Today has already been a huge day for PlayStation news, with Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst offering new updates on several of Sony's biggest upcoming projects through an interview on PlayStation Blog. God of War got its long-rumored delay into 2022 and Horizon Forbidden West's 2021 release was confirmed to currently be on track, although Hulst hinted that it's not set in stone just yet.
However, a new announcement was made about one of PlayStation's other big upcoming exclusives during the interview, with Hulst confirming that Gran Turismo 7 will be a cross-gen game. The upcoming racing sequel will hit both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 when it launches next year.
Hulst revealed the news while talking about the importance of continuing to support the PlayStation 4, claiming that "you can’t build a community of over 110 million PS4 owners and then just walk away from it." He went on to reveal that several upcoming PlayStation exclusives will also offer previous generation ports, listing Horizon Forbidden West, the upcoming God of War, and Gran Turismo 7. It seems the strategy is to continue supporting the PlayStation 4 while ensuring there's still an incentive to pick up a PlayStation 5, with the next-generation console offering exclusive experiences such as Demon's Souls, Returnal, and the upcoming Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.
As for Gran Turismo 7, little has been shared about the game since its delay earlier this year, with PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan telling GQ Magazine that the game had been heavily afflicted by "Covid-related production challenges." He did promise that more news about the game would come when it's available, alluding to a long wait for fans of the iconic racing franchise.
As for the game itself, developer Polyphony Digital delivered a striking announcement trailer last year and has provided plenty of interesting gameplay details in the months since, including the fact it will boast speedy loading times, 4K visuals, 60 FPS gameplay, and a return to the classic Gran Turismo formula. Its trailer came during the PlayStation 5 reveal event, offering a cinematic look at the game as well as some gameplay, as players raced around an array of stunning tracks in various high-powered sports cars. The title was praised by fans for its enhanced visuals, with the footage showing off next-level reflections and lighting.
As for other parts of Hermen Hulst's interview, the PlayStation Studios head discusses single-player games, the number of titles currently in production at Sony's various studios, and the importance of focusing on new IPs. It's clear Sony has a lot on in the works right now in addition to Gran Turismo 7, and is pushing to deliver fans plenty of exclusive games for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
Gran Turismo 7 is slated to launch next year on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Source: PlayStation Blog, GQ Magazine