Hardware & Software: Sim Racing at Gamescom 2023

Gamescom 2023 has come and gone, and while the event is enormous in the gaming community, sim racing is not its biggest draw. There were numerous interesting bits for enthusiasts of virtual racing cars, however, both regarding hardware and software.

Image credit: MOZA Racing on X

Despite the focus of Gamescom being on other genres, sim racers still had a decent amount to discover at the event, as OverTake's Marvin Miller and Michel Wolk soon found out. You can tag along to see what their experience was like in the video below.

Hardware​

MOZA Racing​

Few sim racing hardware manufacturers found their way to Cologne. MOZA Racing was one of them, and they had promoted their attendance considerably ahead of the event. The manufacturer had teased an Xbox-compatible wheel, which was unveiled once the exhibition halls opened on the first day of Gamescom. The R3 bundle is the first with console compatibility for MOZA, and it might lead a revolution for entry-level gear, too, and first hands-on tests revealed it to be a solid piece of hardware. Alongside the bundle, new hardware for 2024 was also announced, including a 400mm truck wheel.

PXN​

More Direct Drive goodness was present at the PXN stand: The Chinese brand had brought their V12 Lite wheelbase, which features compatibility for PC and both PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The V12 Lite comes with its own app, has a quick release and four magnetic paddles, and features 6 Nm of torque. After mainly being known for cheap wheels and pedals on the low end (often even without Force Feedback), the manufacturer looks like it is tackling more serious offerings as well now.

Software​

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown​

The next instalment of the TDU series has been observed in motion for the first time in July - after news broke that developer Kylotonn had gone on strike. It looks like the waves with publisher Nacon have calmed since then, as the version of TDU Solar Crown available to play at Gamescom looked a bit more advanced than what was shown in July. With the release date still not confirmed, but likely to be Q1 of 2024, there should be enough time for the game to improve even more. Look out for more info on TDU Solar Crown in the coming days, as Marvin and Michel have received interesting insight at the Nacon booth.

Overpass 2​

Another Nacon title available to play at Gamescom, Overpass 2 showed promise, but was still rather rough around the edges. Considering the planned October 19th release, time is limited to fix things like AI behavior or graphics issues - those spoiled the fun for Michel and Marvin quite a bit.


Unfortunately, Forza Motorsport was not playable at Gamescom 2023, so fans of the series have to have more patience. Image credit: Microsoft/Turn 10 Studios

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Forza Motorsport​

Anyone hoping to get their hands on the upcoming Forza Motorsport were unfortunately disappointed: While the game was part of the Xbox booth and more gameplay was shown, it was not possible to actually play Microsoft's and Turn 10's flagship racing title ahead of its October 10th release. Want to know what content to expect in the launch version? We have listed everything that has been confirmed in a handy article.

Your Thoughts​

Were you in attendance at Gamescom? What news would you have hoped for from those representing sim racing at the event? Let us know in the comments below!