Playseat Evolution 2 ActiFit Collapsible Racing Cockpit
design
There’s a lot of familiarity about the Playseat Evolution 2. Straight out of the box it gave me Formula Instinct vibes and uses a similar steel tube system for its main frame, albeit in a slick black colourway this time around. It went together easily enough and I built it on my own in just over an hour, which includes some backtracking that I’ll have to share the blame with Playseat for.
It all comes down to the bolts. There are plenty of them and several sizes that look very similar. That’s not uncommon for flatpack gear, but they all come mixed together in the same bag and the differences in size are pretty subtle. I thought I’d sorted them first, but I still had to undo a few after realising I’d grabbed the wrong length. The seat itself sits on top of the frame and bolts in underneath which I found a little tricky to line up. This was the fiddliest part of the whole job solo, I’d grab a second set of hands for that bit if you can.
Once it’s together, build quality is excellent. The seat is a proper seat, with real cushioning, a slightly sprung feel, and even a surprising amount of lumbar support. I found it immediately much more comfortable than the Formula Instinct which was a bit mean with its foam thickness and strength. I’d put the Evolution 2 on par for comfort with the Trophy, albeit a very different ideology to that hammock-based design. It’s also the most open cockpit I’ve sat in, and getting in and out is a lot easier and more dignified than on the Formula Instinct, where the seating angle always felt a bit awkward.
It’s also great to see the Playseat Evolution 2 comes with a holder for mounting a shifter as standard. I haven’t bolted a shifter to that yet as I primarily race in F1 25, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have plans for it. Annoyingly, Playseat doesn’t sell a keyboard tray to match the Evolution 2. I’d love to see the company use that area for more than just a shifter and turn it into the home for a little add-on ecosystem. I’m planning to knock up a custom keyboard tray myself and haphazardly bolt it onto the plate. Anyone got a 3D printer I can borrow?
One thing to plan for is the feet. As on the Formula Instinct, they’re a small contact point and they sink deeply into carpet. I’ve put carpet furniture sliders underneath, which I’d recommend, and Playseat also sells a mat that would spread the load in the same way. If you’re on a hard or uneven floor, these feet are adjustable with a twist.
I haven’t put the Playseat Evolution 2’s party piece to the test yet. Like the Challenge X and Challenge DD, it folds near enough flat to allow for easy (or at least easier) storage. I’ll come back and let you know how that goes once I’m done on track.
performance
Adjustability is a real strength on the Playseat Evolution 2. Not only because there’s plenty of it for catering to differently-sized racers, but also because of how simple it is to move between them. The main seat slides effortlessly back and forth with four thumb screws to hold it in place and the wheel column uses the X-Adapt quick-release system that’s finding a home across the Playseat range. The pedal tray is a little more awkward to adjust and is much more prescriptive in where it can sit, but there’s still a decent range on show.
The wheel base platform now has a simple push-down mechanism underneath for unlocking and changing the angle, which is far quicker and easier than unscrewing bolts. The platform also slides a good distance forward and back. I’m sure that’s meant as a mounting adjustment for how close the wheel is to you, but it’s accidentally a lovely quality-of-life touch. Pulling it all the way forward means it clears the various bits and bobs underneath and lets you get your hand and a hex key in to tighten things. Nice.
I’ve mounted a Logitech RS50 with the original G Pro pedals, which is decent-level gear in the power stakes, and the Playseat Evolution 2 holds it all up nicely. There’s loads of mounting configuration holes drilled through both the wheelbase platform and pedal tray, and I had no problems getting it all lined up and locked in. I’ve only done a few race weekends in the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack so far but I’ve seen no flex, movement, or cause for concern. It’s rock solid.
You sit a lot higher in the Evolution 2 than in the Trophy or Formula Instinct, and for my serious-yet-amateur style and ability I preferred that. It’s possibly not as realistic a racing position, but for a more casual sim racer it works well, even for F1 25. You have a small assortment of positions you can adjust the chair to, though I must admit having tried a couple of them I didn’t notice a huge difference. Be careful though. I’m relatively tall, and it’s easy to catch your kneecaps on the bits under the wheel base platform when getting in and out.
summed up
I still need more time to judge long-term comfort, but from my first few race weekends I’m happy to say the Evolution 2 is my favourite general-purpose Playseat so far. The sitting position and more traditional cushioned race seat suit a pick-up-and-play approach, which is what I value. I’m not fussed about an ultra-realistic seating position, I’m not good enough for that anyway if we’re being honest. I just want something that works for an arcadey game like Forza Horizon 6 and also for F1 25, and it does that while holding up my RS50 and G Pro pedals without complaint.
At £299 in the UK ($399 in the US), it’s the cheapest fixed rig in Playseat’s range but I’d still be pretty confident in saying it’s the best for the majority of casual sim racers.
