INTRODUCTION

   One of the very first PC games i got on CD back in the mid 90's was Need for Speed and even though by todays graphics standards it looks like a very old arcade game back then it was considered a revolution in gaming (both in terms of graphics and handling). On top of that it had several short videos about the cars you could drive inside the game which many of us must have watched for hours (couldn't find them anywhere else - similar as with Jane's ATF title). Of course, Need for Speed was not the first racing game i had played, Test Drive for example was a title i had on both in my Amiga 500/Plus and my 30386/40486 computers. Still Need for Speed was clearly the pinnacle of racing games back then and in my honest opinion it was the game that took racing games into a whole new level. Unfortunately racing wheels weren't a thing back then and even though it took just over a decade for me to get my very first one since then I’ve used and reviewed a good number of them. Thrustmaster needs no introductions since they've been the leading manufacturer of flight sticks and racing wheels for as far back as i can remember and today with me i have their latest T248 Racing Wheel.

   Thrustmaster takes pride in its core values, “Passion, Quality and Innovation”, and constantly strives to improve the realism and immersiveness in legendary game worlds by offering thrilling and truly exceptional experiences. From video game enthusiasts to casual gamers, Thrustmaster accessories for PC and gaming consoles bring everyone’s dreams to life.

   The T248 is Thrustmasters latest mid/high-end racing wheel designed for the PS4/5, XBOX and PC (two versions available, one for PS4/5 & PC and one for XBOX & PC) and sports a revolutionary hybrid drive which according always to Thrustmaster can provide up to 70% more power compared to previous models (T150). This hybrid drive features three different force feedback presets/modes (100%, enhanced and boosted) aimed at providing the best possible user experience and realism to different types of gamers/audiences. The T248 also comes ready with a small LCD screen which can be used to quickly display 20 different types of information (these include the force feedback mode, RPM, speed, etc), a grand total of 25 action buttons, leather wheel cover (foam filled), H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) magnetic paddle shifters and the T3PM magnetic pedals (clutch, brake and accelerator). Needless to say, that for people such as myself who still use a gear stick/shifter in our cars (and prefer doing so) Thrustmaster also makes the TH8A shifter extra/addon which I’ll also try to get my hands on later on to see how it behaves. So, let's see what Thrustmaster brings to the table with their latest T248 Racing Wheel.