The sim racing community was caught off guard this week following Polyphony Digital’s announcement welcoming MOZA Racing as an official peripheral partner for the Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS). The entry of a major direct-drive competitor naturally sparked questions about Fanatec’s long-standing status as the official hardware provider for the premier PlayStation esports championship.
However, industry clarifications confirm that Fanatec’s position remains completely secure for the ongoing season. Fanatec continues to hold its status as the Official Steering Wheel Partner and will remain the exclusive equipment supplier for all GTWS live events.
“Fanatec equipment will continue to be used at Gran Turismo World Series live events as the official hardware, providing a consistent competitive environment for the world’s top drivers.”
Mid-Season stability and PlayStation compatibility
A primary reason for Fanatec retaining its operational dominance centers on hardware ecosystem stability and console compatibility. The Gran Turismo World Series is contested on PlayStation 5 consoles, where Fanatec holds a fully established and licensed Direct Drive lineup—most notably through the flagship Fanatec Clubsport DD+ and GT DD Pro wheels.
Abruptly altering the competition setups mid-season would introduce severe technical and logistical hurdles. Maintaining Fanatec equipment guarantees a consistent competitive environment for the world’s top sim drivers, avoiding forced adaptations or driver discomfort during critical championship rounds.
Furthermore, MOZA Racing does not currently offer native PlayStation-compatible hardware in its retail lineup. While MOZA has expanded aggressively across PC and recently entered the Xbox market with its R3 wheelbase, Sony’s console ecosystem has remained strictly gated among licensed partners like Fanatec, Logitech, and Thrustmaster. Obviously, this is going to change soon.
A strategic partnership built for tomorrow
This hardware gap highlights the forward-looking nature of Polyphony Digital’s deal with MOZA. Rather than replacing Fanatec overnight, the new partnership signals an upcoming wave of co-developed peripherals aimed at expanding the Gran Turismo 7 hardware ecosystem.
Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi hinted at the origins of the collaboration, revealing that his interest in MOZA began through their camera stabilization gimbals—a technology sharing core electric motor control principles with direct-drive force feedback systems.
Polyphony Digital and MOZA are currently collaborating on an official Gran Turismo-branded wheel controller featuring native PS5 support. Until that hardware reaches production and receives full competitive validation, the GT World Series will operate under a unique dual-brand dynamic: Fanatec ensures immediate hardware stability on stage, while MOZA lays the groundwork for the future of Gran Turismo peripherals.
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