News regarding the ongoing development of Gran Turismo 7 has been thin. The racing game tentatively remains planned for release in 2021 on the PlayStation 5, but more specific details are rare. That's why it was surprising to see a new interview with Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi in the latest issue of Octane Japan, a vintage car-focused magazine. Yamauchi briefly discussed some plans for Gran Turismo 7 in terms of its approach and design.
Specifically, Yamauchi discusses the most recent release, Gran Turismo Sport, and how it has influenced the upcoming game. While Yamauchi acknowledges that Gran Turismo Sport didn't have the most confidence-inspiring launch, he said it did gain momentum over time in a way that previous Gran Turismo games didn't. That may be why Gran Turismo 7 is confirmed to have a Sport Mode inherited from Gran Turismo Sport.
That doesn't mean that Gran Turismo 7 will be entirely akin to Gran Turismo Sport. Yamauchi wants to assuage the worries of those who prefer the classic Gran Turismo games, saying Gran Turismo 7 will "return to the royal purpose" of the original four Gran Turismo games. While it has previously been said that Gran Turismo 7 will take inspiration from all previous titles in the series, Yamauchi's comments make clear the classical style of the series is not being ignored.
As for what the "royal purpose" of the Gran Turismo franchise was, Yamauchi doesn't clarify. When considering those original games, there are certain ideas that do stand out. Cutting-edge visuals and authentic recreation of existing cars are both pillars of the franchise. Even more important was the dedication to realism, and early Gran Turismo games often sacrificed making a larger racing experience to focus on the realistic details of racing. That, more than anything, is likely what Gran Turismo fans hope to see in Gran Turismo 7.
Gran Turismo 7 releases in 2021 on PS5.
Source: Octane Japan (via GTPlanet)