How to Turn Your Car into a Racing Game Controller
Cars

Do you like racing games? The quality of some simulators is extraordinary, but if you want to enjoy them to the fullest, you’ll probably need to invest hundreds of euros in a reputable wheel, with its corresponding pedals and gear shifter. However, the DIY world lets us “level up” and transform entire cars into controllers compatible with Xbox and PC. Best part? The combination of components can be cheaper than a dedicated wheel.

Our readers might remember the CAN Joystick project by Andrew Rossignol. Basically, he created an adapter that uses the OBD ports of a Cadillac ELR to convert its controls into a gamepad compatible with Linux. Similar ideas include the Chevy Volt used by Adam Ringwood to play Super Mario Kart 64. The point is… it’s not madness. Modern vehicles have increasingly advanced interfaces, making them fertile ground for enthusiasts.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6OXkb8c8xXc
How to Turn Your Car into a Racing Game Controller
The Macchina M2, an extraordinary ally to unleash your car’s full potential

That’s how we discovered Nishanth Samala and his story. While enjoying an intense real-life race aboard his Subaru BRZ, the engine decided to throw in the towel, and getting a suitable replacement would take a while. Nishanth focused his efforts on not losing “flight hours,” so he decided to “reuse” the rest of the car as a simulation cockpit.

The main component for such a transformation is a Macchina M2 module that “listens” to CAN traffic through the OBD2 port. With the help of a “breakout board” costing $10 and the intervention of an Xbox Adaptive Controller (necessary to work around the “official hardware” requirement) the M2 emulates a joystick and sends commands via USB, with support for Xbox One (and by extension, PC).

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VkPxM4QOLWA

Both videos are based on a 2015 Subaru Forester and not the BRZ, but there’s no doubt the conversion will work on any vehicle with similar characteristics. The broad compatibility of the Macchina M2 (as long as we’re willing to get our hands dirty) makes the whole process easier. It might not be ideal for beginners, but it looks great anyway, and I think it’s worth the effort.

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