Category: F1

If you’ve been following my journey to build the ultimate budget sim rig for F1 25 and Gran Turismo, you know it’s been a mix of high-speed excitement and technical pit stops. My goal was to create a professional-feeling setup for my son and me without breaking the bank, but the road has been a bit bumpier than expected.

The RS50 Update: Still Stuck in the Pits

As I mentioned previously, I chose the Logitech RS50 (Racing Series 8Nm base) as the “Goldilocks” solution for our PS5 setup. On paper, its TrueForce technology and native compatibility made it the perfect choice. However, I’ve been plagued by the “Three Dots of Doom”: the unit powers on, I select “PS5,” and then it immediately shuts down with three blinking dots.

The support experience has been just as frustrating as the hardware failure. After a dead-end chat session, my only form of contact has been through email, with responses taking days to arrive. Logitech has now requested that I send the base back for evaluation. They claim that after 72 hours of receiving it, they will reach a “decision.” It’s a baffling process considering the unit never worked right out of the box. I’ve shipped it back and can only hope they recognize the defect and send a brand-new replacement so we can finally get on the track.

The Cockpit Comparison: Playseat vs. GTPlayer

While waiting for the “brain” of the rig to return, I’ve had plenty of time to evaluate the two cockpits I’ve tested. Both sit around the $400 mark, but they serve very different needs.

• Playseat Challenge DD F1 Edition: This rig is all about the “cool factor” and that iconic, low-slung F1 posture that makes you feel like Carlos Sainz. You are essentially paying a “space-saving tax” and a “corporate branding tax” for the ability to fold it into a closet.
  • The Downside: It’s held together by straps and hinges, which leads to significant flex when using a Direct Drive wheel. More importantly, it lacks versatility; if you want to “row gears” with a manual shifter, you’re out of luck, as there is no native way to add one.
• GTPlayer S03: This is a fixed-frame rig made of 2-inch alloy steel, and it has quickly become my preferred choice. In sim racing, “solid” usually beats “sleek,” and the rigidity here ensures that all the feedback goes into your hands rather than a wobbling frame.
  • The Upside: The reclining racing bucket seat is incredibly comfortable and includes built-in Bluetooth headrest speakers. It also features a sliding seat rail, allowing my son and me to swap drivers in seconds without any tools. Plus, unlike the Playseat, it actually includes the ability to mount a shifter and an e-brake, making it a much more complete package for different racing styles.

Final Thoughts

If you have a dedicated corner for your hobby, the GTPlayer S03 offers significantly more “bang for your buck”. You get a stable, feature-rich steel cockpit for the same price as a “fancy folding chair”. Now, I just need Logitech to step up so I can actually put this rig to the test.

Stay tuned for the “decision” on the RS50—I’ll be sure to share whether I’m back in the race or looking for a total refund.

We’ve all seen the marketing: “Plug-and-play.” “TrueForce immersion.” “Pro-grade performance.” But my experience with the Logitech RS50 on my PS5 has been anything but “pro.” It’s been a masterclass in frustration.

After spending hours bolting the gear onto my cockpit, I was ready for the green light on F1 25. Instead, I got the digital equivalent of the big FU.

The “Three Dots” of Doom
Here is the loop I’m stuck in: I wire everything up and boot the console. The wheel base powers on, and I get the option to select my platform (PS5, PS4, or PC). I select PS5, hoping for that satisfying calibration spin.

Nothing. I get three blinking dots on the display, and then the unit simply shuts off. No input recognition, no force feedback—just a cold, expensive piece of metal and plastic attached to a very comfortable chair.

The Troubleshooting Rabbit Hole
I haven’t just been sitting here complaining. I’ve spent the last 48 hours in the trenches of Reddit and Facebook groups, trying every “voodoo fix” suggested by the community:

The Power Cycle: Unplugging and replugging in every possible sequence during the PS5 boot-up.

The Port Shuffle: Swapping between every USB port on the console and trying different high-speed cables.

The Hardware Variable: I even tried a different PS5 to rule out my console being the issue. Same result.

The Plot Twist: I actually managed to get it to connect to a PC after some serious trial and error. I even successfully updated the firmware! But the moment I bring it back to the PS5 and toggle the mode back to console… three dots, power down. —

Logitech “Support” (Or Lack Thereof)
If the hardware failure was frustrating, the customer service experience has been downright insulting. I tried the Logitech live chat, and after navigating a gauntlet of bot questions, I finally reached a human named Lekhana.

(7:21:06 pm) Lekhana: There is dedicated team which handles this issue I will be transferring this ticket to the concerned team of Logitech. Once I transfer the ticket you will be assisted via chat within 5 minutes if not you will be assisted via mail.

I sat there. I waited. I sent “Hello?” and “Is anyone there?” into the void for an hour. Nobody came back. I eventually gave up and went to bed feeling completely defeated.

Two days later, I finally got an email asking for the details I had already provided in the chat and then some. I replied immediately. Now? I’m back to playing the waiting game.

Final Thoughts
When you pay a premium price for “next-gen” gear, you expect a premium experience—or at the very least, a product that turns on. Right now, my GTPlayer cockpit is just a very fancy place to sit while I browse support forums on my phone.

I’ll keep you all posted on whether Logitech actually stands behind their product or if I’m headed for a total refund. asking for more details which I provided. Still waiting for a response. I’ll keep you posted.

When I was shopping for a cockpit to house my new 8Nm Logitech setup, I almost clicked “Buy” on the Playseat Challenge DD F1 Edition. It had that iconic, low-slung F1 posture that makes you feel like Carlos Sainz. But after looking at the $400 price tag, I realized I was paying a “space-saving tax” as well as a “corporate sponsor tax.”

I didn’t need the rig to disappear into a closet. I needed it to stay still. Here’s why I went with the GTPlayer S03 instead.

1. Rigidity Over Portability

The Playseat is essentially a high-end lawn chair. It’s impressive for what it is, but at the end of the day, it’s held together by straps and hinges. When you’re pushing a Direct Drive wheel to its limit, any hinge is a potential point of “flex.”

The GTPlayer S03 is a fixed frame made of 2-inch alloy steel. There are no straps to tighten or hinges to wobble. When I hit a curb in the game, the force goes into my hands, not into a folding mechanism. For the same $400, I traded “foldability” for “rock-solid stability.”

2. The “Dad & Son” Factor: Real Adjustability

This was the clincher. Sim racing is more fun when you can share it, and my son was just as excited as I was.

• The Playseat Challenge: Adjusting a foldable rig for different heights usually involves re-velcroing straps and shifting the entire frame. It’s a chore.
• The GTPlayer S03: It features a sliding seat rail just like a real car. In five seconds, we can slide the seat forward for him or back for me. No tools, no frustration, and the pedals stay exactly where they belong.

3. Bang for the Buck

For the same price as the “entry-level” foldable F1 seat, the S03 felt like a complete furniture upgrade.

• The Seat: A fully padded, reclining racing bucket vs. a suspended fabric seat.
• The Audio: The S03 includes built-in Bluetooth headrest speakers.
• The Longevity: I don’t have to worry about a joint wearing out or a strap fraying over time.

Final Thoughts

The Playseat F1 Edition definitely wins on “cool factor” and that specific reclined F1 slouch. But for a household where the rig has a dedicated corner and two different drivers, the GTPlayer S03 was the smarter investment. I got a professional-feeling, rigid steel cockpit for the price of a fancy folding chair.

In sim racing, “solid” usually beats “sleek.”

When you start researching sim racing, every forum and YouTube video tells you the same thing: The “best” brain for a rig is a PC. They aren’t wrong. With massive processing power, high-end graphics cards, and the ability to run triple-monitor setups, a PC offers the most immersive experience and endless hardware combinations.

But let’s be real—I’m trying to keep this to a budget. I’m also new to this; who’s to say I’ll even like the experience in six months? Since I managed to snag an extra PS5 for under $200, I decided that would be my starting point. It’s powerful, reliable, and significantly cheaper than a dedicated gaming PC.

The $1,000 Challenge

I set a strict budget of $1,000 for the hardware. In my mind, the bulk of that money should go toward the steering wheel and pedal combination. That’s where the “real” feeling of driving comes from, right?

I started my search at Microcenter. They had the Logitech G923 on display, and while it looked okay, the moment I touched it, I was disappointed. It felt… “toy-ish.” It didn’t have the weight or the resistance of a true steering wheel, and I knew right then that I wouldn’t stay satisfied with it for long.

The Direct Drive Dilemma

After hours of research, I realized that Direct Drive (DD) was the only way to go. Instead of using gears or belts to turn the wheel, the wheel is mounted directly to the motor shaft. This provides instant, high-fidelity feedback. The problem? They are expensive, and PS5 compatibility is surprisingly rare.

• Fanatec: A great option, but very “a la carte.” By the time I added load-cell brakes and the specific PlayStation-compatible base, the price skyrocketed.
• Logitech G Pro: Beautiful hardware, but at over $1,000 for the set, my entire budget would be gone before I even bought a seat.

Finding the Middle Ground: The Logitech RS50

Then I found the Logitech RS50 (the Racing Series 8Nm base). At around $700 shipped, it felt like the “Goldilocks” solution. Since I’m primarily focused on F1 racing, I didn’t need a dedicated shifter or a clutch pedal, which kept the cost down.

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The RS50: Pros and Cons

If you’re looking at this base for your own PS5 setup, here is what I’ve discovered:

The Advantages

• TrueForce Technology: This is a game-changer. It uses the game’s audio and physics to send high-frequency vibrations through the wheel. You don’t just feel the turn; you feel the engine’s RPM and the specific “thump” of the F1 curbs.
• 8Nm of Torque: This is the “sweet spot.” It’s strong enough to provide a realistic struggle in high-speed corners without being so powerful that it hurts your wrists or requires a professional-grade steel chassis.
• Natively PlayStation: No adapters, no workarounds. It just works.

The Disadvantages

• Ecosystem Locking: You are mostly tied to Logitech’s ecosystem. If you want a specific third-party rim, you’ll likely need expensive adapters.
• Build Materials: To hit that price point, there is more plastic involved than in the ultra-premium $1,500 bases. It’s sturdy, but it doesn’t have that “industrial tool” feel.
• Fixed Power: Unlike some competitors where you can buy a larger power brick later to increase the strength, the RS50 is fixed at 8Nm. What you buy is what you get.

Next Steps

By choosing the RS50, I’ve managed to secure a high-end Direct Drive experience while keeping $300 left in the bank. Now comes the next challenge: What do I bolt this thing to?

In mid-2024, I took a casual look at Formula 1 and got absolutely hooked. I’ve always been a “car guy,” but professional racing never really clicked for me until then. Like most newcomers, I didn’t know the grid, so I naturally gravitated toward the man winning everything: Max Verstappen. To catch up, I binged Drive to Survive on Netflix to put faces to the helmets. But the real drama started off the track. At the end of 2024, the “Silly Season” went nuclear when Ferrari dropped Carlos Sainz—not for lack of talent, but because they had the rare chance to sign 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Finding My Favorite Driver

Watching the 2025 season unfold was wild. While Lewis struggled to find his footing with the Scuderia, Carlos fought through the growing pains of a new team, eventually finding his rhythm to bag points and podiums. There’s something about the underdog story that resonates; Carlos became my favorite driver right then and there (“Vamos!”).

Bringing the Track Home

The obsession eventually bled into the living room. My son and I picked up a PS5 to play F1 25, and we’re still tearing up the virtual tracks today. I just finished watching the Chinese Grand Prix—what a race! Between the constant overtakes and Kimi Antonelli making history as the second-youngest race winner ever (trailing only Max), I was on the edge of my seat.

That adrenaline rush convinced me: It’s time to build a sim rig.

I just picked up a second PS5 so my son and I can race properly. I’m currently deep in the rabbit hole of reviews, trying to navigate the endless options for cockpits and peripherals.

The Current Game Plan:

• The Essentials: A solid racing seat and a high-quality wheel/pedal combo (looking at Direct Drive options!).
• The Future: Looking into VR or high-end headsets down the road for total immersion.