Turtle Beach’s KD3 Sim Racing Bundle Faces Compatibility Challenges, Yet Impresses with Hardware Quality

Forget about squad shooters; the real action in gaming over the past couple of years has been in sim racing hardware. With a surge of brands entering the fray, the competition is fierce, especially when it comes to pricing. The market has shifted dramatically, making mid-range racing wheels for PC a viable option, bridging the gap between budget and high-performance gear.

Turtle Beach has recently joined the race, known primarily for its headsets but now expanding into simulation gear with its VelocityOne lineup. The VelocityOne Race made a strong debut in mid-2024 with a robust 7Nm direct drive system, and now they’re introducing a more affordable model: the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3, which offers half the torque at a significantly lower price.

However, it faces stiff competition. MOZA kicked things off with the R3, Logitech’s RS50 is currently leading the pack, and classic options like the Logitech G923 still hold their ground. Priced at £329.99/$449.99, the KD3 presents itself as an accessible direct drive option, but has Turtle Beach compromised too much to achieve this price point?

Kudos to the Turtle Beach design team for creating one of the most visually striking wheelbases on the market. While many brands stick to basic black cubes, Turtle Beach has opted for a unique cylindrical design. It’s matte black with eye-catching neon yellow logos, which I appreciate, though it does require a separate mounting bracket to keep it stable.

The build quality of the wheelbase is solid, featuring a textured metal body with plastic ends. It feels a bit lighter than some competitors, but not in a way that raises concerns. Overall, it feels more premium than its price suggests. Compact in size at just 15cm long and 13cm wide, it fits well in smaller spaces. The included all-metal mounting bracket has a clever tilt adjustment feature, allowing for up to 20 degrees of angle.

The KD3 comes with a standard 30cm round wheel, but this is where Turtle Beach stumbles a bit. The wheel doesn’t match the premium feel of the base and falls short compared to its counterpart.

As an entry-level direct-drive wheel, the KD3’s torque numbers are modest. At 3.2Nm, it’s not overwhelming, but it’s sufficient for newcomers to sim racing or those upgrading from gear or belt-driven options like the Logitech G923.

The wheel rim has a textured rubber coating, which is decent, but the visible seam around it detracts from the overall feel and can be uncomfortable. The interior is mostly hard plastic, which doesn’t feel great to the touch, although the layout is user-friendly, allowing easy access to all controls. The metal paddle shifters at the back are a standout feature, being well-sized and positioned.

Turtle Beach has also launched the VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel alongside the KD3, and it’s a stark contrast in terms of quality. The F-RX wheel boasts a fantastic design with soft rubber grips, and while it too has a seam, it’s less noticeable. It features a variety of customizable inputs, mechanical buttons with ideal resistance, and a more premium feel overall, though it comes at a higher price of £189.99/$249.99.

The pedals are a mixed bag, combining elements from both the wheel and wheelbase. Turtle Beach has opted for a large, all-in-one tray design, which is fine in theory, but the heavy reliance on plastic detracts from the overall quality. While the heel plate has a nice texture and non-slip pads, they don’t perform well on various surfaces, so you might need to position the KD3 pedals against something for stability.

A welcome improvement is the relocation of the USB connection from the back to the side, making it more accessible. The pedals feel sturdy with metal faceplates, and there’s plenty of adjustment available, with 21 holes for the accelerator and 15 for the brake. However, the lack of lateral movement on the accelerator and minimal movement on the brake can make them feel cramped.

With 3.2Nm of torque, I didn’t expect the KD3 to be overly aggressive in corners, and indeed, the resistance felt light during high-speed turns. It’s fully compatible as an Xbox steering wheel, which naturally aligns it with PC, but unfortunately, it lacks support for PlayStation titles. The OLED display on the wheelbase is a nice feature for on-the-fly tuning, though it’s more cumbersome than using the app.

The included wheel is quite basic, lacking additional programmable buttons beyond the standard Xbox controller layout. In contrast, the F-RX Formula Wheel offers a wealth of features, including 10 mechanical buttons, RGB backlighting, rotary encoders, and more. The pedals utilize traditional spring resistance and have a significant travel distance, but the absence of a load cell brake is disappointing.

I primarily tested the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 on PC, mounting it to a Playseat Trophy Logitech G Edition and connecting the F-RX wheel. I jumped into F1 25 and was pleased to find the KD3 was fully button-mapped right out of the box. While I didn’t expect it to wrestle me through corners, the resistance felt light, and the car had a floaty feel compared to stronger wheels. However, after some adjustments, I managed to achieve consistent lap times, enjoying my time on Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Console compatibility remains a significant issue with the KD3, just as it was with the original VelocityOne Race. There’s a list of compatible games on the Turtle Beach website, but it shouldn’t require a spreadsheet to determine what works with your new wheel.

I’d love to delve deeper into the KD3’s performance on Xbox, but my experience was limited due to compatibility issues. Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport worked, but the experience was mediocre. While button mapping and force feedback were functional, I encountered a strange inner deadzone that made the wheel feel unsteady on straights.

I attempted to play F1 24, which is listed as fully compatible, but the game wouldn’t recognize any input. The same issue occurred with Burnout Paradise, which wasn’t on the compatibility list. Wreckfest allowed for menu navigation, but neither the pedals nor steering registered, making it impossible to compete effectively.

The force feedback that was supposed to work in those games didn’t, which was a relief, but it highlights the ongoing compatibility issues with Turtle Beach’s sim gear, making competitors look more appealing.

I found it odd that Farming Simulator 22 is on the compatibility list while 25 is not. I tried the latter anyway, and while some functions worked, I couldn’t look around or move outside of vehicles, which is a significant drawback.

While I hoped for improvements over time, the same issues persist as with the original VelocityOne Race. The KD3 has potential as a solid entry-level wheel for new racers or those looking to upgrade, with enough torque for most users and a smooth experience off tarmac. Pairing it with the F-RX wheel on PC creates a compelling setup, though the price point becomes less attractive.

However, the console compatibility is lacking. I shouldn’t have to hope for the best when starting a game or check a list to see if I can race. The frustration is compounded by the fact that many recent titles simply don’t work, leading to more misses than hits.

I tested the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 on both Xbox Series X and PC, using various games from the official compatibility list and others that weren’t. I utilized both the standard wheel and the F-RX wheel during my sessions.