Upgrading from a Logitech G29: What Actually Changes

The Logitech G29 is where most Australian sim racers get started. It is affordable, it works straight out of the box, and it is genuinely good enough to get you hooked. But at some point, you start wondering whether there is something better out there - and whether that something actually feels different, or whether you are just spending money for the sake of it.

The short answer: upgrading from a Logitech G29 to a direct drive wheelbase is one of the most noticeable improvements you can make to your sim setup. The difference is not subtle. It is the kind of thing you feel in the first corner.

Here is what actually changes, and how to think about which upgrade makes sense for you.

What the G29 Does Well

Before we talk about what changes, it is worth being honest about what the G29 gets right.

It is solidly built, it supports PlayStation and PC, and the pedal set is functional. The helical gear system that drives the force feedback is reasonably quiet for a gear-driven wheel, and the 900-degree rotation covers most racing disciplines well. For a first wheel, it delivers the core sim racing experience at an accessible price point.

The G29 has introduced thousands of Australian sim racers to the hobby. There is no shame in starting here - we have had plenty of customers who ran a G29 for years before stepping up.

The Moment Everything Changes: Force Feedback

When customers come into our Dandenong South showroom after years on a G29 and sit down behind a direct drive setup for the first time, the reaction is almost always the same: "Wow, this feels so much more realistic - I can actually feel what the car is doing."

That is not marketing talk. That is the fundamental difference between gear-driven and direct drive force feedback.

The G29 uses a motor that drives a helical gear system to produce force feedback. The gear mechanism introduces a degree of mechanical friction and resistance into the signal. What you feel is an approximation of what the car is doing - not the raw signal itself. Understeer, kerb strikes, surface texture, tyre load - all of it comes through a filter.

Direct drive wheelbases work completely differently. The motor is connected directly to the wheel shaft. There is no gearbox, no mechanical translation, no friction in the loop. What the simulation sends to the wheel is what you feel in your hands. The FFB is more detailed, more responsive, and significantly stronger.

The torque difference alone tells part of the story. The G29 produces around 2.2Nm of force feedback. A direct drive entry unit like the MOZA R5 delivers around 5.5Nm. The MOZA R9 V3 goes to 9Nm. At those levels, you can feel the road through the wheel in a way that changes how you drive - not just how the setup feels.

The Pedals: The Upgrade Nobody Talks About Enough

Here is something we tell every G29 owner who walks into the showroom looking to upgrade their wheel: the pedals matter just as much.

The G29 pedal set uses hall sensors to track pedal position. They sense how far you have pressed each pedal, but they cannot sense how hard you are pressing. There is no physical feedback mechanism - especially on the brake pedal. You push the pedal, it travels, a rubber stopper resists you at the end of the stroke. That is it.

The problem with that for sim racing is consistency. In real cars, the brake pedal builds resistance as you load the callipers. You can modulate braking pressure with feel, not just with foot position. A rubber stopper cannot replicate that.

Load cell pedals change this completely. Instead of measuring position, they measure force. The brake responds to how hard you are pressing, the same way a real car does. Lap times improve, but more importantly, braking becomes intuitive. You build muscle memory against real pressure, not against a stopper.

If you are upgrading your wheelbase, seriously consider upgrading the pedals at the same time. Our sim racing pedals guide breaks down every option by tier, but the short version is: load cell pedals change the experience far more than most people expect.

Which Upgrade Makes Sense for You

The right upgrade depends on three things: your platform, your budget, and whether you want to stay in the Logitech ecosystem.

On Console (PS5 or Xbox)

If you are on PlayStation 5 or Xbox, your options narrow significantly. Most direct drive wheelbases - including the full MOZA range - are PC-only. The MOZA R5, R9 V3 and R12 V2 all require a PC.

The best upgrade for console sim racers is the Logitech RS50. It is a genuine direct drive system - 8Nm, smooth, and console-compatible across PS5 and Xbox. You get the same jump in FFB quality that PC sim racers experience, with the platform compatibility the G29 already gave you. The RS50 Bundle also packages in the wheel and pedals, which makes it a clean, single-step upgrade.

For a full breakdown of what you get, our Logitech RS50 Bundle review covers it in detail.

On PC: Entry Direct Drive

If you are on PC and want the most impactful upgrade for the money, the MOZA R5 Bundle is the natural next step from a G29. It is a direct drive wheelbase that comes bundled with a steering wheel and the SRP Lite2 pedals - including a load cell brake.

In one purchase, you address both of the G29's limitations: the FFB quality and the pedal feel. The difference from a G29 is dramatic.

On PC: Mid-Range

If budget allows, the MOZA R9 V3 is a significant step up again. At 9Nm, the force feedback becomes genuinely physical - you feel the car working through the wheel in a way that starts to feel less like a game and more like a simulator.

We have a full hands-on MOZA R9 V3 review from the showroom if you want the detail. For a direct comparison between direct drive options at different price points, our Logitech G PRO vs MOZA R9 V3 guide is a useful next read.

On PC: Performance

The MOZA R12 V2 sits above the R9 V3 at 12Nm. At this level, you are well into the territory where tyre load and weight transfer become visceral sensations rather than suggestions. It is the right call if you are serious about sim racing long-term and do not want to upgrade again in twelve months.

Do Not Forget the Rig

One thing we always recommend to customers making the jump from a G29: invest in a proper rig.

The G29 clamps to a desk. Direct drive wheelbases produce significantly more force - and that force needs something solid behind it. A desk will flex, slide, and in time, start to affect feedback consistency. A dedicated sim racing cockpit removes all of that from the equation and lets you feel the wheelbase working the way it was designed to.

Our sim racing wheel and pedals setup guide covers the full picture if you are building from scratch.

FAQ

Is upgrading from a G29 worth it?

Yes - particularly if you have been using it for more than six months and want more from your sim time. The jump from gear-driven force feedback to direct drive is the most significant single upgrade in sim racing. You feel it immediately.

Can I keep my G29 pedals with a new wheelbase?

Technically, yes - most direct drive wheelbases accept separate pedal inputs. But if you are upgrading the wheel, we strongly recommend upgrading the pedals at the same time. The G29's pedal set lacks load cell feedback, which is a bigger limitation than most people realise until they try something better.

Does the G29 work on PS5?

The G29 is compatible with PS5 in backwards compatibility mode for supported titles. If you are upgrading specifically for PS5, the Logitech RS50 is the logical next step - full direct drive performance with native platform support.

What if I am on a tight budget?

The MOZA R5 Bundle represents outstanding value for a PC sim racer upgrading from a G29. It is a complete direct drive solution at an entry-level price point. Check current pricing on the MOZA Racing collection page.

Do I need a new rig when I upgrade my wheel?

Not immediately, but we recommend it. The additional torque from a direct drive wheelbase amplifies any flex or instability in your setup. A proper racing simulator cockpit is the foundation that lets everything else perform properly.

Thinking about making the jump? Drop into our Dandenong South showroom and try the difference for yourself. Nothing beats sitting behind a direct drive setup and feeling what the car is actually doing.

Explore the full range of direct drive wheelbases and sim racing pedals at Gamer Gear Direct.

Written by Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct. Blake has been helping Australian sim enthusiasts build their dream racing and flight simulator setups since founding GGD in 2019. When he is not in the Dandenong South showroom, you will find him behind the wheel in Assetto Corsa Competizione, Forza Horizon and Wreckfest.