How China is conquering the global Sim Racing market
Simracing, the post-2020 boom and the rise of Chinese brands: why the hardware market has changed so quickly
Since 2020, simracing has stopped being a niche frequented almost exclusively by hardcore enthusiasts and has entered mainstream video game and motorsport culture with greater force. The pandemic played a clear role in this acceleration: while many real competitions stopped or slowed down, the virtual became a pastime for some, an alternative for others, and even a public showcase for professional motorsport. In March 2020, NASCAR and iRacing launched the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, also covered by FOX Sports, a very clear sign that simracing was emerging from its specialist bubble.
Since then, the growth of interest has not completely subsided. PC platform numbers show that the genre continues to hold up well: Euro Truck Simulator 2 reached an all-time peak of 73,887 concurrent players on Steam on 02/22/2026, while Assetto Corsa Competizione hit an all-time peak of 12,376 concurrent users on 04/01/2024; even the first Assetto Corsa continues to maintain a huge base, with over 154 thousand reviews and an all-time peak of 20,299 concurrent users recorded at the end of 2025. These data alone do not describe the entire simracing scene, but they help to understand one thing: interest in driving simulation was not a flash in the pan born during lockdown.
This user growth has had an immediate effect on the hardware market. As more people started racing, the demand for steering wheels, wheel bases, pedal sets, cockpits, and accessories increased. In parallel, attention also grew towards a technology that, until a few years ago, mainly belonged to the high-end market: Direct Drive. In simple terms, in direct drive systems, the steering wheel is connected directly to the motor, without intermediate gears or belts; this allows for a faster response, cleaner force, and more detailed force feedback compared to gear-driven or belt-driven solutions.
In the direct drive transition to the consumer market, historical brands played a fundamental role. Fanatec, for example, describes the Podium DD1, released in 2018, as one of the first widely available direct drive products for the consumer public, a model that helped make this technology more accessible to the general simracing audience. Logitech and Thrustmaster then also entered this segment more decisively with products such as the PRO Racing Wheel with 11 Nm and the T818 with 10 Nm of constant torque.
The interesting point, however, is that while historical brands helped consolidate direct drive as the new benchmark, several Chinese brands managed to enter the market with impressive speed. More than simply "invading," they skillfully occupied very specific spaces: more aggressive pricing, faster-to-expand ecosystems, less conservative designs, and a remarkable ability to launch products for different user segments. In this context, talking today about a strong rise of Chinese brands in simracing is not a provocation: it is a snapshot of a market that has become much more competitive.
Among the names that best represent this phase is certainly MOZA Racing. The brand's strength lies not only in offering competitive direct drive wheelbases but in quickly building a complete ecosystem: wheelbases, steering wheels, pedals, dashboards, accessories, and even products dedicated to flight simulation. The company itself now presents itself as a reality focused on complete ecosystems for sim racing and flight simulation, and its catalog covers various use cases, from entry-level to enthusiast. Products like the R9, which offers 9 Nm of torque, have greatly contributed to the brand's diffusion among advanced consumers.
And this is precisely where MOZA has struck cleverly: it hasn't just made a "Fanatec rival steering wheel base," but has built an offering suitable for very different usage profiles. Those looking for a competitive setup to race on iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, or Le Mans Ultimate will find a credible proposition; at the same time, even those who experience simulation in a more relaxed way, perhaps switching from a GT3 to a truck on Euro Truck Simulator 2, can stay within the same ecosystem without having to start from scratch. This commercial and design flexibility is one of the true strengths with which new Asian brands have gained visibility.
Another element that distinguishes some of the new generation of Chinese brands is their willingness to experiment with less traditional form factors. CAMMUS is probably the most obvious example. The company presents the C5 as its "global first" product, while the C12 is described as a direct drive solution with 12 Nm in a compact and "all-in-one" format. The idea, beyond marketing, is clear: to reduce bulk, simplify assembly, and offer a more immediate experience to those who don't want an overly complex setup. It's an approach that may or may not be appealing, but it demonstrates a precise characteristic of this new market cycle: innovation doesn't just come from motor power, but also from object design.
There is also an indicator that, for those familiar with the sector, carries more weight than it seems: the presence of these brands in the official ecosystems of the most important simulators. MOZA, for example, is now visible in official iRacing initiatives such as the FIA F4 Global Esports Championship presented by MOZA; CONSPIT, for its part, appears in official series like the iRacing Porsche Cup by CONSPIT, in the platform's release notes, and even in dedicated software support for components like vibrating pedals. It's not just branding: it's a sign that these brands have become recognized interlocutors within one of the most authoritative simulation ecosystems.
Naturally, saying that Chinese brands are gaining ground does not automatically mean declaring the end of historical brands. Fanatec, Logitech, Thrustmaster, and others still retain important advantages: brand recognition, consolidated distribution, more recognizable customer support for many users, often more straightforward console compatibility, and a reputation built over years of market presence. Furthermore, when it comes to hardware, it's not just about the quality/price ratio: reliability over time, quality of after-sales support, ease of finding spare parts, mature firmware, and the long-term stability of the ecosystem also matter.
The truth, therefore, is less extreme than the slogan "Made in China better than the rest of the world?". The most honest answer is: in some segments, increasingly yes; in others, it still depends heavily on the user's profile. If you look at perceived value, rapid innovation, and variety of offerings, many Chinese brands today are perfectly capable of competing with the most renowned names. However, if consolidated reliability, widespread presence, or specific compatibility needs are prioritized, historical brands still have very strong arguments.
In any case, the fundamental fact remains: simracing is now a much larger, more mature, and industrially relevant sector than it was before 2020. Market estimates also point in this direction, albeit with differences between reports: Mordor Intelligence, for example, estimates a racing simulator market from 0.98 billion dollars in 2025 to 2.04 billion in 2030, while other analyses place the sector on sustained growth trajectories. The precise figures vary from report to report, but the general trend is consistent: the sector is growing, professionalizing, and attracting more and more investment, brands, and users.
Ultimately, then, it's not about establishing an absolute winner between China, Europe, or the United States. It's rather about recognizing that the simracing market has entered a new phase: more crowded, more technical, more competitive, and much more interesting for buyers. For the end user, this is good news, because it means more choice, more competitive pressure, and often better products for the same budget. And perhaps this is the central point: it's not a given that "Made in China" is always better, but today it can no longer be dismissed as a minor alternative. In simracing, it is now one of the main drivers of innovation.
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