The lack of a racing wheel for the Xbox 360 has always been a gripe for simulation racing fans in India. The original Microsoft wheel never released here. Following Forza 4’s grand reveal at E3, racing wheel announcements for the Xbox 360 have sprouted left, right and centre. Fanatec have announced two official wheels, the Forza Motorsport CSR wheel and the Forza Motorsport CSR Elite wheel. Fanatec also announced an independent shifter set for the wheels and individual pedals for the CSR and CSR Elite. These wheels, featuring new technology, are expected to be the ones to beat when they come out later this year.
Mad Catz announced that they will also be releasing an official Xbox 360 wireless force feedback wheel compatible with all Xbox 360 titles later this year. “Our new licensed Wireless Force Feedback Wheel is a further example of our ability to introduce high quality gaming controllers which offer great appeal to core gamers.” said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.
Adding to this list, Microsoft had already announced a wireless racing wheel for the Xbox 360 which will be sold at 60$ in the US. The odd looking U-shaped wireless wheel looks more like a Forza Kinect accessory than a hardcore gamer’s racing wheel. Microsoft said that the wheel will be available this October.
There has been no official announcement about the release of any of these wheels in Inida. We hope they don’t suffer the same fate as the original Microsoft wheel for the Xbox 360. But on the bright side, almost every Xbox 360 accessory launched after the original Microsoft wheel has released here, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.