One of the biggest frustrations for sim racing enthusiasts isn’t just the cost of upgrading their setup. It’s finding out that a new wheel, pedal set, or wheelbase often means replacing nearly everything else, too. For Asetek, that was a problem worth solving. Sim Racers Want Flexibility Speaking with Insider Gaming at the SimRacing Expo in Charlotte, NC last month, Asetek CEO André Eriksen said the company intentionally designed its sim racing ecosystem around compatibility, allowing users to mix and match hardware instead of forcing them into a single brand’s lineup. “We believe in competition,” Eriksen said. “We have confidence enough that we actually do it both ways. If you have another wheel base, you can use our wheel. But also, if you have our wheel base, you can get an adapter and buy someone else’s wheel.” It’s a philosophy that stands in contrast to much of the sim racing market, where buyers are often encouraged—or required—to stay within one manufacturer’s ecosystem when upgrading components. Eriksen said avoiding that lock-in was a deliberate decision from the beginning. “We wanted to have one piece of software where you should be able to control all of our products,” he explained. “You should be able to upgrade firmware, configure everything and do it all in one app.” The same approach extends to the company’s hardware. Rather than requiring customers to replace an entire setup when moving up to more premium equipment, Asetek designed many of its products to serve as upgrade paths. Gear That Grows With You One example is the company’s pedal lineup. Entry-level pedals can later be upgraded with additional components, while buyers can move through Asetek’s different product tiers without having to start over from scratch. The company applies the same thinking to its wheelbases and steering wheels, allowing customers