Simucube: Buyer’s Guide

I think most of us sim racers know that Simucube occupies a very specific position in the market. They’re not trying to compete with Moza or Simagic on price, and they’re not chasing the entry-level crowd Fanatec dominates. Simucube is the high end choice, and they own that position unapologetically. The company’s roots are actually quite interesting – Granite Devices spent eight years building industrial motor controllers before the sim racing community’s interest in direct drive pulled them into this market in 2015. By 2019-2020, they’d essentially rebranded the whole operation as Simucube, dedicating over 60 professionals to sim racing equipment. That industrial background shows. My experience with the Simucube 2 Pro is that it’s properly solid and in the near 5 years I’ve owned it, it has never let me down.

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The target market: serious sim racers, esports professionals, and real-world racing drivers who use simulation for training. The pricing reflects this positioning: Simucube wheelbases range from roughly £1,200 to over £3,000, and their ActivePedal force feedback pedal costs more than £2,000 for a single pedal, so a simucube setup is kind of a high net worth flex thesedays.

Today’s post is a guide to the complete Simucube ecosystem: direct drive wheelbases across multiple torque ranges, the ActivePedal family of force feedback sim racing pedals, steering wheels, and accessories including the new Simucube Link connectivity system. I’ll explain what makes Simucube technically different, when eye wateringly high pricing makes sense, and what you get for the investment beyond just higher torque figures that marketing departments love to shout about.

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Why Simucube?

The technical differentiators are very real. Simucube’s genesis story is rooted in Granite Devices’ industrial automation work. The Simucube 2 range uses 22-bit encoders (Sport/Pro) and 24-bit encoders (Ultimate), whilst competitors typically sit at 20-21 bit. Higher resolution encoders give you far greater granular force feedback data, which translates to sharper detail in what you feel through the wheel.

The new Simucube 3 Ultimate takes this further with a “spoke-type IPM” motor that delivers 35 Nm peak torque. That’s absolutely massive, 25Nm is much too much for me. The higher torque is probably more relevant for realism training with professional drivers than for competitive advantage in online racing, not to mention, the “headroom” of a higher torque direct drive system should allow far more details to come through the wheel. According to our friends on YouTube, that is.

Meanwhile, the ActivePedal is well known to be the world’s first force feedback pedal, and the tactile feedback for ABS activation, traction control intervention, and G-force simulation fundamentally changes how you interact with braking according to user reports. Until the activepedal, we were happy with rumble motors on the pedals which, even just a few years ago, were quite an innovation.

Community Sentiment

The community sentiment is that Simucube hardware quality is exceptional. Users consistently describe it as “industrial grade” and “built to last.” Professional drivers like Tony Kanaan and James Baldwin have endorsed Simucube for training and competition, which obviously carries massive weight. But the community doesn’t hide the pricing reality either. The consensus: “You get what you pay for, but you need to actually need what you’re paying for.” Personally, I don’t. As an aside, the Simucube Tuner 3.0 software gets particular praise for its depth, but that same depth can be overwhelming for newcomers.

Simucube clearly targets experienced sim racers who want granular control of everything. Pro Esports competitors where advantage and the latest gear (likely sponsorship) matters, real-world racing drivers using sim racing for training, serious enthusiasts who demand maximum immersion and precision, and users with a long-term investment mindset.

Where it doesn’t: entry-level sim racers, casual gamers, budget-conscious buyers (lately, that’s me) who’d get better value from Fanatec, Moza or Simagic, and users who prioritize plug-and-play simplicity.

Simucube’s Flagship Products

Simucube 3 Pro Direct Drive Wheelbase

Spoiler: they;re all flagship products! The sweet spot in the new Simucube 3 generation. The 23 Nm torque output represents Simucube’s refinement of what matters most – the Pro sits in that practical range where you get genuinely immersive force feedback without the arm fatigue that higher torque figures can induce during longer racing sessions.

With the Simucube 3 range, Simucube have completely redesigned the package: the Control Box integrates the power supply and emergency stop directly into the wheelbase unit, which dramatically simplifies cable management compared to the Simucube 2.

The community reception I’ve read suggests the SC3 Pro offers noticeably more refined and smoother force feedback than even the SC2, which was already exceptional. The next-generation encoder (higher resolution than the 22-bit SC2 system) translates to finer detail in what you’re feeling through the wheel.

Again, I don;t mind some roughness in my FFB – I had a really good setup with the DD2 where some of the noise / cogging was quite helpful and revealed qualities about teh DD2 that I think a lot of sim racers miss. Anyway…

• 23 Nm peak torque (ample headroom for all racing disciplines)
• Next-generation high-resolution absolute encoder
• Custom-designed low-cogging servo motor for smooth operation
• Integrated Control Box (power supply + e-stop in wheelbase unit)
• Simucube Link ecosystem reduces USB cable clutter
• Compact form factor compared to Simucube 2
• USB-C connectivity to PC

Simucube 3 Range: Sport (17 Nm), Pro (23 Nm), Ultimate (32 Nm)

Simucube 2 Pro Direct Drive Wheelbase

The most popular model in the Simucube 2 lineup for good reason. The 25 Nm torque output hits slightly above the practical sweet spot, with enough torque for realism without the arm fatigue that 30+ Nm can induce during longer races.

Professional drivers reference the SC2 Pro when discussing real-world force feedback comparison, and what I’ve found reading community feedback is that the Pro hits the right balance for most drivers. I hold on to mine as my main wheelbase despite the new higher end wheelbases. It’s absolutely fine for me. You’re getting “industrial-grade” direct drive servo motor technology with 22-bit encoder resolution that translates to granular force feedback detail.

Key Features:

• 25 Nm peak torque (continuous rating also high)
• 22-bit encoder resolution for granular force feedback
• Industrial-grade direct drive servo motor
• Simucube True Drive software for extensive customization
• Compatible with wide range of third-party steering wheels

Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate Primary Set

The world’s first force feedback pedal and Simucube’s most innovative product. This represents that occasional shot of innovation in sim racing hardware that certainly took me by surprise when it was announced.

The ActivePedal tactile feedback fundamentally changes braking technique and consistency according to users who’ve made the investment. You can feel ABS activation, traction control intervention, and G-force simulation through the pedal itself. It’s an expensive experiment at over £2,000 for a single pedal, but it represents a cutting edge product category. Worth noting: Link Hub required for operation.

Key Features:

• Unlimited adjustability via software (no mechanical adjustments needed)
• Telemetry-based force feedback effects (ABS, traction control, G-force)
• Zero wearing materials – completely maintenance-free
• Automatic profile switching between cars and simulators
• Can function as brake, throttle, or clutch with click of button

Direct Drive Wheelbases

The Simucube wheelbase range covers three torque levels: Sport (17 Nm on Simucube 2, 15 Nm on Simucube 3), Pro (25 Nm), and Ultimate (32 Nm on Simucube 2, 35 Nm on Simucube 3). All models use industrial-grade servo motors and CNC aluminum construction.

Steering Wheels

Simucube offers the Tahko Round and Valo GT-23 steering wheels, though their wheelbases are compatible with many third-party wheels via quick-release adapters. This compatibility matters – you’re not locked into Simucube wheels if you prefer options from Cube Controls, Precision Sim Engineering, or other manufacturers.

Accessories & Ecosystem

The Simucube Link ecosystem includes the Link Hub for connectivity, Quick Release wheel side kits, and mounting solutions. The new Simucube 3 generation uses real-time Ethernet communication with “LightBridge technology” for contactless power and data transfer.

Compare by Investment Level

Simucube’s high-end positioning means understanding what justifies the investment at each tier. The entry point starts around £1,200-£2,000 for Simucube 2 Sport configurations, the sweet spot sits at £2,000-£3,000 covering Simucube 2 Pro territory (in my opnion), and no-compromise setups begin at £3,000+ including the Simucube 2 Ultimate, ActivePedal, and the SC3.

My take – if you’re desparate for Simucube gear but you’re priced out of the brand new market, the Simucube 2 Pro is a fantastic investment on the second hand market. I’ve had mine for 5 years now and it has never skipped a beat.

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