- The low cost of Thrustmaster T98 is designed with children and players of entry in mind, according to the marketing manager Xavier Pieuchot
- Pieuchot says that the T98 is “everything you need to take your first step in a racing game”
- He also says that the low cost meant that your Mmaster could not implement the feedback of force, but that it is more suitable for children.
The new T98 with Ferrari’s license from Thrustmaster is a low -cost racing wheel designed for children and newcomers of wheels, but this meant that the manufacturer could not add a key feature.
Speaking in an interview with Techradar Gaming at Gamescom 2025, after the announcement of the T98, the Marketing Manager of Products of Thrustmaster, Xavier Pieuchot, explained that the price of $ 100 / £ 89.99 / € 100 of the wheel allows wheel users for the first time to start at low price, particularly the children.
“It is not aimed at the SIM runners, it is aimed at children, for flying users for the first time,” said Pieuchot, “but there is a great market here because all the boys who now play Sim Racing [games] With professional things I should start with something cheap at first, so we have launched this [the T98].
“Below € 100, most of the time you get a very cheap, also very cheap plastic design. Here we bring [the] Ferrari license, so we cannot say that it is a replica because it is not a 1: 1. but is very inspired scale.
“Basically, you have a kind of replica, handsome flyer and everything you need to take your first step in a racing game.”
However, due to the low cost of T98, this meant that the company could not afford to implement force comments, a common component that is in many of the best racing wheels that an electric motor uses to generate realistic resistance.
Pieuchot explained that, since it is a more friendly product with the budget, it could not offer the same experience as a wheel with strength feedback power, and added that it would be more suitable for young children anyway.
“You have a product that looks like a steering wheel, so you have a better immersion of driving a car, but we know that in the end it is not the way you start and seriously put yourself with the SIM races, that’s why,” he said. “And as I said, [the] The engine is the most expensive part of the steering wheel.
“So, if we want to achieve the objective of € 100, we simply cannot pay the comments,” he said. “It is much easier and safer for a family to put a steering wheel like this in the hands of children.”
The Thrustmaster T98 is now available and is compatible with PC, PS4 and PS5.
