Thrustmaster has unveiled its T598 Direct Axial Drive wheelbase bundle, and it looks to be incredible value at less than £450.
With 5 Nm of constant torque and the capability to reach a peak of 10 Nm, the T598 should replace the elderly T300 and T-GT II models in the middle of Thrustmaster’s range of steering wheels, bringing with it PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 compatibility.
Sitting below its flagship (and PC-only) T818, the wheelbase uses Direct Axial Drive technology, an apparent first in sim racing, which should provide 5 ms of latency with clear unclogged feedback sensations.
Thrustmaster T598 first impressions
We were fortunate enough to test the T598 prototype at Gamescom recently and were impressed with the granular force feedback it produced across the likes of Assetto Corsa Competizione and Gran Turismo 7 – big hitters for both PC and PlayStation players.
The wheelbase is bundled with Raceline Pedals LTE in a two-pedal configuration (which can be upgraded to three pedals with a load cell kit) and a 300 mm-wide circular ‘Sportcar’ steering wheel. The wheelbase can also be purchased as a standalone product in early 2025.
The best bit though is that the whole bundle can be picked for less than £450.
Thrustmaster claims that a wide range of its past and future steering wheels can be used with the T598. The base also includes a small ‘Race Dash’ screen with 10 configurable settings and the ability to display vital information like speed, position and yellow flags.
Although the Thrustmaster T598 is not compatible with Xbox consoles, a representative of the French-American company assured fans ‘We will not forget [sic] Xbox community’. Interesting.
Thrustmaster T598 release date
- The T598 will be made available to US customers on the 1st of November and European consumers on the 29th of November. It is available to pre-order now.
Thrustmaster T598 price
- The Thrustmaster T598 bundle will be priced at £449.99 / $689.99.
Do you like the look of Thrustmaster’s T598? Let us know in the comments below.
Thrustmaster T598 important information
- Torque: Constant 5 Nm +100% overshoot
- Cooling: Non-passive, fan
- Compatibility: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
- Motor: Axial Flux motor, Direct Axial Drive
- Latency: 5 ms
- Steering wheel compatibility: Detachable SPORTCAR steering wheel, TBA
- Pedal compatibility: All existing Thrustmaster pedal sets
- Compatible with SimHub
- Compatible with TH8A Shifter Add-On
Thrustmaster T598 box contents
- Instruction manual and warranty information
- 1 x T598 servo base
- 1 x Sportcar wheel add-on
- 1 x Raceline Pedals LTE
- 2 x carpet grips
- 1 x clamping system
- 1 x 98 W power supply
- 1 x AC power cable
- 1 x USB cable
- 1 x pedal set cable
- 1 x Torx wrench to adjust pedals
