You bolt a new wheel base to the desk, load Gran Turismo 7, and the brake pedal feels like pressing a doorbell. So you start shopping for better pedals. Then someone on a forum says third-party pedals “don’t work on console.” Is that true?
Mostly, with one big exception. Here’s the plain version.
The short answer: a console doesn’t read pedals directly. It reads them through a licensed wheel base. Pedals from another brand can work only if they connect to that base and the base accepts them. Whether it does depends on the base, its firmware, and the pedal box in between.
Why consoles are so picky
A PS5 looks for Sony’s security chip before it accepts a racing wheel. Third-party buyer’s guides explain that Fanatec puts that chip in the wheel base, which is why its PS5-licensed bases (the Gran Turismo DD Pro and the ClubSport DD+) matter and the CSL DD doesn’t count as a PS5 base. Anything that plugs into a licensed base can ride along with it.
That’s also why USB doesn’t help. Fanatec’s own pedals plug into the base with an RJ12 cable, and plugging them in over USB doesn’t work on a console. The base acts like a hub, and the console only talks to the hub.
What the wheel base maker says
Fanatec’s help page, last updated in November 2025, is direct. It says pedals from other manufacturers won’t work when plugged into a Fanatec base on console. It adds that there are workarounds, but they aren’t officially supported by Fanatec.
So anyone selling you third-party pedals for a console should be telling you that too. We’d rather you hear it from us.
So where does a control box fit in?
The workaround is electrical. The SimRuito LCA V3 Control Box reads the load cells in your pedals, then outputs an analog signal through an RJ12 cable to the Pedals input on a supported wheel base. SimRuito’s manual calls it a native analog signal. From the base’s point of view, it’s getting a pedal input like any other.
SimRuito has tested the control box with Fanatec and Thrustmaster wheel bases, and it works. The RJ12 cable for Fanatec is in the box. Other brands haven’t been tested yet, so we’re not claiming them. Our results are on the compatibility page.
What you need
- A wheel base that’s licensed for your console and has a Pedals input
- The LCA V3 Control Box and its RJ12 cable
- A PC, once, to calibrate and set the output in the Paddock software
That last one surprises people. You set everything up on a PC, then move the box to the base. The wheel base can power the box over the same RJ12 cable, so the PC isn’t needed for daily use.
What can go wrong
- Firmware updates. A wheel base maker can change behaviour in an update. That’s why we list the firmware version we tested.
- Voltage settings. The software lets you set minimum and maximum output voltage per pedal. The defaults are 1.8V and 4.3V, and the manual says to check the wheel base specific tutorial.
- Base doesn’t see the pedals. The manual’s fix: make sure the clutch output is enabled under Analog, connect the control box to the wheel base, then power the base on.
Our test results
SimRuito has tested the LCA V3 Control Box with Fanatec and Thrustmaster wheel bases, and it works. We haven’t tested other brands, so we don’t claim them. [Add the base models, firmware versions, test dates and video links if you have them.]
Is it worth the extra steps?
If you already own a licensed base and want a load cell brake, the base maker’s own pedals are the guaranteed route. A control box route can cost less and gives you your own calibration software, but it adds a PC setup step and relies on a workaround Fanatec doesn’t officially support. If you’re comfortable with that, it’s a fair trade. If you want zero risk, buy the maker’s pedals.
FAQ
Can I use third-party pedals on PS5? Only through a licensed wheel base. Plugging pedals into the console directly, or into the base over USB, doesn’t work.
Can I use third-party pedals on Xbox? The same rule applies: they reach the console through a base that works on Xbox. Check the compatibility table for tested bases before you buy.
Do I need to buy a Fanatec base? Not necessarily, but you need a console-licensed base that has a Pedals input and accepts the control box. Our table shows what we’ve tested.
Will SimRuito pedals work with my base? Check the compatibility page. If your base isn’t listed, send support your base model and console.
Do I need a PC? For setup and later changes, yes. Day to day, no.
Could an update stop them working? It’s possible, which is why every table row shows the firmware we tested.
Where can I see the pedals? See the Console & Wheel Base Pedals category