Upgrade from a Core seat to an Atlas seat when you race several times a week, want a fixed and fully repeatable driving position, or want to switch between a real GT and a real Formula position. If you race casually, share the rig and value a reclining backrest, a Core seat still does the job well and there is no need to rush.
The good news: an upgrade does not mean your old seat goes to waste. Below you find the clear signs that it is time, what the Atlas really adds and how to plan the switch.
What is the difference between Core and Atlas?
Both ranges come from SIMGASM, but they solve different needs.
The Core range is the accessible starting point. The Core Recline Seat has a reclining backrest with a leather and suede cover, while the Core Bucket Racing Seat offers a fixed back with side bolsters and a bottom mount. Both fit on a slider and suit a first dedicated simulator.
The Atlas range is built around a patented modular design. A shared lower base carries an interchangeable upper section, either GT or Formula, with matching memory foam cushions. The Atlas mounts from the side with the SIMGASM Seat Bracket Set, which lets you adjust both height and angle. Johan Akkerman, former esports world champion and founder of SIMGASM, designed the complete range and uses the Formula Atlas in his own simulator.
SIMGASM | Core Recline Office Chair - Black
Five signs that it is time to upgrade
These signs show that your seat, not your skill, starts to limit you.
You race almost every day
When you drive long stints several times a week, small differences in support add up. A shaped fixed back shell keeps your body in the same place every lap.
You want both GT and Formula
A recliner tilts back, but it does not create a true Formula position. With the Atlas you add the other upper section to the same base and get a different driving position without storing a second seat.
You upgraded your pedals or wheelbase
After a move to a load cell or hydraulic brake, or to a stronger direct drive base, you feel every bit of movement. A side mounted shell on 4 mm steel brackets gives a very direct connection to the frame.
You plan to add bass shakers
The Atlas has a predefined mounting pattern for a bass shaker, which makes tactile upgrades cleaner.
You want more support for your lower back
The optional Atlas Lumbar Support Cushion adds targeted support for long races, without changing the standard cushions.
Not sure which position suits you? Read which sim racing seat suits GT and Formula first.
SIMGASM | Sim Racing Seat Atlas Gran Turismo - Black
When should you stay with your Core seat?
An upgrade only makes sense when it solves a real problem for you.
Stay with a Core seat when several people of different sizes use the rig, because a reclining backrest and a slider adapt in seconds. Also stay when you race mostly for fun or in short sessions. And if you like a relaxed, chair like feel, the Core Recline remains a comfortable choice. Read more about the trade off in is a reclining sim racing seat a mistake.
What happens to your Core seat after the upgrade?
Your Core seat does not have to end up in the attic.
The Core Recline Seat has a 193 x 193 mm mounting pattern for standard office chair mechanisms. With the SIMGASM Office Chair Base it becomes a full office chair for your desk. That is exactly how the range was designed: start with a Core seat in the cockpit, move it to your desk later and fit an Atlas in the rig. Learn more in can a sim racing seat double as an office chair.
How to plan the switch
A clean upgrade takes a little planning before you order.
First, decide on GT or Formula for the start, because you add the other upper section later. Second, order the Seat Bracket Set with the seat, since the Atlas needs it for the side mount. Third, set the seat height and angle before you tighten everything, then move the pedals and wheel around your new position. Both Core and Atlas carry the standard 2 year SIMGASM warranty, and you find the full range in the Atlas sim racing seats collection and the Core seat collection.
SIMGASM | Seat bracket set - Black
Questions about upgrading from Core to Atlas
Here are short answers to the most common upgrade questions.
Does the Atlas fit on my current SIMGASM cockpit?
Yes, with the SIMGASM Seat Bracket Set, which is required for the side mount of the Atlas.
Do I need a slider for the Atlas?
The bracket set adjusts height and angle. For fore and aft adjustment, check the mounting options with the SIMGASM team before you order.
Can I switch the Atlas from GT to Formula later?
Yes. Add the other upper section and its matching cushion set comes with it, on the same lower base.
Is the Core Recline worth keeping?
Yes. With the Office Chair Base it turns into a racing style office chair for your desk.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
