Thrustmaster has revealed the T-GT III, its new officially licensed Gran Turismo racing wheel bundle for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The successor to the T-GT II finally moves the flagship Gran Turismo package to Thrustmaster’s Direct Axial Drive technology, combining 5 Nm of constant torque, high-frequency haptic effects and a load cell pedal set for €699.99.
The T-GT III was unveiled on October 3 alongside the Gran Turismo World Series event in Singapore, continuing the long-running relationship between Thrustmaster and Polyphony Digital. It will go on sale on December 3, 2026, with wider availability expected before Christmas.
Prices have been set at €699.99 in Europe, $749.99 in the United States, £649.99 in the United Kingdom and ¥119,000 in Japan.
T-GT finally moves to Direct Drive
The biggest change from the T-GT II is underneath the wheel. Thrustmaster has moved away from the previous belt-driven Force Feedback system and adopted its newer Direct Axial Drive architecture.
The system produces 5 Nm of constant torque and supports Thrustmaster’s +100% overshoot technology, allowing substantially stronger short-duration effects when the simulation demands them. This can effectively produce momentary effects equivalent to around 10 Nm rather than maintaining that level continuously.
Direct Axial Drive uses an axial-flux motor designed to eliminate the cogging traditionally associated with some Direct Drive systems. Thrustmaster says the technology allows faster, smoother and more detailed Force Feedback while maintaining very low latency.
It is the same underlying approach already used by the Thrustmaster T598, but the T-GT III packages it specifically around Gran Turismo with a different steering wheel and upgraded pedals.
Gran Turismo-specific haptic feedback
Torque is only part of the feedback system. The T-GT III also uses Thrustmaster’s HARMONY high-frequency technology to transmit additional vibrations through the steering wheel.
Two effects highlighted for the new bundle are GEAR JOLT and ENGINE ROAR. GEAR JOLT generates a physical kick through the steering wheel during gear changes, while ENGINE ROAR uses high-frequency vibrations to communicate engine speed and behaviour through the rim.
This is conceptually similar to the additional tactile feedback that has differentiated previous T-GT models from conventional Force Feedback wheels. The difference is that the T-GT III combines those effects with a Direct Drive motor rather than the belt-driven mechanism used by the T-GT II.
The familiar Gran Turismo wheel returns
The steering wheel itself retains the characteristic T-GT layout developed with Polyphony Digital. It uses a 28 cm round rim wrapped in leather and includes four metal rotary encoders positioned around the central controls.
Those encoders can be used directly in Gran Turismo to adjust functions such as traction control, brake balance, fuel settings and torque distribution without navigating away from the race.
The wheel also includes two mini-sticks, metal paddle shifters, a D-pad and the standard PlayStation interface. It uses Thrustmaster’s current Quick Release system rather than the older attachment used on previous T-GT generations.
Thrustmaster already offers essentially this rim separately as the GT Wheel Add-On, which was updated earlier in 2026 to work natively with the company’s newer Direct Drive ecosystem.
Load cell pedals included for the first time
The other major upgrade is below the cockpit. The T-GT III becomes the first T-GT bundle to include a load cell braking system as standard, rather than requiring buyers to upgrade the pedals separately.
A load cell measures the pressure applied to the brake rather than relying primarily on pedal travel. This allows drivers to build braking consistency through muscle memory and is now commonplace in mid-range and high-end sim racing pedal sets.
Thrustmaster’s current Raceline Load Cell technology supports up to 100 kg of braking force with 24-bit resolution, alongside configurable pressure, preload and response characteristics.
The inclusion of load cell braking is an important distinction from the regular T598 bundle, which originally launched with a more basic two-pedal Raceline set designed to be upgraded later.
Thrustmaster T-GT III specifications
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
- Force Feedback: Direct Axial Drive
- Constant torque: 5 Nm
- Overshoot: Up to +100% for short-duration effects
- Haptic technology: HARMONY
- Additional effects: GEAR JOLT and ENGINE ROAR
- Wheel diameter: 28 cm
- Wheel material: Leather
- Controls: Four rotary encoders, two mini-sticks, D-pad and PlayStation controls
- Shifters: Metal paddle shifters
- Pedals: Load cell braking system included
- Release date: December 3, 2026
- European price: €699.99
- US price: $749.99
- UK price: £649.99
- Japan price: ¥119,000
T-GT III vs T598
The similarities with the T598 are significant. Both use Thrustmaster’s Direct Axial Drive technology and target the PlayStation ecosystem with 5 Nm of sustained torque and additional high-frequency effects.
The difference is primarily in the package. The T-GT III adds the official Gran Turismo wheel rim, Gran Turismo-specific controls and a load cell pedal configuration from the outset, turning the technology into a more complete premium package aimed specifically at GT7 players.
The regular T598 currently sells for considerably less, making it the more accessible entry point into Thrustmaster’s Direct Axial Drive ecosystem. The T-GT III instead targets users who would otherwise add the €249.99 GT Wheel Add-On and upgrade their braking hardware separately.
A very different successor to the T-GT II
The move to Direct Drive is what makes the T-GT III a more substantial generational change than the transition from the original T-GT to the T-GT II. The previous model retained a belt-driven architecture even as much of the sim racing market shifted towards Direct Drive.
Thrustmaster now competes in a PlayStation market that includes Direct Drive alternatives from Fanatec and Logitech, making the combination of Gran Turismo integration, tactile effects and bundled load cell braking particularly important.
The T-GT III also arrives as Thrustmaster renews its presence around the Gran Turismo World Series, placing the company back alongside the hardware brands closely associated with Polyphony Digital’s competitive ecosystem.
The Thrustmaster T-GT III launches December 3, 2026 for €699.99 / $749.99 / £649.99. Thrustmaster says further information about the new Gran Turismo bundle will be released ahead of availability.
See you on the track!
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