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Mastering Steering & Force Feedback

Force Feedback (FFB) is the cornerstone of an immersive American Truck Simulator (ATS) experience, providing drivers with a tangible sense of their truck’s weight, the nuances of the road surface, and the resistance of the steering rack. A common point of confusion for server owners is whether these physical sensations are controlled by the server or the player’s local hardware.

Difficulty

Beginner Friendly

Time

5 Minutes

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Defining Server and Client Responsibilities

In a networked multiplayer environment, game logic is strategically divided between the central server and each individual player’s client.
The server functions as the central coordinator. It manages synchronized data streams such as truck positions, trailer connectivity states, traffic signal patterns, and the global world clock. It does not process or transmit physical force signals to a driver’s steering wheel or peripherals.

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Optimizing the Driving Experience

Although the server cannot directly influence hardware feedback, we recommend these baseline settings for your community to ensure a consistent and realistic experience.
1

Access Peripheral Options

Navigate to the ATS main menu or pause the game, then select Options -> Controls.
2

Calibrate Overall Gain

Locate the Force Feedback section. We suggest a baseline of 50% overall gain. From this starting point, increase or decrease the intensity based on your steering wheel’s motor strength.
3

Manage Secondary Vibrations

Reduce Engine Resonance to 5% or lower. High resonance settings can lead to excessive mechanical noise and wear on gear-driven wheels without providing meaningful tactical feedback.

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Protecting High-End Hardware

If you operate a Direct Drive (DD) wheel, be particularly mindful of “Bumps” and “Collisions” settings. High-torque motors can produce violent, sudden movements that may be jarring. Maintaining moderate levels ensures a realistic simulation while protecting your hardware’s internal components from unnecessary mechanical stress.

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Troubleshooting Peripheral Synchronization

Ensure your steering wheel’s drivers and firmware are up to date. Always connect your wheel before launching the ATS client to ensure the engine initializes the HID (Human Interface Device) correctly.
If Force Feedback feels inconsistent while in a convoy, it is likely due to local frame rate drops or USB bandwidth issues rather than server latency. Try disabling unnecessary background applications to free up local CPU resources.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Peripherals: Master your hardware.