Corsair is bringing Fanatec deeper into its wider hardware ecosystem with the new iCUE Apps platform. The software, now available as an open beta, is designed to bring Corsair, Elgato, SCUF Gaming and Fanatec devices together under a single modular platform, potentially simplifying how increasingly complex sim racing setups are managed on PC.
Corsair introduced the public beta on September 22, 2026 as the first stage of a broader rollout scheduled to culminate in a full ecosystem launch in 2027. Rather than being another update to the existing iCUE 5 software, iCUE Apps has been rebuilt around a new lightweight and modular architecture.
For sim racers, Fanatec’s inclusion is particularly notable. Since Corsair acquired Fanatec, the brand has steadily become more closely connected with Corsair’s wider gaming ecosystem, and iCUE Apps now provides the clearest indication yet of how that integration could work at software level.
Fanatec joins Corsair, Elgato and SCUF in one platform
Corsair describes iCUE Apps as a unified platform capable of bringing hardware from Corsair, Elgato, SCUF Gaming and Fanatec into a single connected ecosystem. Its Device Manager is responsible for detecting compatible devices, handling updates and maintaining communication across supported hardware.
The idea is to move away from one large software package containing every possible feature. Instead, users install a lightweight core and then add individual applications for the features they actually use, such as monitoring, RGB lighting or other device-specific functionality.
Corsair says connected hardware can be detected, configured and managed from the same platform, while a unified account provides access to software, services, stores, updates and support resources across its different brands.
This could become particularly useful for sim racing setups that already mix products from multiple Corsair-owned companies. A rig could, for example, include Fanatec controls alongside an Elgato Stream Deck and Corsair PC hardware without each product necessarily existing inside a completely separate software environment.
iCUE Apps does not replace the Fanatec App yet
There is an important distinction for existing Fanatec users. Although Corsair presents Fanatec as part of the new iCUE Apps ecosystem, the current Fanatec App remains the primary software for Fanatec racing hardware.
Fanatec currently describes its own application as the central tool for controlling its equipment, including input testing, performance tuning, telemetry display configuration, RGB profiles, game integration and firmware updates. The company also states that the Fanatec App is required on Windows to install the latest firmware for its hardware.
The older Fanatec Control Panel and FanaLab have meanwhile moved into legacy status and are no longer under active development. Their functionality has increasingly been consolidated into the newer Fanatec App, which continues to receive updates and fixes in 2026.
This means iCUE Apps should currently be viewed as the beginning of a wider ecosystem integration rather than an immediate replacement for Fanatec’s dedicated software. Corsair itself warns that some devices and features are not yet fully supported during the beta phase.
A modular replacement for traditional iCUE
The architecture behind iCUE Apps is also substantially different from iCUE 5. Existing iCUE combines device configuration, lighting systems and background services inside a single package, while the new platform separates those functions into individual applications.
Corsair says this approach can reduce unnecessary background resource usage because users only install the modules they need. Each application can also follow its own update schedule rather than requiring the complete software suite to be replaced whenever one component changes.
Existing iCUE 5 users are not required to move immediately. Corsair allows both iCUE 5 and iCUE Apps to be installed on the same Windows PC, although they cannot run simultaneously because both applications communicate directly with USB hardware and system sensors.
Software-based iCUE profiles also do not transfer directly to the new architecture. Profiles stored in onboard device memory remain intact, but users testing the beta will need to recreate some software preferences inside iCUE Apps.
Stream Deck integration could be especially useful for sim racing
One of the more interesting implications for sim racers comes from Elgato. Stream Deck, Wave Link and other applications can be installed directly through the iCUE Apps catalog, while Corsair is also integrating Elgato Marketplace content into the broader platform.
Fanatec already offers an official Stream Deck plugin capable of controlling its Tuning Menu and displaying live telemetry information while driving. Bringing Elgato and Fanatec closer together inside the same ecosystem creates obvious possibilities for future integrations between wheelbases, displays, button boxes and telemetry tools.
Corsair has not announced specific new sim racing features for iCUE Apps yet, so functionality such as automatic profiles between Fanatec hardware and Stream Deck should not be assumed. However, having both product families managed within the same wider software ecosystem makes deeper integration considerably more plausible than before.
Corsair’s sim racing ecosystem keeps expanding
The software move also fits a broader strategy around sim racing hardware. Fanatec became a fully integrated part of Corsair’s family of brands following its acquisition, while Corsair has continued investing in Fanatec products, software development and customer support.
Fanatec has already transitioned towards its new application, introduced new Direct Drive hardware and expanded platform functionality during 2026. The arrival of iCUE Apps adds another layer by connecting the sim racing brand with Corsair’s larger ecosystem rather than treating Fanatec as an isolated hardware division.
For now, users should continue relying on the Fanatec App for full wheelbase, steering wheel and pedal configuration. But iCUE Apps provides a clear look at Corsair’s longer-term direction: one modular software platform connecting gaming peripherals, streaming equipment, PC hardware and sim racing devices.
Corsair says the current open beta is only the first phase, with additional devices, applications and functionality scheduled to arrive before the complete ecosystem launch in 2027.
More information and the beta download are available through the official Corsair iCUE Apps page, while current Fanatec software can be found through the official Fanatec downloads page.
See you on the track!
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