Not everyone remembers the unique controllers that never appeared. As third-party peripheral makers try to offer gamers something different from the DualSense and Joy-Cons, they often have to go in a different direction. GameSir's Swift Drive (apparently the working title of the product) definitely is. And if you remember the 1998s PS1 definitely shares some DNA.
It has a compact steering wheel in the center of a typical controller design. It also has force feedback, a technology typically found in (full-size!) steering wheel controllers. GameSir claims it has a “high-precision” Hall encoder built in for “ultra-precise” steering.
Mat Smith for Engadget
You'll be able to adjust the steering wheel's range from 30 to 1,080 degrees, but you'll probably want to keep it high—that's the whole point of this controller. GameSir has added Hall effect sensors to its more typical joysticks and buttons, and each trigger has its own haptic motor to simulate wheel spin and braking. A few RGB lights on the top of the controller will even try to replicate your in-game RPMs, which is pretty neat.
At CES, I drove a large machine in a display area that had been converted into wireframe ramps and curved surfaces. The force feedback is strong and it makes for a surprising driving pleasure as I turn the steering wheel with both thumbs. The steering wheel can also be personalized with different plates. It was like a miniature controller on the steering wheel, and it would lock up when I oversteered or stopped. You may be concerned about battery life, but the controller should last 20-30 hours on a single charge.
A GameSir spokesperson said the controller is expected to go on sale later this year, but prices have not yet been confirmed.
