Thrustmaster Introduces PlayStation-compatible T598 Direct Drive Wheel Base

Thrustmaster-T598-Unveil-Banner.jpg
Image: Thrustmaster
Thrustmaster is taking the next step in their lineup of racing wheels: The Thrustmaster T598 is a PlayStation-compatible wheel base featuring 5Nm of torque.

The T818 has a cousin: Thrustmaster has unveiled the T598 Direct Drive wheel base that sees the manufacturer take their DD tech to consoles for the first time - although only to PlayStation 4 and 5. The wheel base comes bundled with an all-new round wheel and the Thrustmaster Raceline Pedals LTE for €499.99/$499.99/£449.99.

Compared to the T818, Thrustmasters first Direct Drive wheel base, the T598 is shorter and only features 5Nm of torque, meaning it is an entry-level Direct Drive base. Thrustmaster's specs also list an overshoot, which should mean that the base will be able to deliver the 5Nm it can produce constantly.


To get sim racers up and running, the included wheel rim sports a versatile round shape and is 300mm in diameter. The wheel's grips are made from rubber, and it features magnetic paddle shifters, a multifunctional encoder, and plenty of buttons in addition to the four on the wheel base itself. The latter also comes with a small display.

With the all-metal Raceline pedal set that allows the addition of a third pedal and the wheel included, this looks to be quite a competitively-priced bundle. The base is also compatible with a number of other wheels in the Thrustmaster ecosystem.

The bundle also comes with a table clamp and two carpet grips included, which should make it suitable for a wide range of setups. It will be available on November 29, with pre-orders already open.

What are your thoughts on the Thrustmaster T598 set? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our hardware forum!
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About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

To my knowledge they indeed are the first to use an axial flux motor in sim-racing - that's pretty innovative in my opinion.

Other manufacturers use radial flux motors which require higher amounts of quite expensive copper wire than axial flux ones do. The latter is also used in some electrical vehicles.


in-the-axial-flux-design-right-the-flux-moves-in-parallel-with-the-axis-this-arrangement-allows-for-a-greater-power-to-weight.jpg


Here's Thrustmaster's own paper on the technology.

Innovative as it may be, 99% of its users will clamp it to a desk. I wouldn't in 1000 years have something that bulky between me and my monitor due to.. the size, most definitely.
 
To my knowledge they indeed are the first to use an axial flux motor in sim-racing - that's pretty innovative in my opinion.
It's not the first time there are different types of motors. We had inrunner motors, then outrunner motors.

From the link you posted: "In the axial-flux design the flux moves in parallel with the axis. This arrangement allows for a greater power-to-weight ratio."

It's not like for the end user the difference will be noticeable in any way. Maybe the motor is a little bit lighter as the quote claims. At the end of the day it's still a Direct Drive wheel. You have your wheel directly on the shaft of the motor. Period.

But marketing like it's not a Direct Drive. But it's Direct SuperDuperExceptional Drive is just sad in my opinion.
 
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