 RS is available in three primary elements. There’s the two-pedal board, the wheel base that homes the suggestions motors and the wheel itself: it isn’t mounted.
While this can be a new mannequin, it truly slots neatly into the identical modular system utilized by the Thrustmaster T500 RS, which was launched within the PS3 period however affords some compatibility with PS4. That means the R300 RS can use the gearbox and superior pedal board Thrustmaster already sells. What you get within the field right here want solely be a place to begin. See additionally: Upcoming PS4 video games 2015The setup right here appears to be intentionally accessible, and sufficient for 95 per cent of individuals. It is just not out to right away fulfil the wants of racing nerds with bucket seats put in of their basements. For instance, there’s no separate gearbox included, with clicky racing-style shifters constructed into the wheel as an alternative.
The pedal board additionally lacks a clutch, which probably the most hardcore amongst it’s possible you’ll be after. As we’ve already detailed, although, there’s at the moment nothing on PS4 that actually calls for this further mile, and the Thrustmaster T300 RS’s fashion helps hold price and sheer measurement calls for at bay. See additionally: PS4 vs PS3Look front-on on the wheel and we see to what extent the wheel is made for PS4. All the buttons mirror these of a DualShock 4 controller, solely leaving out the contact panel and analogue sticks.
The profit is apparent — you should use the Thrustmaster T300 RS to manage your system relatively than having to juggle between the wheel and a pad. It’s useful, and really welcome as a result of, let’s be trustworthy, no racing wheel is remotely handy.
Force suggestions wheels are additionally a very good deal heavier and bulkier than the essential plastic variety you will have performed with up to now. The steel Thrustmaster T300 RS wheel is topped with rubber to supply a high-friction, rugged floor that’ll take as a lot punishment and you’ll give. It feels extraordinarily well-made.See additionally: PS4 vs Xbox OneThe wheel additionally helps full 1080-degree rotation, which could be stopped all the way down to 270 levels within the software program, utilizing the pressure suggestions motors to dam off motion.
It doesn’t really feel altogether luxurious, although. The Logitech G27 makes use of a leather-topped wheel that provides a extra critical really feel than the Thrustmaster T300 RS’s rubber. Of course, a lot of that’s forgotten when you’ve bedded into utilizing it.
What is more likely to stay extra of a difficulty for fanatics is the pedal board high quality. It’s plastic and pretty mild, missing the high-end really feel of the steel base pedals used within the older T500 RS — a set that prices round £50-100 extra. This solely want trouble those that suppose they’ll actually get critical about sim racing, although. We’re fairly pleased with the precise motion of the pedals, which supply the variable rigidity between the speed up/brake we’re after.
See additionally: Best racing video games 2014
Here’s a take a look at the securing mechanism beneath:
Thrustmaster T300 RS: Force Feedback
While there are some niggles about the way in which the {hardware} is put collectively, the pressure suggestions is kind of spectacular. It’s very sturdy and quick, offering the additional immersion that we predict is the principle draw of a pressure suggestions wheel.
Most video games well-suited to pressure suggestions allow you to alter the extent of the impact, if you happen to’re not up for actually preventing along with your wheel 24/7. We take pleasure in that further energy although, and that is actually among the many strongest pressure suggestions wheels up to now within the £200-350 vary.
We discovered the very best outcomes got here from the Gran Turismo PS3 video games, the place the interaction along with your enter and the suggestions seems like a refined dialog you might by no means get from enjoying the sport with a pad.
The Thrustmaster T300 RS additionally marks a change in the way in which Thrustmaster makes its wheels. Where the T500 mannequin makes use of brushed motors for its pressure feedack, the T300 RS is brushless — the place the motors use Hall sensors rather than brushes. This change isn’t one thing we as consumers want to fret about an excessive amount of, however does make the T300 RS extra environment friendly and probably a lot much less vulnerable to long-term put on.
Brushless motors are typically quieter too, however we discovered the T300 RS nonetheless makes a little bit of noise in use. While the turning of the wheel could be very quiet — particularly in contrast with the Logitech G-series fashions — there’s a fan that kicks in when the wheel’s pressure suggestions motor will get warmed-up. We discovered this might be as quickly as 15-20 minutes’ play with a title that provides fairly intense suggestions results.
The fan will get about as loud as an Xbox 360‘s, which shouldn’t be too distracting if you happen to use headphones or are capable of flip the TV’s quantity up somewhat. However it’s not excellent news if you wish to race a couple of laps late at night time with out disturbing anybody, the place the fan’s shut proximity might make its hum fairly apparent.
However, for probably the most half we’re searching for causes you is likely to be dissatisfied as a result of at £250 (that’s with the same old on-line worth erosion in place) it prices nearly as a lot as a console. It is just not low-cost.
We can’t think about many individuals being sad with the Thrustmaster T300 RS, although, particularly because it’s one of many first wheels to supply full PS4 assist. It options somewhat slider on the wheelbase that switches compatibility between PC/PS3 and PS4, as a result of it’s not merely a case of creating a PS4 driver.
Most current wheels don’t work correctly with the PS4 as a result of the console requires an additional authentication safety chip to be current in any equipment used with it, in response to spokespeople from MadCatz and Logitech.
Should I purchase the Thrustmaster T300 RS?
A correct pressure suggestions wheel can rework racing video games, radically growing how concerned you are feeling within the workings of the digital automotive you’re driving. If you’re a racing fan, it’s one thing it is best to expertise, and we will verify that the Thrustmaster T300 RS is the actual deal.
If you personal a pressure suggestions mannequin from the final technology of consoles and need to get on-board with the present crop, that is the very best wheel to purchase at current. That’s to not say it’s excellent, although. Given the worth, the pedal board feels somewhat low-rent.
If you have already got a really high-end setup you would possibly need to think about a MaxRace F-1 adapter, somewhat field that acts as a middle-man between Logitech wheels and a console. However, it prices round £70, the PS4 model hasn’t even been launched but (as of December 2014) and we will’t vouch for its effectiveness.
Force suggestions wheels generally is a ache within the bottom. They’re huge, costly, want a stand, pose compatibility points and infrequently work throughout all platforms. But they aren’t half enjoyable.
Verdict
Great pressure suggestions and no-fuss PS4 assist make this the proper selection for PS4 homeowners after a high-end racing wheel.
Next, try our greatest racing video games round-up