FullForce arrives on CSL DD and GT DD Pro

FullForce is now available on the CSL DD and Gran Turismo DD Pro, bringing FANATEC's advanced force feedback protocol to the full range of 2nd-generation Fanatec Direct Drive Bases. The development work behind this update also prepared these Bases for Podium Pedals compatibility and support for the new curve selection feature in the Tuning Menu. Alongside these changes, we’ve also increased motor performance on Boost Kit-equipped models.

The update is available via the latest Fanatec App, available here.

Adding FullForce support to the CSL DD and GT DD Pro required extensive work behind the scenes. These products were not originally designed with FullForce in mind, requiring the engineering team to take a deeper look at the firmware architecture and rework how key systems communicate and process data.

A major challenge was the hardware design of the CSL DD and GT DD Pro, which distribute processing tasks across two separate microcontrollers.

By comparison, the ClubSport DD and latest Podium DD Bases use a single high-performance microcontroller. Integrating FullForce across two controllers while maintaining the low latency required for Direct Drive force feedback demanded significant optimization of the internal communication architecture.

At the same time, the team needed to ensure there was sufficient memory and headroom to support future compatibility with Podium Pedals and the new curve selection feature in the Tuning Menu.

FullForce is a force feedback protocol developed specifically for FANATEC Direct Drive systems. It combines high-fidelity vibration effects with the core force feedback signal to deliver additional layers of detail through the wheel and cockpit.

Modern racing simulations provide highly accurate steering forces, but many subtle sensations experienced in a real car are difficult to reproduce using traditional force feedback alone. Engine vibrations, road surface texture, and the onset of wheel slip are just some examples.

FullForce allows developers to add these effects directly to the driving experience. Depending on the implementation, these signals can be generated from physics data, audio data, or a combination of both.

FullForce enables a game to transmit a raw torque waveform directly to the servo motor. The signal is delivered at up to 4000 Hz and injected into the motor controller's 16 kHz control loop, resulting in end-to-end latency of just 2 to 3 milliseconds.

During development of the latest Podium DD wheel bases, the engineering team identified several motor controller optimizations that could also benefit the CSL DD and GT DD Pro.

These improvements have now been applied to Boost Kit-equipped CSL DD and GT DD Pro wheel bases. While peak torque remains unchanged at 8 Nm, holding torque characteristics have been improved.

Drivers should notice stronger and more consistent force feedback during sustained high-G cornering, along with improved performance through rapid direction changes.