Gamers and fans have been anxiously waiting for the seventh installment of the “Gran Turismo” car racing video game franchise for almost the entire 2015, but game publisher Sony Computer Entertainment pulled a major surprise during the Paris Games Week held on October 28 to November 1.
Instead of announcing the release date for “Gran Turismo 7,” Sony declared that it will be launching the “Gran Turismo (GT) Sports” car racing video game next year.
The release of “GT Sports” has been viewed in two different ways by gamers and critics. It is possible that Sony released it since game developer Polyphony Digital still needs more time to finish the development of “Gran Turismo 7.” “GT Sports” is one sure way of cushioning the long and agonizing wait of gamers for “Gran Turismo 7.”
The other possible reason is that “GT Sports” could be the prologue of “Gran Turismo 7” but Sony wants to keep it under wraps which is why the company specifically stated during its launching at the Paris Games Week that it is to be more than just a prologue type experience. This means that “GT Sports” is a prologue type experience, but better than previous prologues of several games of the franchise, notes Attack of the Fanboy.
It can be recalled that Polyphony Digital released a prologue version of “Gran Turismo 4” and “Gran Turismo 5” so having one for “Gran Turismo 7” but renaming it as “GT Sports” means its one and the same thing.
Hint about the release date
Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said during the Paris Games Week that they are not yet ready to announce details about the release date for “Gran Turismo 7” yet.
He confirmed nonetheless that “GT Sports” is not just a prologue version of “Gran Turismo 7.” He also alluded that more can be added into “GT Sports” as DLC, which was not possible with the prologue video games of “Gran Turismo 4” and “Gran Turismo 5.”
Ryan also described “GT Sports” as packing some content, which was not possible with the games back in the old days, which were only limited to what was available on the disc.
During the Paris Games Week announcement, Sony said that “GT Sports” will come out with its beta version early next year exclusively on the PlayStation 4. Although Sony claims that “GT Sports” is not a prologue of “Gran Turismo 7,” the fact of the matter remains that it is to be released ahead of “GT 7” and thus serves as a preview of the full game.
With that being said, it is likely that “Gran Turismo 7” will come out late next year or just several months after the release of “GT Sports.” In the event that “GT Sports” comes out in the second half of 2016, then it is likely that “Gran Turismo 7” will follow suit early in 2017.
“Gran Turismo 7” may support VR
Polyphony Digital has previously said that it is planning to make “Gran Turismo 7″ the best car racing title there is when it comes out exclusively on the PlayStation 4.
In addition to ensuring great visuals, sound, collision physics, artificial intelligence, availability of more premium cars, and superb overall gameplay, it looks like “Gran Turismo 7” will further move a notch higher as latest reports now say that the game would also be capable of supporting the PlayStation VR, notes iDigital Times.
Previously known as Project Morpheus, the PlayStation VR, is Sony’s bet against the Oculus Rift and both feature full virtual reality technology for video games as well as supported media including movies and TV programs.
No less than Sony Computer Entertainment president Shuhei Yoshida indicated recently that “Gran Turismo 7” may support the PlayStation VR when the game finally comes out soon.
Sony does have several IPs that would fit well with the PlayStation VR technology so having “Gran Turismo 7” onboard as one of the titles therein would not be a problem at all. The company has already done many trial tests on various video games of different genres, one of which is racing games, explains Yoshida.
As a racing game, “Gran Turismo 7” has all the trimmings of becoming a serious racing simulator so much so that it is also perfect for a virtual reality idea.