In the fast-growing world of sim racing, immersion and control are everything. Whether competing in Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, F1 24, or Project CARS 3, racers rely on precision hardware to deliver a realistic driving experience.
When Simtronix Industries, a developer of high-end sim racing peripherals, set out to create a next-generation button box, they turned to Zeus Design for complete product development — from electronics and firmware to PC software and user experience.
The result was the Simtronix BBX — a 16-button RGB control panel engineered for precision, reliability, and full customisation. The BBX delivers professional-grade performance, enabling racers to assign every switch, dial, and LED to their exact driving preferences.
Project Overview: Elevating Sim Racing Hardware
The Growth of the Sim Racing Industry
Sim racing has evolved from a niche hobby into a global competitive platform. The worldwide market for sim racing equipment is now valued at over US$700 million and continues to grow rapidly as esports and realistic motorsport simulators attract professional teams and sponsors alike.
Titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, F1 24, and Gran Turismo 7 demand increasingly sophisticated peripherals that replicate the feel and responsiveness of real racing. Enthusiasts invest heavily in steering wheels, pedals, shifters, and button boxes to achieve authentic, cockpit-like control.
Simtronix’s Mission
Simtronix recognised this demand and set out to design a button box that would meet professional standards while remaining accessible to serious sim racers. Their goal was to deliver a premium yet practical device — compact, reliable, and deeply customisable.
They envisioned the Simtronix BBX as the ultimate companion for any simulator rig: a tactile, illuminated control hub capable of transforming the racing experience.
The Vision: A Customisable Button Box Built for Immersion
Designed for Precision and Personalisation
At its core, the BBX provides 16 fully customisable buttons and rotary encoders, each programmable to in-game functions. Drivers can configure controls for actions like:
- Activating DRS (Drag Reduction System) or ERS boost in F1 24
- Adjusting brake bias, traction control, or fuel mapping in iRacing
- Managing headlights, wipers, and pit limiter in Assetto Corsa Competizione
Every button can be reassigned within seconds, giving users complete control over their racing setup.
RGB Lighting for Function and Style
The BBX takes personalisation further with per-button RGB illumination, allowing users to assign colours for different game modes or functions. For example, pit functions may glow amber, critical alerts red, and telemetry inputs blue.
Beyond practicality, the RGB system enhances visual immersion — especially during night races or endurance events, where subtle lighting adds realism and flair to the cockpit.
Engineering the BBX: Hardware and Software Integration
To turn this vision into reality, Simtronix partnered with Zeus Design to deliver a production-ready platform combining electronics, embedded firmware, and PC-based control software.
Custom PCB and Embedded Firmware
Zeus Design engineered a custom printed circuit board (PCB) to handle precise input detection and LED control. Each button’s signal is managed via a microcontroller optimised for low-latency performance, ensuring every command registers instantly — a critical factor for competitive racing.
The embedded firmware supports advanced lighting profiles and manages communication between the BBX and the host PC. Firmware design focused on reliability, ensuring no missed signals even during long sessions or rapid input changes.
PC Software and Auto Installer
Beyond the hardware, Zeus Design developed dedicated desktop software for the BBX. This intuitive tool allows racers to:
- Configure button mappings and lighting profiles
- Calibrate rotary encoders
- Update firmware automatically
- Manage presets for different games
The software includes an auto installer, ensuring plug-and-play functionality for users of all technical levels. From the moment it’s connected, the BBX identifies itself, installs drivers, and is ready for configuration within minutes.
SimHub Integration
To maximise compatibility, the BBX integrates fully with SimHub, one of the most popular platforms in the sim racing community. This integration allows users to:
- Sync RGB effects with in-game events (e.g., flashing red on pit entry)
- Create dynamic profiles based on telemetry data
- Map multiple functions per button, depending on the car or track
This level of integration ensures the BBX fits seamlessly into any advanced simulator ecosystem.
Design Challenges and Solutions
Creating a high-performance racing peripheral involves balancing form, function, and manufacturability.
Balancing Performance and Aesthetics
One of the core challenges was achieving a premium tactile feel while maintaining durability. Zeus Design selected high-quality mechanical switches for satisfying feedback and long lifespan, paired with laser-etched button caps for lasting clarity under RGB illumination.
The enclosure design prioritised both ergonomics and style, resulting in a compact unit that fits naturally into any racing rig layout.
Ensuring Universal Compatibility
With sim racing software spanning multiple platforms and input standards, ensuring universal USB compatibility was essential. The firmware and driver architecture were designed to function natively across Windows-based simulators without requiring proprietary middleware.
Extensive testing across popular titles guaranteed seamless operation out of the box.
Scalable Firmware Architecture
Zeus Design implemented a modular firmware framework, allowing for future enhancements such as new lighting modes, macro support, or telemetry-based automation — all delivered via firmware updates through the PC software.
Delivering an Immersive, Plug-and-Play Experience
For sim racers, setup time should never get in the way of performance.
Rapid Setup and Auto-Detection
The BBX is a true plug-and-play device. Once connected, it automatically installs necessary drivers and detects installed racing titles, suggesting default control profiles.
This intelligent setup streamlines the process, allowing racers to focus on driving, not configuring.
Enhanced Game Control
Across multiple platforms, the BBX delivers a new level of engagement. In Assetto Corsa Competizione, it enables real-time control of vehicle systems during endurance races. In F1 24, drivers can toggle hybrid systems or radio communications with a single touch.
For iRacing, racers can quickly manage camera views, chat macros, or pit stop adjustments mid-race — all without taking their hands off the wheel.
Results: Professional-Grade Performance for Every Racer
The collaboration between Simtronix Industries and Zeus Design produced a product that blends design elegance with engineering precision.
Seamless Integration
The BBX connects easily to any PC rig, integrating with SimHub and other software ecosystems for custom profiles and effects.
Reliability and Responsiveness
Every press, twist, and illumination is engineered for zero-lag input and long-term durability, tested under thousands of operational cycles.
Enhanced Racing Immersion
With programmable lighting, tactile feedback, and real-time control, the BBX transforms any simulator setup into a fully interactive cockpit. Racers gain not only performance — but atmosphere.
Lessons in Smart Peripheral Design
The Simtronix BBX project illustrates several principles that apply broadly to electronics design for gaming and beyond.
Integration from the Start
A successful product requires tight integration between hardware, firmware, and software — not as separate phases, but as a unified design approach.
Modularity and Updatability
Designing firmware and hardware to support future upgrades ensures the product evolves alongside the software ecosystem it serves.
Balancing Innovation with Usability
Advanced features must never come at the expense of simplicity. The BBX demonstrates how high-end performance can remain approachable through thoughtful user experience design.
Conclusion: Driving the Future of Sim Racing Hardware
The Simtronix BBX exemplifies how collaborative engineering can push the limits of what’s possible in sim racing peripherals. Through its partnership with Zeus Design, Simtronix achieved a product that combines precision, style, and expandability — perfectly aligned with the growing expectations of today’s racing community.
As sim racing continues to evolve, innovations like the BBX highlight the importance of intelligent design and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Together, Simtronix and Zeus Design have created a platform that not only enhances gameplay today but lays the foundation for the next generation of immersive racing hardware.
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