Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-22T13:00:06Z

RocKz: Changed category

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=VRS
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base
|Product=uDFP20 Wheel Base
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Description=You buy a 20 Nm (newton meters) capable sim racing wheel base, but the 20 Nm is locked behind an additionnal software purchase.
}}The company [[VRS]], known for selling sim racing equipment, has launched a product, the [https://vrs.racing/hardware/udfp20-wheel-base uDFP20 Wheel Base], which is readily capable of certain performance, but this performance is locked under an addtionnal software purchase.

==Background==
In the Sim Racing market, there are a lot of different options when it comes to wheel bases. Most of the time, the consumer will choose an option based on budget to performance of the wheel base.

The performance of a wheel base is more often than not tied to its peak torque capacity. Force feedback is another factor, but the choice most generally comes down to how much power the wheel base is able to make.

==Incident==
VRS here, sells you a wheel base, a piece of hardware, that is fully capable of a 20Nm torque output, at a price of $449.

For this price though, the base will be shipped set-up with a firmware lockout, and your hardware torque output will be limited to 6 Nm.

If you want to enable the higher torque, that your base is fully capable of, you need to purchase a "software unlock code".

To use the full 20 Nm, of the same wheel-base you already have, and is fully capable of, you'd have to pay an additionnal $398, for a grand total of $847.

Almost double the price (88.64% price increase) than the price you initially paid, for the same piece of hardware.

At the moment, you are currently '''forced''' to buy the wheel base on a "lower" torque setting than its max rated power.

Then, and only then, after you purchased the wheel-base, you will be able to purchase the unlock key to "access" the 20 Nm.

VRS offers the option to simply buy the 20Nm wheel-base, as a "different" product, the [https://vrs.racing/product/pro-wheel-base-20nm DPF20] base. This one is without this "upgradable" torque, for a price of $799

This means, they are selling you the '''exact same product''', which is essentially a [https://sim-pli.city/products/mige-130st-m10010-small-mige mige 130ST motor] with software on-top, at complete different prices.

It is important to keep in mind that, if you purchase the "non upgradable" one, you are still fully able to adjust the peak torque of your wheel with their software. You can do this with almost any direct drive wheel on the market.

That practice is completely misleading for new people in this field that are looking to buy decent hardware for their hobby.

It is made to trap lower budget consumers into paying more in the end for something that they already own.
==Solution==
The company defends this practice saying "this new product is a separate offering for those that like the idea of buying in steps".

#It is not a "new product" by any means. It is a separate offering for the exact same piece of hardware.
#When "upgrading" your output torque, you are effectively purchasing nothing since this is something you already own.
#They sell the exact same product that is not software locked $47 cheaper, and you can still adjust its power to your liking via their software

To make this any viable and not misleading, they should either:

*Completely stop this misleading practice and remind people that they can adjust the peak power of their wheel base via the provided software.
*Re-adjust the price of the product so that both "upgradable" and "non upgradable" versions are the same price after reaching the 20 Nm mark, since they are the exact same product.

==References==
https://vrs.racing/product/pro-wheel-base-upgradable-torque

{{DEFAULTSORT:VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base}}

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-22T12:54:25Z

RocKz:

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-22T12:48:41Z

RocKz: Added information and comparisons, edited looks of the page

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=VRS
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base
|Product=uDFP20 Wheel Base
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Description=You buy a 20 Nm (newton meters) capable sim racing wheel base, but the 20 Nm is locked behind an additionnal software purchase.
}}The company VRS, known for selling sim racing equipment, has launched a product, the [https://vrs.racing/hardware/udfp20-wheel-base uDFP20 Wheel Base], which is readily capable of certain performance, but this performance is locked under an addtionnal software purchase.

==Background==
In the Sim Racing market, there are a lot of different options when it comes to wheel bases. Most of the time, the consumer will choose an option based on budget to performance of the wheel base.

The performance of a wheel base is more often than not tied to its peak torque capacity. Force feedback is another factor, but the choice most generally comes down to how much power the wheel base is able to make.

==Incident==
VRS here, sells you a wheel base, a piece of hardware, that is fully capable of a 20Nm torque output, at a price of $449.

For this price though, the base will be shipped set-up with a firmware lockout, and your hardware torque output will be limited to 6 Nm.

If you want to enable the higher torque, that your base is fully capable of, you need to purchase a "software unlock code".

To use the full 20 Nm, of the same wheel base you already have, and is fully capable of, you'd have to pay an additionnal $398, for a grand total of $847.

Almost double the price (88.64% price increase) than the price you initially paid, for the same piece of hardware.

At the moment, you are currently '''forced''' to buy the wheel base on a "lower" torque setting than its max rated power.

Then, and only then, after you purchased the wheel base, you will be able to purchase the unlock key to "access" the 20 Nm.

VRS offers the option to simply buy the 20Nm wheel, as a "different" product, the [https://vrs.racing/product/pro-wheel-base-20nm DPF20] base. This one is without this "upgradable" torque, for a price of $799

This means, they are selling you the '''exact same product''', which is essentially a [https://sim-pli.city/products/mige-130st-m10010-small-mige mige 130ST motor] with software on-top, at complete different prices.

It is important to keep in mind that, if you purchase the "non upgradable" one, you are still fully able to adjust the peak torque of your wheel with their software. You can do this with almost any direct drive wheel on the market.

That practice is completely misleading for new people in this field that are looking to buy decent hardware for their hobby.

It is made to trap lower budget consumers into paying more in the end for something that they already own.
==Solution==
The company defends this practice saying "this new product is a separate offering for those that like the idea of buying in steps".

# It is not a "new product" by any means. It is a separate offering for the exact same piece of hardware.
# You are effectively purchasing nothing since this is something you already own.
# The exact same product that is "non upgradable" is $47 cheaper (and you can still adjust its power to your liking via their software.

To make this any viable and not misleading, they should either:

* Completely stop this misleading practice and remind people that they can adjust the peak power of their wheel base via the provided software.
* Re-adjust the price of the product so that both "upgradable" and "non upgradable" versions are the same price, since they are the same product.

==References==
https://vrs.racing/product/pro-wheel-base-upgradable-torque<nowiki/>{{Ph-I-C}}
[[Category:Products]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-22T00:02:12Z

RocKz: /* References */

User:RocKz

2025-08-21T23:59:55Z

RocKz: Added a little intro for my profile.

Hi, I'm RocKz. This is the first time in my life doing something like this online, actually being a part of a movement.

Sorry if my contributions are not very well documented or well written, I try my best but this is extremely new to me.

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-21T23:57:33Z

RocKz: Everything, new post.

VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base full torque locked behind paywall

2025-08-21T23:42:00Z

RocKz: Created page with "{{IncidentCargo |Company=VRS |Status=Active |ProductLine=VRS Sim Racing Wheel Base |Product=uDFP20 Wheel Base |ArticleType=Product |Type=Firmware lockout |Description=You buy a 20 Nm (newton meters) capable sim racing wheel base, but the 20 Nm is locked behind an additionnal software purchase. }} {{Ph-I-Int}} ==Background== {{Ph-I-B}} ==[Incident]== {{Ph-I-I}} ===[Company]'s response=== {{Ph-I-ComR}} ==Lawsuit== {{Ph-I-L}} ==Consumer response== {{Ph..."