Gran Turismo 7 received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for itsgraphics and gameplay. However, player reception was more negative, with criticism of its use ofmicrotransactions and focus ongrinding. The game was subject to intensereview bombing onMetacritic, receiving the lowest Metascore for a Sony-published title.
Gran Turismo 7 features the return of the single player campaign, GT Simulation Mode.[3][4] Other returning features are the return of traditional racing tracks and vehicles, Special Events, Championships, Driving School, Tuning Parts Shop, Used Cars dealership, and GT Auto while still retaining the new GT Sport Mode, Brand Central, and Discover (now labelled Showcase) that were introduced inGran Turismo Sport.[2] The player needs to progress through tasks ("Menu Books") from the GT Café to unlock features like multiplayer, and all tracks and cars.[5][6]
The game features the return of dynamic time and weather effects, which previously appeared inGran Turismo 5 andGran Turismo 6.[7] Despite the game including a single player campaign, like withGran Turismo Sport, the game requires a constant internet connection in order for players to be able to save their progress. The series creatorKazunori Yamauchi explains that this decision was made to prevent cheating. Arcade mode is fully playable offline.[8]
For the PlayStation 5 version, the game takes advantage of the console's increased processing power, dedicatedray-tracing hardware, customsolid-state drive storage, Tempest Engine, andDualSense controller to support features such as advancedhaptic technology feedback, adaptive triggers, real-timeray tracing effects,3D spatial audio, and reduced loading times.[9][10][11][12] The PlayStation 5 version ofGran Turismo 7 also runs at4K resolution and 60frames per second with support forhigh dynamic range, a significant improvement to performance on original PlayStation 4 consoles which run in1080p.[13] In addition, drivers fromGran Turismo'sesports competition, theGran Turismo World Series (previously theFIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championships utilizingGran Turismo Sport), appear as AI opponents and License Test coaches.[14]
In a July 2019 interview with GTPlanet, a fan website dedicated to theGran Turismo series, Yamauchi stated that the nextGran Turismo title is in active development.[15] Yamauchi confirmed that there would be a focus on fine tuning the classic GT experience, and added: "I think the next title that we're going to create will be a combination of the past, present and future – a complete form ofGran Turismo."[15]
Seven-timeFormula One world driver's championLewis Hamilton reprised his role as the Maestro of the series fromGran Turismo Sport. On the day of the game's release,Gran Turismo 7 was removed from sale in Russia, although Sony had not made a formal decision at the time.[25] On March 9, four days after its release, PlayStation announced that it would halt sales of its games, includingGran Turismo 7, in Russia in response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[26]
Polyphony Digital'ssound design team experimented with over 50 microphone types to capture the best car audio. They recorded cars onhub dynamometers at locations in Japan, Europe, and North America. Additional recording took place with the cars driving on closed courses. Microphones were placed at the intake, engine, exhaust, and cabin of each vehicle. Tire noise on various surfaces was also captured. In-game audio playback utilizesambisonics for realistic 3D audio.[27]
The 1.29 update was released on February 20, 2023, which included thePS VR2 upgrade, and a time-limited events that will offer a glimpse of the new AI Sophy.[32] The new AI would adapt to the level of the player and make use of advanced techniques like drafting.[33] The 1.32 update, released on April 27, 2023, continued the series' partnership with theSuper Formula Championship, adding theDallara SF23 shortly after its debut in the2023 Super Formula Championship; on launch, the game featured theDallara SF19, a vehicle that had featured previously in the previous title,Gran Turismo Sport.[34]
On 6 December 2024, the free-to-playMy First Gran Turismo[b] was released for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The game is effectively a demo version ofGran Turismo 7 and features 18 cars and three tracks. The cars can be imported into the main game after unlocking them all.[35] The PlayStation 5 version of the game includes support for PlayStation VR2.[36]
Gran Turismo 7 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according toreview aggregator websiteMetacritic.[38] Hands-on of theGran Turismo 7 VR support on thePS VR2 was overwhelmingly positive, with one editor describing it as "the best console virtual reality experience to date."[55][56][57]
While disliking the monetization,Ars Technica praised the implementation of license tests, and said that "Polyphony has struck a good balance here. The threshold for achieving a bronze finish in each test is relatively easy to reach, but getting all golds might be a time-consuming and frustrating experience, depending on your skill."[58]
The Verge liked the title'sDualSense features, writing "it's the best showcase for the DualSense I've yet to see. The vibrations in the controller do a convincing job of simulating various surfaces, conditions, and degrees of traction... You can even feel the pressure release in anti-lock brake systems."[59]Eurogamer enjoyed the GT Cafe, singling out the characters as a memorable part of it, and commented: "Of all the many twists and turns... the visual novel might well be the most surprising yet. What's perhaps more surprising isGran Turismo 7 lands it remarkably well, giving its campaign an oddball character all of its own."[60]
Polygon felt the visuals were "cutting edge" but criticized how long it took to unlock cars, and stated: "The rate at which you earn credits feels slow, with many desirable cars remaining out of reach long into the game... Just keeping up with the entry requirements of events can necessitate going off-piste to grind for credits."[61]Destructoid liked the amount of ways that were available to tackle courses, feeling it added more variety to the game, and said: "You can do a classic reverse racing situation, as well as dabble in parts of the track... take on time trials, free play lobbies (where you can just drive around and chill), arcade mode, and events."[39]
Game Informer praised the feel of driving, especially the handling of terrain, "elevation changes, weather, driving surface, road bank, vehicle downforce, and countless other factors seamlessly contribute to whether you successfully carry your momentum into a turn or spin out into the grass."[42]GamesRadar+ enjoyed the amount of content available, calling it "an absolutely gargantuan game," but criticized the performance, noting hitches and occasional crashes.[45]IGN feltGran Turismo 7 recreated the spirit of prior entries but felt the car selection was limited relative to competitors likeForza, and commented: "With a few exceptions, most manufacturers' ranges tend to top out at around 2017. If you're expecting to see quite a few high-profile cars from the last two or three years here, like the latest McLarens or any Tesla built since 2012, you may be disappointed."[47]
Gran Turismo 7 was the subject ofreview bombing on Metacritic two weeks after release, following changes made to the game throughpatches.[62][63] It received the lowest Metacritic user rating for a game published by Sony.[64][65][66] Criticism focused on its aggressive use ofmicrotransactions and the focus ongrinding to unlock in-game currency and content. Players mentioned that updates to the game increased the time needed to grind, as well as reducing the amount of rewards gained, feeling it encouraged spending real-world money onmicrotransactions.[62][66][67][68] The pricing of items was labelled by some as being too expensive,[67] as certain cars could cost as much as US$200.[69][70][71] The game's 1.07 version update led to adowntime that lasted 30 hours as a result ofserver maintenance; thealways-online DRM requirement meant players were limited to the game's offline modes.[67][72][73]
During the first month of release, Polyphony president Kazunori Yamauchi wrote that while he wished for players to enjoy content without microtransactions, he felt it important that cars reflected the prices of their real-world counterparts to "convey their value and rarity."[74] His statement drew some criticism.[64][66] Several days later, Yamauchi apologized for the outage and the changes made to the in-game economy, and announced Polyphony would implement a series of updates from April 2022 to make progression fairer. As compensation, all players who had bought the game before March 25 would receive one million credits—the equivalent of US$10—of in-game currency, available until the following month.[75][76][77]
In Japan, it launched with 139,964 physical units sold in its first week, making it the best-selling game of the week.[78] It sold over 190,000 physical units in Japan during its launch month, making it the second best-selling game of the month in the country (belowKirby and the Forgotten Land).[79] By March 26, 2023, 300,682 units of the game had been sold in Japan.[80]
In the United States, it set a franchise record with the highest-grossing launch month sales for aGran Turismo title, despite ranking number two in its debut month (second only toElden Ring).[81] It became the 13th best-selling game of 2022 in the US.[82]
In the United Kingdom,Gran Turismo 7 was the best-selling game in its first week of release,[83] and remained number one the following week.[84] It reached number 1 in Switzerland.[85] In Germany, over 200,000 units of the game had been sold by the end of March 2022.[86] By the end of January 2023, over 400,000 units of the game had been sold in Germany.[87]
