PS5's Gran Turismo 7 - What We Know So Far

Sony showed off Gran Turismo 7, the next installment in Polyphony Digital's popular racing series, during the June 11, 2020 PS5 event. The trailer, though high octane, offered few details, but it was enough to get gamers excited. Gran Turismo 7 will be the first Gran Turismo title since the online-focused Gran Turismo Sport in 2017 and the first numbered entry in the series since 2013's Gran Turismo 6.

The Grand Turismo franchise is known for its licensed vehicles and stable of top-selling and exclusive Sony PlayStation titles. While knowledge of what's in store for Gran Turismo 7 remains fairly minimal, it's clear the game is returning to some of its classic features while incorporating exciting new elements suited to the next generation of consoles. 

What exactly have Sony and Polyphony Digital revealed about Grand Turismo 7? Take a look.

Much like the other titles revealed during the PS5 event, Gran Turismo 7 did not come with a release date. Of course, all the developers involved in making next-generation console games have been a big cagey about release dates because Sony hasn't yet shared when the PlayStation 5 will debut. It's coming out during the 2020 holiday season, but that's all the company is willing to give up.

Of course, having some high-caliber games available at launch would be important for the new console's chances in a market that will also see the release of the Xbox Series X. It wouldn't be at all a stretch to say that Gran Turismo 7 might be part of Sony's strategy to get the new PlayStation its share of the market as soon as possible. If Sony executives could guarantee the game's release at or near the same time as the PlayStation 5, that might help sell a few units to the waiting masses.

Sony has released an expanded version of the trailer shown during its Future of Gaming presentation that incorporates a gameplay element. This trailer serves as the main source of information available about Gran Turismo 7. Based on the new home screen, some of of the locations, and other familiar details, it looks like the latest addition takes some cues from Gran Turismo 4, a favorite installment of the series.

GT Auto will also make a comeback, allowing players to maintain their cars with car washes and oil changes, as well as the Used Car Dealer, which may provide a bigger selection of automobiles. Vehicle Tuning and a Career Mode also seem to be returning, which is great news for those who were starved for those features and felt Gran Turismo Sport shorted them on the full campaign experience.

Of course, this new racing sim isn't just re-hashing the old. It comes complete with fresh graphics and brand new vehicles. The map also shows something called the GT Cafe, which sounds promising.

Much of the action within the trailer takes place at one location: Trial Mountain, which was not in Gran Turismo Sport but appeared in all the mainline games previous to that. This new Trial Mountain has some differences, such as a greater length. You'll also notice a forest clearing, a mountainous region with tunnels, and blind corners. In previous iterations this was an easy circuit to memorize, but its obstacles and size made it hard to get through quickly.

Other circuits that seem to be returning include Northern Isle Speedway, Blue Moon Bay Speedway, and Willow Springs, which players will remember from Gran Turismo Sport, and Daytona from Gran Turismo 6. The map shows even more circuits, many of which are familiar to fans through Gran Turismo Sport, including Laguna Seca, Circuit Sainte-Croix, Le Mans, Red Bull Ring, and Dragon Trail. 

The presence of all these circuits hint at the addition of more fan favorites from the main line, so you may even get to see tracks like El Capitan, Deep Forest Raceway, and Seattle Circuit.

Ah, the cars. Naturally, these are the real draw of Gran Turismo 7, and they look simply beautiful inside and out in the trailer. CNET Road Show writers went through and compiled a list of all the cars they could identify:

• Acura NSX and NSX GT3
• Aston Martin DB11 and DBR9
• BAC Mono
• Chevrolet C2 and C3 Corvettes
• Chevrolet C7 R
• Dodge Viper GTS and GT3
• Ford GT and GT40
• Jaguar E-Type
• Lamborghini Murciélago and Diablo
• Mazda RX-Vision GT3
• Porsche 917, Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche 996 GT1, vintage Porsche Carrera
• Subaru WRX GT3
• Toyota Supra GT

Of course, this is by no means a complete list, and the writers admit there are some obscure models they maybe didn't catch. Generally, though, everything points to a return to the more robust and well-loved Gran Turismo traditions fans have grown to love.