I bought a PS5 for Gran Turismo. Then things fell apart.
My couch looked like a race cockpit. Pillows everywhere. A plank between the chair legs for my pedals. It worked. Until I slid out for the umpteenth time mid-corner at the Nürburgring. This is no way to race. Scrolling through Reddit, you see the same desperation. People asking what works, what doesn’t, and what the PlayStation 5 even allows. Let’s figure that out.
Here’s my take: a good PS5 setup doesn’t start with the most expensive wheel. It starts with a plan. And the realization that Sony’s compatibility is a minefield.
The compatibility mystery (and how not to get stuck)
Sony has a licensing program. Manufacturers have to pay to make their wheel work ‘officially’. No license? Good chance it won’t connect. Period. This is your first filter.
You see it all over forums: “Does this work on PS5?” The answer is usually: check the box. Look for the official “Designed for PlayStation” logo. Don’t see it? Don’t guess. It’s simple. And frustrating.
The big three (and a surprising outsider)
Let’s name the players that do work.
Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel: This is the king. 11 Nm of torque, direct-drive, and it just works. It’s expensive. But it’s also plug-and-play in its purest form. No fuss. No hubs. Just plug it in and race. If money isn’t an issue, stop reading here.
Fanatec GT DD Pro: This was the gold standard for years. And it still is. 5-8 Nm, depending on the power supply. The beauty? The Fanatec ecosystem. You can swap wheel rims later, add different pedals. It grows with you. It’s the best middle ground.
Thrustmaster T-GT II: The powerhouse of the previous generation. It has a special ‘T-DFB’ vibration motor in the wheel itself. For Gran Turismo 7, that feels fantastic. It’s not direct-drive, but it’s close. A solid, all-in-one choice if you find Fanatec too complicated.
And the outsider? The Moza Racing R5 Bundle. Note: Moza R5 requires a third-party adapter like the Brook Ras1ution 2 to work on PS5, as Moza does not have official PlayStation licensing. It’s a direct-drive bundle at a sharp price. The community is still figuring out how good it is, but it’s become a serious player. Watch this space.
Your rig: where everything (doesn’t) fall over
You can have the best wheel in the world. If it’s on your desk, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Literally.
A rig isn’t optional. It’s essential. It takes the flex out. It gives your pedals something to push against. It stops the sliding. You can start simple.
A cheap start: The Next Level Racing GT-Lite or Playseat Challenge. These are foldable chairs. They’re stiff enough for a Logitech G29 or a Thrustmaster T300. For a direct-drive wheel? No. Those are too strong. But for a beginner, they’re perfect. They disappear into the corner when you’re done.
The next step: A tube frame. Think GT Omega or Next Level Racing F-GT. This is aluminum profile (80/20) for normal people. It’s modular. You can mount anything on it. And it doesn’t wobble. Ever. This is where most serious racers end up. It’s a one-time purchase. Buy this, and you never think about a rig again.
Stuck with a desk? Get a sturdy wheel stand. The Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD can handle even a direct-drive wheel. It’s a compromise. But a good one.
Pedals: the secret weapon
Everyone thinks about the wheel. The real speed is in the pedals.
The wheel tells you what the car is doing. The pedals tell the car what you want. A good brake pedal with a load cell (it measures pressure, not distance) is the most important part of your setup. Seriously.
The pedals that come with your wheel are often… mediocre. Luckily, the PS5 often works with third-party pedals, as long as they’re connected through the wheel base. Fanatec lets you use their V3 pedals. Logitech has its own Pro Pedals. Thrustmaster has the T-LCM.
My advice? Budget for pedals. Buy a wheel base with less power, but reserve cash for load cell pedals. Your lap times will thank you.
The games: what you’re doing this all for
Hardware is fun. But without software, it’s an expensive ornament.
Gran Turismo 7: This is the system seller. Polyphony Digital has optimized the force feedback for PS5. It feels great. The single player is deep. Sport mode is competitive. Downside? Sometimes it feels a bit too polished, too controlled. But it’s required reading.
F1 24: The official F1 experience. It’s spectacular, accessible, and the career mode eats hours. The force feedback has gotten better. It’s not a pure sim, but it’s tremendously fun.
Assetto Corsa Competizione: This is the serious stuff. GT3 and GT4 racing. The physics are ruthless. The force feedback is detailed. It’s hard. But once you complete a lap without crashing, there’s no greater satisfaction. Warning: it only works with licensed wheels. Check the compatibility list.
EA Sports WRC: For the gravel and snow fans. The feeling of losing and regaining grip on a muddy road is unmatched. Chaos. Pure chaos. And highly addictive.
What you won’t play on PS5: iRacing, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2. Those are PC-only. That’s the compromise.
The setup nobody tells you about
You’ve plugged everything in. And it feels… weird. Now what?
- Force feedback strength: Start low. 60-70%. It’s not about brute force, it’s about detail. You want to feel the front tires losing grip, not break your wrists.
- Filtering: Some games (or wheel bases) have a ‘filter’ setting. This dampens small vibrations. Crank this up a bit if the feedback feels noisy. It smooths things out.
- Deadzone: Always set to 0. Unless you have a specific problem.
- Pedal Curve: For load cell brakes: make the curve linear. More pressure = more braking. Simple.
Don’t spend hours tweaking. Drive. Feel. Adjust one setting. Then drive again.
The hard truth about future-proofing
- The PS5 Pro might be out. The PS6 is on the horizon. Are you buying hardware that’ll be worthless then?
Maybe.
But here’s some comfort: a good aluminum profile rig will last three console generations. Load cell pedals too. The most expensive part, the wheel base, is the biggest risk. Fanatec and Logitech will likely support their current bases on the next PlayStation. But a guarantee? Zero.
My advice: buy for now. Enjoy the next few years of racing on PS5. This hobby moves fast. Too fast to always wait for the next thing.
So. Put those pillows back on the couch. Put that plank away. It’s time for a real rig.
Your wrists and your lap times will notice the difference immediately.