Fanatec
Fanatec designs and sells direct drive force feedback wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, and cockpits for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox sim racing, serving enthusiasts, esports competitors, and professional motorsport teams. Operated as a subsidiary of Corsair Gaming Inc. since 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLandshut, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fanatec does
Fanatec is a German-engineered sim racing hardware manufacturer founded in 1997 in Landshut, Germany, and now operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corsair Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: CRSR) following a 2024 acquisition. The company designs and sells direct drive force feedback wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, cockpits, and accessories for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox-based racing simulators. Core proprietary technologies include Direct Drive servo motors, the patented FluxBarrier magnetic flux optimization, FullForce haptic feedback, motorsport-derived QR2 quick release, load cell brake pedals, and Hall effect contactless sensors — collectively forming a modular ecosystem unified by cross-tier compatibility.
The product portfolio spans four tiers — entry-level CSL (from $99.99), CSL Elite, ClubSport, and flagship Podium (up to $1,219.99) — covering the full price range from introductory Ready2Race bundles to high-end devices co-developed with real motorsport teams. Hardware is the sole revenue stream, sold directly to consumers via Fanatec.com and indirectly through 17 certified regional partners, Amazon stores in six countries, and 20+ regional electronics retailers across 28+ countries. Distribution leverages UPS-based global shipping from a European warehouse.
Fanatec holds official licensing partnerships with Formula 1, WRC, Gran Turismo (Polyphony Digital), PlayStation, and Xbox, and co-development partnerships with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing, M-Sport, BMW M Motorsport, Bentley Motorsport, and Porsche. The Munich-based European headquarters (Corsair GmbH) operates the brand, with the legal parent being Corsair Memory Inc. in the United States. Pricing is uniform unit pricing across tiers with pay-as-you-go billing; product discounts and bundle offers are routine.
Fanatec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fanatec
- Legal name
- Corsair Memory Inc.
- Website
- https://fanatec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fanatec designs and sells direct drive force feedback wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, and cockpits for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox sim racing, serving enthusiasts, esports competitors, and professional motorsport teams. Operated as a subsidiary of Corsair Gaming Inc. since 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fanatec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sim Racing Hardware
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Racing & Flight Simulation Hardware (Wheels, Pedals, HOTAS) (HDACANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arcade, Sim Racing & Specialty Controllers Retail (Wheels, Flight Sticks, Fight Sticks) (CRACAFAJ), PC Gaming Peripherals Retail (Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Controllers) (CRACAFAD)
Keywords
Where Fanatec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Landshut
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fanatec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from direct sales of sim racing hardware including wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, cockpits, and accessories through Fanatec.com webstore and authorized distribution channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level CSL Series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range CSL Elite Series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium ClubSport Series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flagship Podium Series |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Fanatec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fanatec designs, manufactures, and sells sim racing hardware including direct drive wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, cockpits, and accessories for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox racing simulators. The portfolio spans entry-level CSL products to flagship Podium devices developed for real-world motorsport, unified by proprietary force feedback, motor, and quick release technologies. Products are sold through Fanatec.com and a global network of certified partners and authorized resellers.
Product overview
Fanatec is a comprehensive sim racing hardware ecosystem offering the widest product range in the industry, from introductory Ready2Race sets to high-end Podium devices developed for real race cars. The portfolio includes direct drive wheel bases (Podium DD with 25 Nm, ClubSport DD+/DD with 18/15 Nm, CSL DD, and Gran Turismo DD Extreme), steering wheels (ClubSport Formula V3, ClubSport Racing Wheel F1, CSL Steering Wheel GT3, CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC, CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2, CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT), pedals (Podium Pedals, ClubSport Pedals V3, CSL Elite Pedals V2, CSL Pedals), cockpits (CSL Cockpit), and accessories (CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit, QR2 Quick Release). The ecosystem is unified by proprietary technologies including FullForce haptic feedback, FluxBarrier motor optimization, QR2 motorsport-derived quick release, load cell brake technology, and Hall effect sensors. Products span PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms with options for every budget and experience level.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Podium DD Flagship direct drive wheel base featuring 25 Nm holding torque for realistic force feedback and resistance. Includes FullForce technology and full aluminum construction with advanced thermal management. Targeted at high-end sim racers and professional simulators.
- ClubSport DD+ (18 Nm) High-performance direct drive wheel base with 18 Nm torque, featuring QR2 quick release and FullForce haptic technology derived from motorsport. Sold for $899.99.
- ClubSport DD (15 Nm) Direct drive wheel base with 15 Nm torque featuring QR2 quick release system developed for motorsport use. Sold for $699.99.
- Gran Turismo DD Extreme (18 Nm) Officially licensed direct drive wheel base bundle for Gran Turismo with 18 Nm torque, sold for $1,219.99. Targeted at Gran Turismo enthusiasts seeking licensed high-end simulation hardware.
- CSL DD QR2 (5 Nm) Entry-level direct drive wheel base with 5 Nm torque and QR2 quick release system, sold for $399.99. Brings direct drive technology to a mainstream price point.
- ClubSport Racing Wheel F1 (18 Nm) Officially licensed Formula 1 racing wheel with 18 Nm direct drive, featuring integrated displays and programmable controls. Sold for $1,219.99 for F1-sim enthusiasts.
- ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 High-end Formula-style steering wheel optimized for fast steering inputs and detailed car adjustments. Sold for $399.99.
- ClubSport Formula V3 Best ever Formula wheel at 290 mm diameter with larger display for more telemetry info, improved rotary dials, and optimized input layout.
- CSL Steering Wheel GT3 Entry-level GT-style steering wheel designed for realistic force feedback and gaming console compatibility. Sold for $199.99 (discounted from $229.99).
- CSL Elite Steering Wheel WRC Rally-optimized steering wheel designed for rally and drifting simulations with authentic WRC controls. Sold for $239.99.
- CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2 (QR2 Lite) Performance steering wheel with QR2 Lite quick release for PlayStation and PC racing simulators. Sold for $169.99.
- CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT Co-developed steering wheel based on a virtual Porsche concept car designed for Gran Turismo, brought to physical reality as a sim racing product.
- ClubSport Pedals V3 High-end pedal set with load cell brake technology and Hall sensors for precision and consistency. Sold for $429.99. Targeted at competitive sim racers.
- Podium Pedals All-new high-end pedal set with patented Compression Control System ensuring consistent brake feel, rapid adjustment, and vast customization from linear to progressive braking behavior. Features 200+ kg load cell and individually calibrated Hall sensors.
- CSL Elite Pedals V2 Mid-range pedal set with load cell brake and Hall sensors for PlayStation and PC. Sold for $279.99 (discounted from $329.99).
- CSL Pedals Entry-level pedal set with Hall sensors for reliable and maintenance-free operation. Sold for $139.99.
- CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit Add-on upgrade kit that adds load cell technology to CSL Pedals for improved braking consistency and feel. Sold for $99.99.
- CSL Cockpit Compact cockpit solution ideal for living room setups and smaller spaces, compatible with Gran Turismo 7. Provides a sturdy mounting platform for Fanatec wheel bases, pedals, and shifters.
Quantifiable outcome
- First mass-market direct drive range (Podium DD1/DD2 in 2019)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fanatec
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fanatec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Fanatec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- M-Sport World Rally TeamcoreCollaborated on development of Podium Button Module Rally, used in Ford Puma Rally1 WRC cars since 2022. Product developed for both sim racing and real-world motorsport.
- BMW M MotorsportcoreCo-developed Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3, designed simultaneously for sim racing and real-world motorsport - a world first.
- Formula 1flagshipOfficial Licensee of Formula 1 and Official Provider of Formula 1 Sim Racing. Fanatec develops officially licensed F1 steering wheels and equipment for sim racing.
- WRC (World Rally Championship)coreOfficial sim provider for the World Rally Championship, providing hardware for sim racing competition.
- PlayStationcoreOfficial License for several officially licensed sim racing products for PS5 and PS4 consoles.
- XboxcoreOfficially licensed wheels designed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
- Oracle Red Bull Sim RacingcoreEsports partner powering Red Bull esports drivers with training equipment and enabling creation of Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula One Team licensed products.
- Gran TurismoflagshipOfficial Steering Wheel Partner of the Gran Turismo World Series, developing officially licensed hardware with Polyphony Digital including Gran Turismo DD Pro and GT DD Extreme.
- PorschecoreFanatec's longest-running automotive partnership. The CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT turned the wheel from a virtual concept car designed for Gran Turismo into a physical sim racing product.
- BentleycoreDeveloped alongside Bentley Motorsport, the Podium Steering Wheel Bentley GT3 is designed for both sim racing and real-world use.
- CorsairflagshipIn 2024, Fanatec became part of the CORSAIR family of brands, combining Fanatec's sim racing expertise with Corsair's gaming hardware ecosystem including Elgato, Origin PC, and SCUF.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fanatec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Moza Racing: Chinese-based sim racing hardware manufacturer offering direct drive wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, and shifters at competitive price points. Directly competes with Fanatec across the entry-level to mid-range direct drive segment, particularly CSL DD and ClubSport DD equivalents.
- Simucube: Finnish manufacturer of high-end direct drive wheel bases and force feedback systems. Competes with Fanatec's Podium DD line in the professional/prosumer segment and is recognized for premium torque and signal fidelity.
- Thrustmaster: Long-standing French sim racing wheel and joystick manufacturer; a direct competitor across console racing wheels (PlayStation, Xbox) and PC sim racing, with both budget and high-end product lines overlapping Fanatec's CSL and ClubSport ranges.
- Heusinkveld Engineering: Dutch manufacturer of high-end sim racing pedals and handbrakes, directly competing with Fanatec's ClubSport Pedals V3 and Podium Pedals in the pro/hobbyist segment. Often purchased alongside Fanatec bases or versus them.
- Simucube (ActivePedal) / Cube Controls: Cube Controls manufactures sim racing wheels, button boxes, and shifters compatible with direct drive bases. Competes with Fanatec's steering wheel lineup and shifters, particularly in the sim racing esports community.
- Asetek SimSports: Danish sim racing hardware brand offering direct drive bases, wheels, pedals, and shifters. Direct competitor in the mid-to-high-end consumer sim racing space, with a growing global footprint and chassis partnerships similar to Fanatec.
- Trak Racer: Australian manufacturer of sim racing cockpits, racing seats, and mounting solutions. Complements and competes with Fanatec's CSL Cockpit offerings; often purchased alongside Fanatec wheel bases and pedals.
- Playseat: Dutch sim racing cockpit and playseat manufacturer with officially licensed F1 and Gran Turismo products. Competes with Fanatec's CSL Cockpit and offers comparable ecosystem integration with major racing game franchises.
Broad incumbents
- Logitech G: Major gaming peripherals brand offering the G923/G29/G920 racing wheels, along with broader gaming gear. Competes with Fanatec at the entry-level console wheel tier and has wide retail distribution; not a specialist in high-end direct drive but a meaningful presence in the same customer wallet.
Emerging players
- Cammus: Newer Chinese entrant into the direct drive wheel base market competing at aggressive price points. Emerging player with partial overlap in direct drive wheel bases; not yet a full ecosystem competitor but a rising threat on price.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fanatec social profiles
Digital presenceFanatec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fanatec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fanatec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fanatec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fanatec
What does Fanatec do?
Fanatec designs, manufactures, and sells sim racing hardware including direct drive wheel bases, steering wheels, pedals, cockpits, and accessories for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox racing simulators. The portfolio spans entry-level CSL products to flagship Podium devices developed for real-world motorsport, unified by proprietary force feedback, motor, and quick release technologies. Products are sold through Fanatec.com and a global network of certified partners and authorized resellers.
Is Fanatec a public or private company?
Fanatec is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Fanatec founded?
Fanatec was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fanatec based?
Fanatec is headquartered in Landshut, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Fanatec make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales.
Who are Fanatec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Moza Racing, Simucube, Thrustmaster, Heusinkveld Engineering, Simucube (ActivePedal) / Cube Controls, Asetek SimSports, Trak Racer and Playseat. Logitech G is listed as a broad incumbent. Cammus is listed as an emerging player.
Does Fanatec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fanatec.
What industry is Fanatec in?
Fanatec's product category is Sim Racing Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACANAE, Racing & Flight Simulation Hardware (Wheels, Pedals, HOTAS), with a secondary code of CRACAFAJ, Arcade, Sim Racing & Specialty Controllers Retail (Wheels, Flight Sticks, Fight Sticks). Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 3949.