CORSAIR and Fanatec: What Short- and Medium-Term Changes Can We Expect?

The acquisition of Fanatec is a major move for CORSAIR, strengthening its position in the gaming peripherals market. Fanatec, widely regarded for its sim racing products, will now operate under the umbrella of the US hardware leader.

CORSAIR had already secured several of Endor’s intellectual properties earlier this year as collateral and recently showcased its own sim racing rig at Gamescom 2024, equipped with Fanatec gear.

What Do We Know About CORSAIR in the World of SimRacing?

CORSAIR made its first major move into the world of Sim Racing with the announcement of its own racing cockpit, although the product never received an official name.

This announcement generated significant excitement, as the brand had never previously released products specifically tailored to this niche market.

CORSAIR’s racing cockpit was unveiled alongside a Fanatec steering wheel, which immediately sparked speculation about whether the two companies were collaborating on more than just that product reveal.

Rumors and Strategic Moves

Rumors suggest that this development has been in the works for some time, indicating that CORSAIR’s interest in Sim Racing started well before the public announcement.

Specifically, it’s believed that CORSAIR may have considered acquiring Fanatec as a strategic move to accelerate its entry into the Sim Racing market, rather than developing a completely new line of products from the ground up.

This raises the question: could CORSAIR’s relationship with Fanatec go beyond simple product collaboration and evolve into something more substantial?

Internal Restructuring and User Concerns

One of the main concerns within the Sim Racing community has been Fanatec’s customer service. For months, users have reported issues such as delayed response times, slow shipments, and difficulties in obtaining technical support.

With CORSAIR’s extensive experience in managing large-scale global customer service, there’s hope that the company will bring about a much-needed overhaul of Fanatec’s customer support.

This could lead to faster response times and the resolution of long-standing shipping issues, particularly for customers outside of Europe.

Potential Short- and Medium-Term Changes

Improved Customer Service

As mentioned earlier, one of the key areas where CORSAIR could make an immediate impact is customer support. This could involve streamlining response times and improving the handling of post-sales issues.

Given the volume of recent complaints regarding shipping and service, it’s likely that CORSAIR will prioritize restructuring this department to better meet customer needs.

More Frequent Product Launches

In recent years, Fanatec has not released many groundbreaking products in the realms of racing wheels, pedals, or cockpits. With CORSAIR’s backing, we might see a quicker pace of new product launches, driven by CORSAIR’s ability to fund extensive research and development.

This could lead to the introduction of more affordable peripherals for beginners as well as high-end systems for professional simulators.

Greater Integration with the CORSAIR Ecosystem

CORSAIR has a well-developed ecosystem of gaming peripherals, including mice, keyboards, and headsets. We could see deeper integration between Fanatec’s Sim Racing products and CORSAIR’s software, such as iCUE, which would allow for advanced customization of Fanatec peripherals within the broader CORSAIR ecosystem.

More Competitive Pricing

Another potential shift could come in the form of pricing. While Fanatec is known as a premium brand, CORSAIR’s involvement could lead to more affordable options. CORSAIR’s ability to produce on a larger scale, combined with its optimized supply chains, may allow them to offer high-quality products at lower costs, making the SimRacing market more accessible to a broader audience.

With its potential to revamp Fanatec’s customer service, accelerate product launches, and offer more competitively priced gear, CORSAIR could significantly shape the future of Sim Racing.

See you on the track!