r/simracing CommunitySurvey Results
Explore four years of sim racing community data. Discover how hardware preferences, game choices, and spending patterns have evolved across 2,364 survey responses.
4
Survey Years
2,364
Total Responses
15+
Data Categories
Key Insights
The most significant findings from the 2026 survey compared to previous years
LMU Takes the Lead
+16.6%
Le Mans Ultimate grew from 28.1% to 44.7%, becoming the most-played title
Premium Spending
59.5%
Share of respondents with $2k+ setups, up from 29.4% in 2022
Moza Dominance
24.1%
Moza became the top wheelbase brand, surpassing Fanatec
Multiplayer Revival
70.4%
Multiplayer preference rebounded from 56.4% in 2025
Ultrawide Growth
31.6%
Ultrawide displays reached 31.6%, up from 0.3% in 2022
ACC Decline
-21.8%
ACC dropped from 45.8% to 23.9%, the sharpest title drop
Explore by Year
Quick snapshot of each survey year
2026
415 responses
Moza (24.1%)
LMU (44.7%)
70.4%
$2k-$5k
Estimated Average Age
35.1 years
Demographics
Understanding who makes up the sim racing community
2026 Avg. Age
35.1 yrs
Down from 37.9 in 2025
Largest Age Group
25-34
37.1% of 2026 respondents
55+ Demographic
5.6%
Down from 12.6% in 2025
Hardware & Spending
Equipment preferences and investment patterns
Game Titles
The games that define the sim racing landscape
Biggest Winner
Le Mans Ultimate
28.1% → 44.7% (+16.6 pts)
Biggest Decline
ACC
45.8% → 23.9% (-21.8 pts)
Steady Growth
iRacing
31.2% → 34.5% (+3.3 pts)
Racing Behavior
How the community races: single player vs multiplayer trends
The Multiplayer Revival
The 2025 single-player surge appears to be an outlier rather than a new trend. Multiplayer bounced back strongly in 2026, returning close to the 2022/2023 levels.
Ranked/Competitive
iRacing, LFM, etc.
32.3%
+7.9% from 2025
Casual Multiplayer
Lobbies, Daily Races
25.5%
+4.4% from 2025
League Racing
Organized Leagues
12.5%
+1.6% from 2025
Single Player
Career, AI, Hotlapping
28.0%
-12.5% from 2025
The Story Behind the Numbers
Understanding the major trends that shaped the sim racing community from 2022 to 2026
From Entry-Level to Premium
The sim racing community has undergone a dramatic transformation in hardware preferences. Moza emerged as the dominant wheelbase brand in 2026 with 24.1% market share, surpassing long-time leader Fanatec. Meanwhile, Logitech and Thrustmaster saw significant declines as mid-range and premium options became more accessible.
24.1%
+23.6% from 2022
21.7%
-7.2% from 2022
17.9%
-20.6% from 2022
The Premium Shift Continues
Investment in sim racing setups has consistently increased over the years. The share of respondents spending over $2,000 on their setups grew from 29.4% in 2022 to 59.5% in 2026. Entry-level setups under $500 declined from 23.1% to just 7.5%, signaling a maturing market where enthusiasts invest more heavily in their hobby.
59.5%
+30.1% from 2022
8.9%
+5.3% from 2022
7.5%
-15.6% from 2022
Ultrawides Rise, Single Monitors Decline
The display landscape has transformed dramatically. Ultrawide monitors went from virtually non-existent in 2022 (0.3%) to becoming a major force at 31.6% in 2026. VR remains popular at 28.2%, while traditional single monitors dropped from 69.6% to 33.3%. This shift reflects both the growing accessibility of ultrawide displays and the community's desire for more immersive experiences.
31.6%
+31.3% from 2022
28.2%
+3.7% from 2022
33.3%
-36.3% from 2022
Methodology & Notes
Understanding the data and its limitations
Response counts by year:
The cleanest comparison is 2025 → 2026. Earlier years are included for context where wording aligns.
- •This is a self-selected community survey, not market research
- •Multi-select questions show respondent share (totals exceed 100%)
- •Age averages use bracket midpoints and are approximate
- •Some categories were added or modified between survey years
- •Obvious joke/outlier answers were excluded from reporting
- ✓Percentages use valid responses for each question
- ✓Raw response counts preserved for transparency
- ✓Year-over-year comparisons only where methodology aligns
- ✓Notable methodology changes are documented
- ✓Original questionnaire data sourced from r/simracing
Important Note on Interpretation
The main thing to avoid is treating the whole series like one smooth line. Once 2026 is in there, some of the strongest 2025 conclusions look more like "that year's sample shape" rather than a permanent direction. For example, the 2025 single-player spike now appears more like an outlier than a new trend, given the strong multiplayer rebound in 2026.