Asetek's most powerful base model

With the Invicta, Asetek is rolling out its high-end offering. It’s a pure direct-drive system—with no belts or gears—that delivers up to 27 Nm of torque. On paper, it’s right up there with the very best, alongside significantly more expensive machines. In reality, that 27 Nm figure is mostly a reserve, since no one drives with the throttle wide open at full power—and it’s precisely that margin that makes all the difference once you’ve got the controller in your hands.

27 Nm and an impressive slew rate

What strikes you first is the subtlety of the road feedback. At equivalent torque levels, the Invicta provided some of the most detailed feedback we’ve ever experienced, with an ability to convey what the car is doing that rivals models costing twice as much. The texture of the track, the rumble strips, the moment the front end starts to lose grip—everything comes through with remarkable clarity.

The secret lies in part in the slew rate of 9.4 Nm per millisecond—that is, the rate at which the motor changes its torque. In practical terms, when entering a turn in a GT3 or a formula car, the response is instantaneous and crisp, without that slight lag felt in slower models. On stiff cars, this responsiveness makes all the difference and provides precision when positioning the car. The 22-bit encoder, with over four million points per revolution, rounds out the picture with a resolution that doesn’t let anything slip by.

Torque reserve has another advantage: it prevents clipping. You can reduce the power output while still maintaining a sense of power, without ever saturating the signal during hard acceleration or braking. We found our sweet spot at around 15 Nm of perceived torque at the wheel for long sessions—a level that’s already quite demanding but preserves detail without draining our forearms after an hour.

Construction and Life Aboard

The anodized aluminum case exudes a sense of solidity, with a compact design that minimizes obstruction in front of the screen. A pleasant surprise over time: the base remains quiet and lukewarm to the touch even after long sessions—a stark contrast to the Forte from the same lineup, which runs hotter. The six built-in ARGB LED strips add a customizable visual touch—a bit of a gimmick, perhaps, but one that’s well integrated.

The mounting is versatile—it can be installed from below using a T-slot or from the front—and the universal quick-release mechanism can be operated with one hand. It supports fans with center-to-center distances of 70 mm or 50.8 mm, which ensures broad compatibility beyond just the Asetek Forte and La Prima fans.

RaceHub: Power Must Be Earned

On the software side, RaceHub offers two out-of-the-box profiles—F1 and GT3—as well as a custom configuration. You can adjust settings using either six basic sliders or twelve advanced parameters covering torque, damping, friction, inertia, and oscillation control. It’s comprehensive, but it must be said: the Invicta takes some getting used to. Without careful tuning, the feedback can feel a bit grainy or twitchy, and some games like Assetto Corsa require a bit of in-game filtering to smooth out an overly mechanical feel. As for the hands-off detection, it seemed to us to be in need of improvement, as the steering wheel continued to oscillate after it was triggered. It’s not a deal-breaker, but expect a bit of a learning curve before you find the right setup.

Compatibility: What to Check

One thing to keep in mind: the Invicta runs only on PCs, on Windows 10 and 11. No consoles are supported at this time. Asetek has mentioned a future motherboard upgrade to enable console support, but with no firm timeline, so we’re treating it as a 100% PC-only product. On a computer, however, it handles everything that runs through DirectInput, from iRacing to Assetto Corsa Competizione, including Le Mans Ultimate, rFactor 2, the F1 series, and EA Sports WRC.

Who, exactly?

The Invicta is designed for the discerning driver who wants the best possible force feedback without breaking the bank on the top-tier models. If you mainly play GT and racing sims on PC, enjoy tweaking your settings, and aren’t afraid of power, this is one of the most compelling options in the segment. Console gamers or those who want a plug-and-play experience without fiddling with the sliders will want to look elsewhere.