Sim Racing- Advancements and Reason for Sudden Rise in Demand

Sim racing has been around since 1982. But it was never able to gather millions of racing enthusiasts as it did in 2020. Racing enthusiasts swiftly turned to sim racing as racing tracks all across the world were shut down due to restrictions put on by the Covid-19 virus. Racers enjoyed playing these highly simulated video games, which made them rekindle their joy for racing.

This exponential growth in this sport was mainly due to the shutting down of the motorsport series once the world went into lockdown. Several popular drivers also participated in streaming virtual races, and this acted as a nail in the coffin which led to a surge in the popularity of sim racing. For instance, the eSports virtual racing series garnered more than 30 million views alone during the lockdown.

Reasons leading to its sky-rocketing popularity

Economical

Sim racing has made it easier for racing aficionados to participate in races and experience the thrill of owning a motorsport team without having to empty their bank balances. Furthermore, sim racing is an affordable way to make the racing dream come true. If you damage your car while playing, all you have to do is restart the session. Moreover, a racing simulator is decently priced in the markets. These factors have made sim racing budget-friendly and affordable for everyone.

Modern technology

Comparing the software and equipment that were available for racing a decade ago to the ones at our disposal now, we observe a vast improvement. For instance, we now have a new type of brake pedal to modify the racing experience. The pedal set along with the haptic seat provides a realistic experience to the ones playing the game. In addition, developers have started focussing on all intricacies and details to provide their customers with a more immersive experience.

True-to-life

Sim racing allows racers to experience real-life racing. To add to that, sim racing also opens up a vast new world before racers. For instance, Formula1 drivers can go for car racing. Moreover, if you wish to race with a real car, you will require years and years of training, and your safety will always be at risk. Sim racing allows racers to drive their cars without having to go through this tiring process.

Moreover, sim racing also allows riders to drive those cars that are no longer available in the real racing world. In this way, sim racing isn't as intimidating or restrictive as real-world racing, and this helps people adapt to it more easily and in high numbers.

Get prepped

Are you new to sim racing? Do not panic because you will not be needing much to start racing online and will be able to become a pro at it in no time. To start, you will require a computer where you can efficiently run your advanced simulators. If you are using an advanced car driving simulator, you will have to make sure that your PC is well-equipped to handle it. Many gamers suggest racers buy a computer with 16 Gb RAM, a solid hard drive and a sound graphics card.

The second most crucial thing required after you have sorted out your monitor and PC concerns is Virtual Reality. To get a realistic racing experience, you must invest in a good VR headset. Once you are done with this, you will have to move towards buying simulator hardware, including- steering wheels and pedals. The gaming market is filled with diverse ranges of steering wheels, shifters, handbrakes and pedals to lay your hands on.

According to market watchers, sim racing is still lagging in terms of viewership compared to other sports such as battle royale. However, the lockdown period helped sim racing increase its viewership, with iRacing witnessing a 50 per cent increase in its subscription base. To add to it, Fanatec- a global manufacturer of simulation technology-could double their revenue in 2020. Many gamers and motorsport drivers have claimed 2020 to be the year of sim racing. Sim racing is soon becoming a hobby of many games and racing enthusiasts and will continue to witness unprecedented growth in its user base in the future.