Best Xbox Steering Wheels: Buyer’s Guide

Featured image: Xbox sim racing setup

If you’re looking for a force feedback steering wheel for Xbox Series X or S, you’ve landed in the right place. I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate what can be a surprisingly complex market – particularly when it comes to Xbox-specific licensing requirements that don’t apply to PC or even PlayStation in quite the same way.

---

The Xbox ecosystem is governed by proprietary licensing that creates some interesting quirks. Whilst Sony puts its security chip in the wheel base (for PlayStation), Microsoft takes a different approach. Fanatec, for instance, puts the Xbox license in the wheel itself, not the base. This means you can use the same direct drive base across multiple platforms – you just need the right steering wheel attached. It’s a clever bit of engineering that gives Fanatec users more flexibility than most.

Xbox Compatible Fanatec Gear

Then there’s Moza Racing, who only recently entered the Xbox market with their R3 bundle at £299.99. That’s direct drive force feedback at an entry-level price point, which is genuinely remarkable. For years, DD wheels cost upwards of £700. The R3 changes that calculation entirely.

I’ll be covering four main brands here: Logitech, Thrustmaster, Moza, and Fanatec. These are the manufacturers with official Xbox licensing. You won’t find Simagic or Simucube on this list – they’re PC-only and lack the security chip authentication Xbox requires for force feedback wheels.

Xbox Compatible Moza Gear

One caveat before we start: Forza Motorsport’s force feedback implementation has been a bit of a letdown according to the r/simracing community. Some describe it as an “understeer simulator”, which is rather disappointing given Forza’s status as Xbox’s flagship racing title. Keep this in mind if Forza is your primary sim. That said, these wheels still work perfectly well with Assetto Corsa Competizione, Dirt Rally 2.0, and other titles available on Xbox – you have plenty of sim racing games to choose from.

Logitech

Logitech makes some of the most reliable entry-level and mid-range wheels you can buy for Xbox. The G920 and G923 are complete peripherals – wheel, pedals, and licensing all in one package. They’re proven workhorses that simply work, which is worth something when you’re just getting into sim racing.

Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE

The G923 is Logitech’s upgraded version of the G920, released in 2020. The main improvement is TRUEFORCE technology, which processes game audio data at 4000Hz to generate additional haptic feedback. In practice, this means you feel road texture, engine vibrations, and tyre slip through the wheel rim itself – effects that go beyond traditional force feedback motors.

I’ve tested the G923 with both Forza and ACC on Xbox, and TRUEFORCE does add an extra layer of immersion. You can feel kerb rumble, gear shifts, and engine notes translated into tactile feedback. It’s not a revolutionary change from the G920, but it is noticeable once you know what you’re feeling for. The wheel also includes a progressive brake spring and an LED RPM indicator strip at the top of the wheel rim.

The G923 sells for around £260-300, which puts it firmly in entry-to-mid-range territory. For an extra £40-50 over the G920, you get TRUEFORCE haptics, a slightly refined pedal set, and the LED RPM lights. Whether that’s worth it depends on your budget and how much you value those extras. My view is that the G920 remains the better value proposition if money is tight, whilst the G923 is the more refined experience if you can stretch the budget.

Like the G920, the G923 is sold in platform-specific versions. Make sure you buy the Xbox/PC version (which has an Xbox button on the wheel centre) rather than the PlayStation/PC version. They’re not interchangeable.

Logitech Driving Force Shifter

The Driving Force Shifter is a 6-speed H-pattern gear lever that mounts to your desk or rig via a clamp system. It’s a simple mechanical shifter with a satisfying throw action. The build is primarily plastic with a steel shaft, and whilst it’s not the most premium-feeling shifter on the market, it does the job for casual sim racing.

The shifter connects directly to the G920 or G923 wheel base (not to the Xbox console via USB) using a DIN connector on the right side of the wheel. This means it routes through the wheel’s licensing, so you don’t need any additional authentication. It sells for around £50-55, which is reasonable value for what you get.

One thing to note: there’s no sequential mode on this shifter. It’s H-pattern only. If you want paddle shifts for GT cars or single-seater racing, you’ll use the paddle shifters mounted behind the wheel rim instead.

Understanding Xbox Wheel Compatibility

Before we dive into Thrustmaster, Moza, and Fanatec, it’s worth explaining how Xbox licensing actually works. This affects what you can and can’t do with steering wheels on Xbox Series X/S in ways that might not be immediately obvious.

Every force feedback steering wheel that works on Xbox must include a Microsoft security chip. This chip handles authentication with the console. Without it, the wheel simply won’t be recognised – or at best, it’ll work as a basic controller without any force feedback. This is why you can’t just buy a PC-only wheel from Simagic or Simucube and expect it to work on Xbox. The licensing must be built into the hardware from the factory.

The interesting bit is where manufacturers put this chip. Logitech and Thrustmaster integrate it into their complete wheel bases – the G920, G923, T128, TX, and so on. These are self-contained units where the wheel, base, and licensing are all packaged together. You buy one product, plug it in, and it works.

Fanatec does things differently. They put the Xbox security chip in the steering wheel itself, not the base. This is the opposite of PlayStation, where Fanatec puts the chip in the base. What this means in practice is that you can use a Fanatec CSL DD, ClubSport DD, or even a Podium base on Xbox – but only if you have an Xbox-licensed wheel attached to it. The base itself is platform-agnostic; the wheel determines compatibility.

Moza’s approach is similar to Fanatec’s. Their R3 bundle is fully licensed for Xbox out of the box, and they also sell the ESX steering wheel separately. Attach the ESX to an R5, R9, or R12 base, and that base becomes Xbox-compatible. Without the ESX wheel, those bases are PC-only.

Here’s the critical constraint for Xbox sim racing: you cannot mix brands. If you buy a Logitech G923, all your accessories (shifter, handbrake, pedals) must be Logitech or compatible with Logitech. You can’t use Fanatec pedals with a Logitech wheel base on Xbox. Everything routes through the wheel base hub because that’s where the licensing authentication happens.

This is completely different from PC, where you can connect each peripheral via its own USB cable. Want Fanatec pedals with a Thrustmaster wheel? Fine on PC. Not possible on Xbox. It’s ecosystem lock-in by design.

The reason I’m labouring this point is that it affects your upgrade path. Choose Logitech at entry level, and you’re committed to Logitech pedals and shifters unless you replace the entire wheel base. Choose Fanatec, and you’re in the Fanatec ecosystem. There’s no mixing once you’ve picked a brand. Keep this in mind when making your initial purchase decision.

Thrustmaster

Thrustmaster offers the widest range of Xbox-compatible wheels across all price tiers. They’ve been in the console racing peripheral market for years and have products at nearly every price point from £150 to £800. The challenge with Thrustmaster is figuring out which model suits your needs, because their product naming isn’t always intuitive.

Thrustmaster T128

The T128 is Thrustmaster’s entry-level wheel for Xbox, priced around £150-170. It uses a hybrid force feedback system (H.E.A.R.T. magnetic technology combined with belt drive), which is more refined than pure gear-driven systems like the old Logitech G27, but not quite as smooth as full belt drive. The wheel rim is 270mm with a leather-wrapped design, and rotation goes up to 900 degrees.

The included pedals use magnetic sensors rather than potentiometers, which should last longer without calibration drift. They’re a two-pedal set (throttle and brake) with progressive springs. No clutch pedal, which limits your options if you want to use an H-pattern shifter for manual gear changes. For most modern racing games with sequential gearboxes, this isn’t a problem – you’ll use the paddle shifters behind the wheel.

The T128 is a reasonable option if your budget is tight and you want something better than a basic gamepad but can’t stretch to £250-300 for a G923 or T248. It’s not going to blow you away, but it’s functional for casual racing on Forza or Grid Legends.

Thrustmaster T248

The T248 is where Thrustmaster starts to get interesting. It uses the same hybrid force feedback system as the T128 but adds several features that make it a more complete package. The force feedback operates in three modes (chosen via a switch on the base): “OFF” for standard FFB, “01” for linear force curves, and “02” for S-curve response. This gives you some tuning flexibility depending on whether you want a more direct or progressive feel.

The wheel rim includes a small display showing gear position, speed, and RPM. It’s not a high-resolution screen – think basic LCD rather than smartphone quality – but it’s functional for glancing at critical information without looking away from the track. There are also 25 programmable action buttons around the rim, which sounds excessive until you start mapping camera views, traction control, and pit limiter functions in more complex sims.

The included T3PM pedals are a significant upgrade from the T128’s basic two-pedal set. You get three pedals (throttle, brake, clutch) with magnetic sensors throughout. The brake pedal includes a progressive spring system that can be adjusted by swapping springs. It’s not a load cell, so you’re still measuring pedal travel rather than pressure, but the resistance curve is far better calibrated than most entry-level pedal sets.

The T248 sells for around £230-300 depending on retailer and whether you catch it on sale. At that price, it competes directly with the Logitech G923. My take is that the T248 offers better pedals and more configurability, whilst the G923 has TRUEFORCE haptics and arguably better build quality on the wheel rim itself. Both are solid mid-tier options.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel

The TX Racing Wheel represents Thrustmaster’s move into belt-driven force feedback, which is smoother and quieter than gear or hybrid systems. It uses a brushless motor and runs at 900 degrees of rotation (1080 degrees on PC with software adjustment). Force feedback is generated via a single belt drive connecting the motor to the wheel shaft, which eliminates the notchy feel you get from gear-driven systems.

The TX is sold in several configurations. The “TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition” comes with a 300mm leather-wrapped rim and T3PA pedals (three-pedal set with conical brake mod). There’s also the “Ferrari 458 Italia Edition” with a 280mm Ferrari-branded rim and two-pedal set. If you’re buying the TX, I’d recommend stretching for the Leather Edition – the larger rim and three-pedal set make a meaningful difference.

The TX typically sells for £370-400, which puts it squarely in mid-range territory. At this price, you’re getting noticeably smoother force feedback than the T248 or G923, but you’re still using progressive spring pedals rather than load cell. The TX also supports Thrustmaster’s ecosystem of interchangeable rims, so you can upgrade to an F1-style or GT rim later if you want different ergonomics.

One thing to be aware of: the TX can run hot under extended use. Thrustmaster includes a fan inside the base, but some users report thermal protection kicking in during long endurance races. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth knowing about if you plan to do multi-hour sessions.

Thrustmaster T598

The T598 is a newer addition to Thrustmaster’s lineup, positioned above the TX in terms of pricing (around £480). It features enhanced force feedback motors and improved cooling compared to the TX, addressing some of the thermal concerns mentioned above. The wheel base supports Thrustmaster’s quick-release system for swapping rims, and it includes an LED indicator strip for RPM warnings.

Detailed specifications for the T598 are harder to pin down because it’s still relatively new to market, but community sentiment suggests it’s a refinement of the TX platform rather than a revolutionary change. If you’re deciding between the TX and T598, the main question is whether the improved cooling and slightly stronger motors justify an extra £100-120. For most users, the TX Leather Edition at £370 remains the sweet spot in Thrustmaster’s range.

Moza Racing

Moza Racing is a relative newcomer to the Xbox market, despite being a prominent name in PC sim racing for the past few years. They’ve built a reputation for delivering direct drive force feedback at prices that undercut Fanatec and Logitech’s premium offerings. The R3 bundle is their first official Xbox product, and it’s rather significant.

Moza R3 Bundle

The Moza R3 bundle costs £299.99 and includes everything you need to start racing on Xbox: the R3 direct drive base (3.9 Nm peak torque), the ESX steering wheel with Xbox licensing, and SR-P Lite pedals. This is the first time you’ve been able to buy direct drive force feedback for Xbox at under £300. That’s genuinely remarkable when you consider that Fanatec’s CSL DD with an Xbox wheel costs upwards of £500-600, and Logitech’s G Pro is north of £800.

Direct drive means there’s no belt, no gears, no intermediary drive system – the motor is directly connected to the steering shaft. This gives you instantaneous force feedback response with zero deadband and no mechanical friction. The difference between direct drive and belt-driven (let alone gear-driven) is night and day. You feel every nuance of the road surface, weight transfer, and tyre slip with a fidelity that simply isn’t possible with belt or gear systems.

The R3’s peak torque is 3.9 Nm, which is modest by DD standards. For context, Fanatec’s CSL DD runs at 5 Nm (or 8 Nm with the boost kit), and their ClubSport DD goes up to 15 Nm. But here’s the thing: 3.9 Nm is perfectly adequate for most sim racing. Professional racing drivers use DD wheels with 10-15 Nm for endurance racing, but that’s because they’re running three-hour stints and need realistic steering weight. For home sim racing on Xbox, 3.9 Nm provides more than enough resistance for immersive feedback without being physically exhausting.

If you can afford £299 for a wheel, I’d strongly recommend considering the Moza R3 over the Logitech G923 or Thrustmaster T248. Direct drive at this price is a game-changer. Yes, the pedals are basic and the wheel rim is simple, but the force feedback fidelity is on another level compared to gear or belt systems. This is the entry point for DD on Xbox, and it’s probably the best value proposition in the entire market right now.

Fanatec

Fanatec is the premium option for Xbox sim racing, with a modular ecosystem that lets you build exactly the setup you want. They offer direct drive bases ranging from 5 Nm to 25 Nm, interchangeable steering wheels from round rims to F1-style grips, load cell pedals, and a full range of accessories including shifters, handbrakes, and button boxes. It’s the most flexible system on Xbox, but that flexibility comes with a higher price tag.

The key thing to understand about Fanatec’s Xbox compatibility is that the licensing chip lives in the steering wheel, not the base. This is the opposite of PlayStation, where Fanatec puts the chip in the base itself. What this means for Xbox users is that you can use nearly any Fanatec direct drive base – the CSL DD, ClubSport DD, even the high-end Podium series – as long as you have an Xbox-licensed wheel attached to it.

Fanatec sells several Xbox-compatible steering wheels. The CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC is a round 300mm rim with rubberised grips. The ClubSport Steering Wheel R330 V2 for Xbox is another round rim option with slightly more premium materials. For open-wheel racing, the ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5X is an F1-style grip with carbon fibre construction and integrated paddle shifters. There’s also the ClubSport GT Forza Motorsport V2 (a GT-style wheel co-branded with Forza) and several Podium-series wheels for high-end setups.

If you want maximum flexibility, Fanatec offers the ClubSport Universal Hub V2 for Xbox. This is a quick-release adapter that lets you attach any third-party or custom steering wheel rim to a Fanatec base whilst maintaining Xbox compatibility. The hub includes the Xbox security chip, paddle shifters, and a set of programmable buttons. It’s a clever bit of engineering that effectively future-proofs your setup – you can swap rims for different racing disciplines without buying multiple complete wheels.

The most common entry point for Fanatec on Xbox is the CSL DD (5 Nm or 8 Nm with boost kit) paired with an Xbox-licensed wheel. A basic setup – CSL DD 5 Nm base, CSL Elite WRC wheel, and CSL Pedals – will cost around £500-600. Add the 8 Nm boost kit and upgraded pedals with a load cell brake, and you’re closer to £700-800. That’s significantly more than the Moza R3 at £299, but you’re getting stronger force feedback (5-8 Nm vs 3.9 Nm) and access to Fanatec’s entire ecosystem of upgrades.

One advantage Fanatec has over Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Moza is their pedal ecosystem. The CSL Pedals with Load Cell Kit give you true pressure-sensitive braking rather than measuring pedal travel. This changes how you brake in sims – you develop muscle memory for applying specific brake pressure rather than pushing the pedal to a certain distance. It’s more realistic and, once you adapt to it, more consistent for hitting braking markers lap after lap.

The ClubSport V3 pedals are the next step up, with individual load cells for all three pedals and damper adjustments for the throttle and brake. These are professional-grade pedals that cost around £300-350 on their own. They’re absolutely fantastic if you’re building a high-end rig, but you need to be honest with yourself about whether you’ll notice the difference from the CSL Load Cell pedals at half the price.

Fanatec doesn’t sell through Amazon – you buy direct from their website or through specialist retailers. Shipping can take a few weeks depending on stock levels, so plan accordingly if you’re ordering close to a major racing title release.

Xbox Wheel Compatibility

Which Xbox Wheel Should You Buy?

Right, let’s cut through the noise and talk about which wheel makes sense for different budgets and use cases. I’ve covered a lot of products above, so here’s my practical take on what to actually buy.

If your budget is £150-220: The Logitech G920 remains the safe choice at the entry level. It’s a gear-driven wheel that’s been on the market since 2015, which means it’s proven, reliable, and you can find replacement parts if something breaks. The force feedback is respectable for the price, and it’ll last you a good few years if you treat it well. The Thrustmaster T128 is slightly cheaper (£150-170), but the G920 has better community support and is more widely available.

If your budget is £250-300: This is where things get interesting, because you’ve got three genuinely good options: the Logitech G923, the Thrustmaster T248, and (if you can stretch £299) the Moza R3 bundle.

My recommendation: save an extra £30-50 and buy the Moza R3 at £299.99. This is direct drive force feedback at an entry-level price. The difference between DD and gear/belt-driven systems is substantial. Yes, the pedals are basic (two-pedal set with progressive springs), and yes, the wheel rim is simple compared to the G923’s TRUEFORCE haptics or the T248’s display. But the core force feedback experience is on another level. You’ll feel road texture, weight transfer, and tyre slip with a fidelity that belt and gear-driven wheels simply cannot match.

If your budget is £700+: You’re into enthusiast territory now, and you should absolutely be looking at Fanatec. The CSL DD with the 8 Nm boost kit, a premium Xbox wheel, and CSL Load Cell pedals will set you back around £700-800. This is a proper sim racing setup that will last you for years and can be upgraded incrementally as your budget allows.

If you’re spending £1000+, then you’re looking at ClubSport DD or even Podium bases with premium wheels and ClubSport V3 pedals. At this level, you’re getting professional-grade equipment that’s used by esports drivers and racing teams for simulator training. It’s outrageously good kit, but you need to be honest with yourself about whether you’ll actually notice the difference from a CSL DD setup at half the price. My drive-by opinion: most people won’t.

Whatever you choose, you’re going to have a far better time racing on Xbox than you would with a controller. That’s the real upgrade.

---

Related Articles

Topic: Console Sim Racing