Sometimes, I feel like I’m on a solo mission when it comes to advocating for Field of View. It’s fair to say that this topic is rarely addressed by the community, despite its crucial role in enhancing the feel of physics and force feedback. I’m even convinced that studios themselves underestimate its importance—but that’s a discussion for another day.
Thankfully, there’s been one person supporting me from the very beginning. I must admit, it feels good to know that we’re heading in the right direction.
Skeptical at First, Convinced in the End
When I first introduced the project to Florent, he was quite skeptical. I could sense his questions right away: How can FOV influence FFB? His initial response was clear: I just do what everyone else does—adjust based on the screen size without really considering the sensations.
At first, we weren’t exactly on the same wavelength. But over time, and with plenty of discussion and experimentation, Florent decided to give it a go. Today, he’s adopted all the techniques. Through his testimony, I hope to spark your curiosity as well—and perhaps hear about your own experiences.
Enough talking—let’s hear from him directly…
The Interview: Florent‘s Experience
Hi Florent, thanks again for your testimony and for taking part in this article. Let’s start with a quick introduction: can you describe your setup and what makes it unique ?
Hi Slawek! Thanks for having me!
My setup includes the following:
A GT RS aluminum profile rig from SimXPro with a separate monitor stand, equipped with an Asetek Forte wheelbase, steering wheel, and pedal set.
As for the screen, I use a 34-inch Asus TUF ultrawide monitor with a 180Hz refresh rate.
I currently don’t have a shifter or handbrake since I don’t play rally games! The only extra accessory I use is a Stream Deck, which serves as my button box.
What makes my setup unique is its simplicity. I don’t feel the need to get into an “arms race” with my rig, nor do I want to spend too much time adjusting things I don’t find essential for my sim racing experience.
I know you were initially skeptical about certain settings. But you eventually decided to test FOV (Field of View), and it completely changed your approach. Can you explain how you feel since making these adjustments? What impact has it had on your simulation experience ?
Like many players, I was hesitant to tinker too much with the default FOV settings, mainly because I didn’t really understand the term itself!
With a background in science, I’m used to leaving things untouched if I don’t fully understand them.
However, in certain simulations and with certain cars, I wasn’t comfortable without being able to pinpoint why. By chance, I came across some of your comments about FOV on a French sim racing Discord and thought what you described might help me—it was worth a try!
At first, I fiddled around on my own, noticing both the positive and negative effects of changing the settings. Later, I adopted a more methodical approach to find values that suited me better.
Eventually, after following your advice and gaining more experience, I pushed further with FOV settings, and I can confidently say it’s like rediscovering the games!
Overall, I now feel the car and its behavior much better. The FFB feels different and clearer. By adjusting the FOV based on the type of car and my personal preferences, I can choose to feel more of the front or rear of the vehicle—it’s incredible!
The impact on my gameplay has been huge, much more than just a simple change of view or car setup.
In your opinion, why is the FOV setting often overlooked by players, despite its crucial role in immersion? Do you think it’s due to a lack of information or resistance to change ?
In my opinion, it’s simply because many players, like I was, don’t really know what FOV is!
Similarly, online FOV calculators or the ones built into games (like iRacing) often provide values that are not optimal or complete. Adjusting the FOV also requires tweaking other parameters, such as pitch and the driver’s height in the car.
With the limited information available, it’s tedious. If you adjust one setting, you can quickly mess up everything and end up with something worse. Players may also be reluctant to leave their comfort zone, thinking their default setup is fine and not seeing the point of touching those values—especially since games don’t encourage them to!
For FFB, players are often told to adjust their wheelbase settings, but while that’s important, it’s not enough in my opinion.
Your favorite game is iRacing, if I’m not mistaken. Have you adjusted the FOV in this simulation as well? If so, what changes have you observed in terms of immersion or performance ?
Absolutely!
Regardless of the simulation (I can’t speak for arcade games since I don’t play them!), I now adjust the FOV to enhance my sensations and immersion beyond the default settings.
A good overall FOV setting helps me feel more comfortable with the car, which in turn makes me faster and more consistent!
However, be warned: changing your FOV won’t magically make you a better driver or shave two seconds off your lap time instantly! Don’t go in with that mindset, or you’ll be disappointed!
We discussed the placebo effect, which can sometimes influence our perception. But we agreed that the changes brought by adjusting FOV are very real. In your opinion, what explains the significant impact of this setting on the sim racing experience ?
The placebo effect is indeed powerful and real!
To eliminate or confirm it, I conducted tests with extreme settings, particularly with the Porsche 911 GTE on iRacing at the Hockenheim circuit.
Using extreme FOV values (focused far forward or far backward in the car), I couldn’t take certain corners flat out as I normally would—either due to massive understeer or extreme oversteer!
This can’t be explained by anything other than the game’s physics.
I repeated these tests with other cars, circuits, and simulations, and each time, there was a noticeable impact.
I’ve concluded that the impact is real, not a placebo. While I don’t have the expertise to explain why it happens, it might be related to how the car’s center of gravity is represented. Real-life weight distribution plays a huge role—perhaps there’s something to explore there !
You’ve also been exploring other simulations, like Automobilista 2. Have you adjusted the FOV to match the driver’s position in these games? If so, how does it compare to other simulations ?
As mentioned earlier, I now explore FOV settings whenever I start a new game, and AMS2 is no exception!
However, I find it slightly less impactful compared to ACC, iRacing, or LMU.
This might be because AMS2 is less simulation-focused than the others, even though it’s still a very enjoyable game!
Finally, how do you see the evolution of sim racing in the coming years? What adjustments or innovations do you think could further improve immersion and realism ?
In my opinion, the evolution of sim racing will depend on developers focusing on improving immersion, particularly through more realistic and coherent default FOV settings.
I also think VR has great potential for sim racing, provided it becomes accessible without requiring a NASA-level PC!
I’d love to see photo-realistic graphics as well. Currently, many games suffer from overly vibrant colors that detract from immersion.
Finally, I’d like to see car physics developed in collaboration with real racing drivers who have experience with those vehicles in real life. Only they can provide genuine insights into the experience.
Conclusion: Towards Maximum Immersion
Florent testimony highlights how an often-overlooked adjustment like Field of View can transform a sim racing experience. Properly fine-tuned, FOV doesn’t just change your visual perspective—it directly enhances your perception of the car, the track, and the force feedback sensations.
Whether you’re driving the BMW M2, the Ford Mustang GT3, or the Alpine A110, taking the time to optimize these settings can elevate your immersion to new heights. These iconic cars, which we’ve analyzed in other articles, demonstrate how a well-tailored setup can bring out the best in your sim racing sessions.
So, what are you waiting for? Adjust your FOV and discover how it can revolutionize your driving experience. Share your thoughts, doubts, or success stories in the comments—we’d love to hear about them!
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