Nacon RevoSim RS Pure Review

The Nacon RevoSim RS Pure is a direct-drive racing wheel bundle for PC, built around an aluminium wheelbase, a load-cell pedal set and a quick-release rim. It arrives from a brand that spent years concentrating on gamepads. With the RevoSim line the ambition is serious PC sim racing, and the wheel is only one part of a much wider ecosystem of pedals, rims and controls.

Nacon is already preparing further RevoSim models, including a lighter unit rated at 3 Nm and a more powerful 10 Nm version, but the RS Pure was the only product available at the time of the recorded test. It is sold in several configurations depending on how many of the brand's accessories are included in the box, and there are already a lot of those. The packaging itself is imposing, with everything neatly arranged inside.

At the heart of the kit sits a base whose styling recalls certain established rivals: understated, relatively massive, and wrapped in an aluminium shell with heatsink-style fins. The front carries the NRG quick-release mechanism, which allows near-instant fitting and removal of the rim with no perceptible play once the wheel is locked in place. The sides are unremarkable, but the rear holds all the connections: a standard USB-C port for the PC link and three RJ ports for accessories such as the pedal set, a handbrake or a shifter. A substantial power connector feeds in from an external brick rated at an impressive 200 watts. All the cables run to three metres, which gives real freedom when planning an installation.

The base also carries an audio jack that the PC recognises as a sound card, plus a Bluetooth button for pairing a smartphone and, inevitably, a power button. It is designed to be fitted to almost any cockpit, while the supplied heavy-duty clamps handle desk mounting by default.

The pedal set ships in kit form and goes together very easily, the modular approach existing so that the assembly can be expanded later. As standard it combines an accelerator pedal using a magnetic Hall sensor with a brake pedal using a load cell. The brake is adjustable through three different elastomer inserts, and the wider pedal box can be reconfigured for angle, spacing and distance.

Completing the bundle is a high-quality rim finished in synthetic leather with white stitching. The diameter is 30 cm, but the more notable detail is the sheer number of controls: 11 buttons, two paddles and two multifunction switches, backed by an equivalent set of status LEDs. Fitting it takes seconds thanks to the quick-release system.

The strong first impression continues at assembly, which takes only a few minutes and produces a genuinely smart-looking rig. Included with the kit is a small smartphone holder, rather like a satnav mount. It exists because a companion mobile app can display real-time information while you drive. Some will consider that a gimmick, and the recorded test does not entirely disagree, but the execution is once again faultless.

Around that sits a full ecosystem, available either as a bundle or acquired piece by piece. Among the options is an Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team rim kit that copies the shape and colours of the team's wheel, though without its integrated screen. More marginally, there are RS Pure racing gloves. Considerably more interesting is a load-cell handbrake and a clutch pedal that slots straight into the pedal set, again fully adjustable and supplied with two springs so the stiffness can be altered. The clutch connects directly to the base, as does the final accessory: a proper gearbox, aimed squarely at rally players. A side dial switches it instantly between sequential operation and an H-pattern eight-speed layout, and two handles are supplied to suit different preferences, although a real cockpit is advisable to get the best from it. Across all of these extras, the finish matches the standard of the core kit.

Once everything is installed, the strengths of a very well thought-out set of hardware become apparent — but, as is often the case at this level, time spent in the settings is essential. On that note, and despite the weeks that had passed since release, the wheel was still not always recognised directly in games during the recorded test, with the recent Forza Horizon 6 given as an example.

The standard rim earns an immediate mark in its favour. It stays secure in the hand and keeps every control within reach. The paddles feel slightly soft, but that is easily outweighed by the observed comfort over long sessions. The Aston Martin rim holds its own too, and was singled out for the precision it offers.

The same verdict applies to the pedal set, described as a genuine marvel. Its weight keeps it in place even without a proper cockpit, and the sensitivity delivered by the load cell is faultless, though finding the right elastomers is a matter of personal experimentation. Of all the pedal sets covered in the recorded testing, none was considered an equal to this one.

That leaves the base, the heart of any direct-drive system. The power on tap is immediately impressive, all the more striking given that a 10 Nm version is in preparation. The force generated is already remarkable, but the more important quality is its nuance: this is not raw strength, and in use the feedback is rich in information, with everything feeling natural and well balanced.

In Assetto Corsa Competizione, the F1 series and iRacing there was no real criticism to make. EA Sports WRC proved less convincing, with less confidence and less precision through corners, although that observation is acknowledged as subjective and other users may feel differently. The broader point is that the quality is there and Nacon delivers on very nearly every front.

Very nearly, because a few shortcomings remain on the software side. Profile management is still somewhat haphazard — four profiles are offered according to the type of simulation, but that part of the software needs further work. The smartphone accessory remains a gimmick, interesting though it is. Most awkward of all is compatibility: the RevoSim RS Pure works only on PC, with nothing provided for consoles.

For a first attempt in the direct-drive world, Nacon has come close to a masterstroke. The materials are excellent, the finish impeccable and the accessories numerous. The base delivers considerable power without neglecting subtlety, and the widely adjustable load-cell brake is a highlight. Yes, the rim's paddles are a little soft, and you really do need to take your time finding the best settings, which will differ from game to game. Those are small complaints set against what has been achieved here. Sharpening up profile management and ensuring better recognition across all games would leave the brand with few equals. The genuine disappointment is that nothing is provided for PlayStation or Xbox, which rules out switching to a console from time to time.