Review: Turtle Beach VelocityOne Multi-Shift USB Shifter

The sim-racing world has evolved dramatically from its humble niche beginnings. With game-changers like Simagic (2018) and Moza Racing (2021) revolutionizing the market by delivering exceptional equipment across all price brackets, the competition has reached unprecedented levels. And now, a formidable new contender has emerged, promising to disrupt the landscape even further.

The peripheral we will be looking at today is Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Multi-Shift USB Shifter. Included in the package as listed:

• VelocityOne Multi-Shift Shifter

• H-Pattern Shift Knob • Sequential Shift Knob • H-Pattern Shaft

• Sequential Shaft

• (4) Cockpit Fixing Screws + Allen Key • Clamp Adjustment Tool

• 8ft / 2.5m USB-C to USB-A PC Connection Cable 

• 3ft / 1m USB-C to USB-C VelocityOne Race Pass-Through Cable

The Multi-Shift offers two shifters in one as well as handbrake functionality, all at the flip of a small little switch on the right side of the peripheral. Depending on which mode you choose, you either use a 7-speed H-pattern shifter, which is your normal manual transmission design, or you can hit the switch, and it turns into a sequential-style shifter, like you would find in a race car, etc. The feeling of shifting the H-pattern with the smaller shift knob gives a notchy and satisfying feel shifting through their gears, giving you feedback to feel when you’re in or out of gear. A notable feature that I am a big fan of is the 7th gear and reverse lockout, where in order to access 7th gear and reverse, you must push the shifter down to initiate either gear, making it harder to accidentally shift into the wrong gear. Switching over into Sequential Shift Mode, the gear shifter is locked in place, only allowing movement forward and backward, ensuring perfect shifts all the time. Switching to the sequential shifter knob, which is a longer shaft and bigger shifter knob, makes the sequential mode feel smooth and removes most of that notchy feeling you would get with the smaller, lighter shift knob choice. I personally use the heavier sequential knob when in the H-pattern mode; the heavier throw and feel is my preferred way, at least in some circumstances like drifting or racing on the touge.

A feature included on the Multi-Shift shifter, which may actually sell it for a lot of those who are in the market, is the high/low gear button, which is used for games like American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator. Coming from my Thrustmaster TH8A shifter to the Multi-Shift, this feature was a very welcomed addition for me; instead of relying on a keyboard input to change my gear range, I can switch right on my shifter. Included next to the High/Low gear button is the Handbrake button, which allows you to switch the shifter into a fully analog handbrake. This feature does work fairly well, but I didn’t find myself using it since I already have a dedicated USB handbrake, but the ability to switch it into a handbrake is a fantastic feature for anyone who may not have one already.

Turtle Beach claims the VelocityOne Multi-Shift is built with what they claim is Hall-Effect Magnetic Technology, which will add higher durability and extend the life expectancy of the peripheral. There is a noticeable difference in feeling in comparison to my TH8A, which is more mechanical and harsh-feeling, almost as if it’s assisted and a bit dampened but in a welcoming way. Besides that, it feels very consistent and fairly realistic when shifting gears quickly.

I have referred to my ThrustMaster TH8A Shifter as my comparison due to that being my main peripheral of choice for the past several years, but the VelocityOne as of now has replaced it as my main shifter on my sim rig. The TH8A is a barebones, no-frills shifter, no buttons or anything, where the Multi-Shift has the extra options, which I find very welcoming over the TH8A. The Thrustmaster option is a fully metal internal system and exterior, so the quality feels better in comparison to the mostly plastic Multi-Shift, but what it lacks in metal it makes up for in design. The Multi-Shift is a very beautiful design that gives you that straight-out-of-a-supercar look and feel, with the leather shifter boot backlit buttons and carbon fiber-styled plating on the top; it definitely wins in the visual aspect. The TH8A has a very long shifter throw between gears, while the Multi-Shift has a bit shorter of a throw, making the time between shifts a bit faster and satisfying. Now let’s get to the price comparison. The VelocityOne Multi-Shift’s MSRP is $129.99, and the Thrustmaster TH8A MSRP is $199.99. For the price of the VelocityOne, to me it is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to purchase their first nice shifter for their setup; to those who currently own a TH8A or equivalent, it’s an upgrade if you plan on using the high/low feature and regularly switch to a sequential mode and enjoy the style, but to those who only use an H-pattern and have no need for the handbrake or additional features, then stick to your current peripheral.

The Multi-Shift being able to be used standalone with absolutely no software needed is amazing, meaning one less potential software to break and cause issues when being used in tandem with other device brands. If you own the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Racewheel, you can use the other included USB cable to plug directly into your wheelbase instead of through an extra USB. You can also use the standard USB plug to connect it to your console of choice, allowing you to switch back and forth with just a single cable. Included with those cables are 4 screws to hard mount your shifter to a wheel stand base, or a very sturdy clamp, which is my preferred way to mount on my setup. I had absolutely no issues; I actually really appreciate the detail of hiding the bolt to tighten the clamp under a flap and keeping things really sleek.

I did run into a small issue, which may not affect many other people, but when using sequential mode, if you pull the lever back at a small angle, you pop the shifter out of sequential mode and back into H-Pattern Mode. This is a small issue that may only affect a small amount of people, but it’s an issue nonetheless. The only other issue I experienced was that the device wasn’t recognized after a PC restart. It was easily solved after unplugging and replugging the USB back in, but it wasn’t consistently happening, and I couldn’t replicate it, so it may have been a one-off issue. The base not being metal is a downside for the quality feeling of the actual base, but they used a high-quality plastic that feels just as sturdy, and what I believe is the reason the price point is a bit lower: you take and give some quality for more features and innovations.

Turtle Beach’s entry into the simulator racing world is a welcoming start, and I look forward to seeing what else the team designs and produces. The current price point of their steering wheel, pedals, and shifter sits at a strong competitive price point, potentially rivaling some of the heavy hitters in the near future. The VelocityOne Multi-Shift is a budget-friendly standard and an easy recommendation to those who are looking to get into sim racing. I can’t stress enough how much small features can make an experience so much more enjoyable.The future is bright for us sim racers; hopefully, this starts a pattern to introduce more companies into the space and produce more products at similar price points.