F1 24 plays great with a wheel, once it is configured properly. The default force feedback for the Thrustmaster TX and T300 is quite weak, making the wheel feel dull and lifeless. This is very easy to fix by adjusting a few settings.
The handling is noticeably different this year, but that hasn't changed the way the force feedback feels. The physics seem very forgiving. You can easily turn all the assists off with very little difficulty. I'm not concerned with how realistic any particular game is, I just want to be able to reliably control the car based on the force feedback. By that metric, F1 24 seems to work just fine.
In this guide, we will first look at the settings you need to set in the Thrustmaster Control Panel, if playing on a PC. Then we will look at the in-game settings to improve the force feedback.
Thrustmaster Control Panel Settings
F1 24 will set the correct steering angle in the game itself and has a proper soft lock, so you can leave the rotation at the maximum.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Rotation | 900° (TX) 1080° (T300) |
| Overall Strength of all forces | 75% |
| Constant | 100% |
| Periodic | 100% |
| Spring | 100% |
| Damper | 100% |
| BOOST | Off |
| Auto-Center | by the game |
Spring is not used by F1 24, so the value actually doesn't matter. Some games require Spring to be on for their force feedback to work, so I keep it at 100% as a general rule.
Damper is used for the in-game Wheel Damper setting.
BOOST should always be turned off. For an in-depth look as to why, see my BOOST Force Feedback Analysis.
F1 24 Settings
In Settings > Controls, Vibration & Force Feedback > Thrustmaster TX / T300 > Calibration:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Steering Rate | 100% |
| Steering Deadzone | 0 |
| Steering Linearity | 0-10 |
| Steering Saturation | 0 |
You can raise the Steering Linearity to make the wheel less sensitive when the wheel is centered. This can help if you find the steering a little too sensitive on the straights.
You may also want to raise the Brake and Throttle Linearity, which can help create smoother pedal inputs by lowering the sensitivity of the pedals at the beginning of the pedal travel.
In Settings > Controls, Vibration & Force Feedback > Thrustmaster TX / T300 > Vibration & Feedback:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Vibration & Force Feedback | On |
| Vibration & Force Feedback Strength | 85 |
| On Track Effects | 100 |
| Rumble Strip Effects | 100 |
| Off Track Effects | 100 |
| Pit Stop Effects | 50 |
| Wheel Damper | 10 |
| Maximum Wheel Rotation | 360° |
Vibration & Force Feedback Strength is the overall strength of the force feedback. This needs to be raised so you can actually feel the force feedback.
On Track Effects is the vibrations felt based on the track surface. This is most noticed in certain bumpy sections of a track.
Rumblestrip Effects is the vibration felt when running over a kerb. This can vary a lot depending on the particular kerb.
Off Track Effects is the vibration felt when you run over grass or a gravel trap.
Pit Stop Effects is the vibration during a pit stop.
Wheel Damper gives weight to the wheel. Without this, the wheel goes weightless when stopped and in very slow corners. Even a small amount of damper gives enough weight to feel more natural, without being too strong.
Maximum Wheel Rotation should be no larger than 360°. You can lower this a little bit if you want to make it easier to turn to full lock.
Conclusion
F1 24 is looking to be a fairly controversial entry in the F1 series. Only time will tell how well this works out in the long run.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments.
