Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7
Boxart used for the physical regular and digital editions, featuring Porsche Vision Gran Turismo (in blue) and Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (in red)
Developer	Polyphony Digital
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Producer	Kazunori Yamauchi
Director	Kazunori Yamauchi
Programmer	Shuichi Takano Takahito Tejima Riso Suzuki
Series	Gran Turismo
Platforms	PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 (PlayStation VR2 compatible)
Release	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5: March 4, 2022 PlayStation VR2 February 22, 2023
Genre(s)	Racing simulation
Mode(s)	single-player, multiplayer

Gran Turismo 7 is a 2022 racing simulation video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It is the seventh numerical installment and eighth mainline installment in the Gran Turismo series, and a successor to 2013's Gran Turismo 6 and 2017's Gran Turismo Sport.

As a racing simulation title, Gran Turismo 7 provides gameplay aiming to replicate and simulate professional driving against both AI-controlled NPCs and players. Another main feature is the collection of various vehicles ranging from classic builds to modern sports cars, which can be obtained through in-game currency or microtransactions. As with its direct predecessor Gran Turismo Sport, Gran Turismo 7 requires online connection for most of its functions. At launch, Gran Turismo 7 included over 420 vehicles and 34 locations.

Development on Gran Turismo 7 was first revealed in July 2019 before an official announcement in June 2020. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi served as both producer and director of the new title, the first entry to simultaneously launch across two console generations. After the divisive reaction to Sport, Yamauchi and his team aimed to make a title that will return the series to its roots while including newer features. Originally slated for early 2021, Gran Turismo 7 was delayed several times due to complications caused by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. A virtual reality version for the PlayStation VR2 was released as a launch title.

Gran Turismo 7 received positive reviews. It was praised for its visuals, controls and large amount of content, with publications appreciating its tribute to car culture and deeming it a return to form for the series. Criticism was directed at the menus, which were considered overwhelming, while scrutiny was aimed at the implementation of microtransactions and the slow pace of the game; Polyphony addressed those criticisms in post-release patches, balancing the in-game currency. Gran Turismo 7 was nominated for and won several end-year accolades, including Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2022 and Racing Game of the Year at the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Its commercial performance helped push lifetime franchise sales of Gran Turismo to over 90 million copies by December 2022.

Gameplay

Gran Turismo 7 is a racing simulation video game that features both single-player and multiplayer game modes. The game retains numerous technical and mechanical elements introduced or refined in its predecessor, 2017's Gran Turismo Sport, while including new features and reintroducing previously discontinued modes and systems from older Gran Turismo titles. On launch, Gran Turismo 7 included over 420 vehicles and 34 locations.

Development

Gran Turismo 7 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 home consoles; the seventh numbered and eighth mainline installment in the Gran Turismo series, Gran Turismo 7 was the second PlayStation 4 title developed by Polyphony Digital, and the studio's first PlayStation 5 release.

Release

Gran Turismo 7 was officially revealed on June 11, 2020, as part of Sony's Future of Gaming event to introduce the then-upcoming PlayStation 5. The game was originally planned for a release in the first half of 2021, before being delayed twice to early 2022 due to development complications caused by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. It was released to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on March 4, 2022.

Gran Turismo 7 was initially announced as a PlayStation 5 exclusive title; PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst revealed in June 2021 that the game alongside Santa Monica Studio's God of War Ragnarök will also launch on the PlayStation 4. An upgrade from the PlayStation 4 version to the PlayStation 5 version costs $10.

A virtual reality version was announced at Sony's CES conference in January 2023, slated as a launch title for the PlayStation 5's PlayStation VR2 headset and available as a free upgrade for the base game's owners. It will be released on February 22, 2023.

Since its release in March 2022, Polyphony Digital supported Gran Turismo 7 with multiple updates and content additions. In November 2023, Polyphony released the "Spec II" 1.40 update, which introduced seven new cars, a new circuit, over 50 challenges, and added or revamped several features. Other major additions included the implementation of the Gran Turismo Sophy AI-assisted driver, and a 4-player split-screen race option, both exclusive to the PlayStation 5 version of the game.

Reception

Reviews

• MetaCritic: 87/100 (PS5); 82/100 (PS4)
• Destructoid: 8.5/10
• Easy Allies: 8.5/10
• Edge: 9/10
• Eurogamer: Recommended
• Game Informer: 8.75/10
• Game Revolution: 8.5/10
• GameSpot: 8/10
• GamesRadar: 4.5/5
• Guardian: 4/5
• IGN: 9/10
• PlayStation LifeStyle: 10/10
• PlayStation Universe: 9/10
• Push Square: 9/10
• VGC: 3/5
• VideoGamer: 10/10

Gran Turismo 7 was well-received by gaming publications. On aggregator site Metacritic, the PlayStation 5 version is rated 87/100 based on 119 scored reviews, while the PlayStation 4 version is rated 82/100 based on 4 reviews, both classified on the site as "generally favorable reviews". It is the highest-rated Gran Turismo title since 2004's Gran Turismo 4.

Sales

In December 2023, Yamauchi noted that Gran Turismo 7's average active players doubled following the release of the "Spec II" update in November of that year. While not providing player count or sales numbers, Yamauchi considered Gran Turismo 7 a success, and that it attracted more players than Gran Turismo Sport had.

Accolades

Gran Turismo 7 was nominated for several end-year accolades, receiving a variety of awards. Edge Magazine ranked it as the 8th best game of 2022, in addition to being awarded PlayStation Game of the Year.

• The Game Awards 2022
  • Best Sports/Racing Game - won
  • Best Audio Design - nominated
• The Game Awards 2023
  • Best VR / AR Game - pending