Most people agree that PC takes the cake in terms of graphics, compatibility, and upgradability when compared to consoles. However, when it comes to simulation racing, even the best most powerful gaming computers fail to fully immerse racers into the virtual world. Sure, they do a much better job mimicking real-world physics and track conditions than Xbox or PlayStation, but we feel there’s always room for improvement.
Any aspiring sim racer wants to feel like they’re in a real car when they get into their simulation rig. Unfortunately, it takes more than good graphics and powerful equipment to make this possible. Therefore, in this post, we’ll share a quick guide on how to maximize sim racing immersion on PC, using which you can take your virtual experience to the next level.
9 Ways to Maximize Sim Racing Immersion
The following are nine smart ways to make sim racing more realistic and fully immerse into the virtual environment:
1. Head Tracking Software
Sim racing head trackers are making some serious noise in the racing simulation industry. If you’re playing sim racing games online through Steam, you can use head tracking software like Eyeware Beam to move the in-game camera around with your head movements. This way, you can induce 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) technology into your gameplay and provide a more natural feeling when controlling cameras.
These apps turn your smartphone or tablet into a face tracking device using the front camera. All you need to do then is connect your device to your PC via USB or WiFI, and the PC software wizard will walk you through the remaining steps.
2. Gaming Glasses
Protective glasses for gaming block blue light from passing through with the aid of special lenses, providing sim racers with vision improvement during intense races. They can also reduce the strain on your eyes and enable you to race longer without fatigue.
As far as immersion goes, many computer glasses come with a wide field of view, allowing gamers to see more of the simulated environment and improve their overall racing experience.
3. Eye Tracking Software
Like head tracking software, eye trackers, such as Vtuber Avatar, offer a variety of benefits for sim racers. For instance, it lets your PC know where you’re visually focused at a given moment so it can move the in-game camera according to your eye movement and expand your field of view in any direction.
The greater the FOV, the more you can see on the virtual race track. Plus, it plays an essential role in your ability to judge speed and distance, especially around corners.
4. Better Seat
If you feel you’re not quite able to get in the zone even after hours of practice, perhaps you should consider getting a racing seat. If you watch sim racing events, you might have noticed most pro racers don’t sit in office or gaming chairs.
They opt for special seats with multiple reclining positions, similar to F1 or GT positions. However, apart from mimicking the feeling of sitting in a real car, they also enhance force feedback. Unfortunately, they also carry a massive price tag depending on the brand and quality.
5. Monocoque Sim Rig
A monocoque simulation rig is an upgraded form of a full-frame cockpit that wraps racers in a partial shell or hub. Simply put, it makes racers feel as if they’re sitting inside an actual race car, thus, allowing them to maximize their sim racing immersion.
They’re usually equipped with high-quality adjustable seats with multiple reclining positions. As a result, they’re among the most expensive sim racing equipment in the market.
6. Load Cell Pedals
Whether you’re looking to optimize performance or want a more realistic racing experience, you need high-quality racing pedals. These simple yet crucial devices can range anywhere from a few hundred bucks to a few thousand. Therefore, you need to pay attention to what they’re packing in terms of material and braking mechanism.
Many pro sim racers recommend opting for load cell pedals which measure the force exerted on them rather than how far they get pushed. They offer a more tactile, realistic experience than traditional, spring-based pedals in the market.
7. Try VR Headsets
Perhaps, what you need to maximize sim racing immersion is a different visual experience. Instead of sticking to a traditional single or triple monitor setup, you can opt for virtual reality headsets. These stunning devices can drastically alter your visual perception and help you fully immerse into the virtual environment with a 360-degrees view. Although they don’t offer 4k resolution or the best refresh rate, they’re a budget-friendly alternative to a triple screen setup if you’re looking to create a multi-dimensional feeling.
8. Gaming Headphones
Most people overlook the audio aspect of sim racing and splash most of their cash on monitors, wheels, and other components. Whether you’re a noob or a pro, you need to understand that sound isn’t just an immersion essential. Drivers need to be able to hear their engines to know when to shift gears, how fast they’re going, the tire traction, and if there’s something wrong with the car.
If you’re using speakers or your smartphone’s headphones, you need to upgrade to a gaming headset. Although it would be nearly impossible to find headphones designed solely for simulation racing, you can opt for ones designed specifically for gaming, not just playing music or taking phone calls. Important factors to consider when choosing one include sound isolation, 3D surround sound, and the brand. Higher-end options from Logitech, Razer, and Fnatic for sim racing would be ideal as per our experience.
9. Better Wheels
Another great way to make your sim racing experience more realistic is a wheels upgrade. Higher-end wheels offer great benefits in terms of rotation range, force feedback, materials, design, and realism. Many also include buttons just like their real-world counterparts, while others go out of their way to fully replicate vehicles, such as GT and F1 cars, with centered LCDs to display vital information, such as track temp, tire wear, laps completed, etc.
Conclusion
And there you have it – 9 smart ways to maximize sim racing immersion. You can drastically improve your racing experience and overall performance with this information. Granted, many of our ways involve buying or upgrading sim racing gear, but if you want to take your game and experience to the next level, this is a compromise you’ll need to make. However, you don’t need to go all out at once. You can prioritize and upgrade one aspect at a time and slowly pick up the pace.
