Thrustmaster’s parent company, Guillemot Corporation, has confirmed the existence of two new sim racing steering wheel devices.
Expected to launch before the end of 2025, specific details are thin on the group, but the company claims it is “accelerating the transition of its range of racing wheels.”
Production of the two new models has already begun in June and will be “on the market before the end of the year.”
It plans to make its sim racing wheels more widely available from “major U.S.” retailers, thanks in part to these new releases.
In its current range, there are the entry-level T128 and T248 wheels, released in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The gaming peripheral manufacturer introduced a direct axial drive T598 for PlayStation and PC last year, alongside an all-new Raceline pedal design. In 2022, it entered direct drive wheels for the first time with the PC-only T818. Both models were touted as a new beginning for the outfit.
It’s 11-year-old belt-driven T300RS GT Edition is still for sale new via retailers like Amazon, although ‘out of stock’ from its own website. It also has the belt-driven TGT-II, which first hit the market four years ago, and is still available for around £700 as a bundle.
With the T598 starting from around £450 and the T818 around £1000, both in bundle form, there’s a direct-drive gap in between the two. It also doesn’t have a recent device compatible with Xbox consoles.
According to Guillemot’s second quarter financial report, turnover for Thrustmaster was down 7% year-on-year, thanks, it says, to “the transition of the brand’s entry-level racing wheels and supply disruption in the U.S. market following the imposition of high import tariffs.”
Aligning with this sentiment, sales in Europe grew, but “fell sharply” in North America between April and June. Supply of the T598 was limited by supply constraints, although this has “now been resolved.”
Earlier this year, it confirmed its appearance at the SimRacing Expo in Dortmund, 17th-18th October.
Chat with the Community
Sign Up To CommentIt's completely Free