Gradually, with more manufacturers embracing the technology in recent years, virtual reality headsets have become more commonplace in living rooms and PC gaming rigs. While Microsoft has essentially stayed on the sidelines in the VR arena, Sony unveiled its first PSVR headset for the PS4 in 2016. Racing titles have always showcased the exciting possibilities of the technology and the VR mode in Gran Turismo Sport was one of the most played virtual reality experiences to date. Recently, to welcome the new PSVR 2, Sony released a much-anticipated update to enable the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode and improved upon GT Sport's virtual reality capabilities, bringing racing realism to a new level.

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Packing an OLED HDR display at a 2000 x 2040 per-eye resolution, Gran Turismo 7 VR is an opportunity to drive the fastest cars on the planet as if a player is at the wheel inside a stunningly detailed cockpit. Beyond the graphics, Sony has released a number of audio and gameplay enhancements that compliments the VR experience and makes Gran Turismo 7 an even more authentic driving simulator.

The following is everything a player needs to know before strapping on a PSVR 2 headset and lining up on the starting grid of a GT 7 race.

10 Yes It's Really Free

Gran Turismo 7 VR Update

For many players who have experienced the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode, they remark that it's almost like playing an entirely different racing game. Yet, unlike other titles designed for VR including the nearly full-priced Horizon: Call of the Mountain, VR in Gran Turismo 7 unlocks after downloading a free update file of over 7 GB.

The file size seems small for all the features that it enables, especially when it comes with some new cars and tracks as well. Most likely, the foundation for the VR mode already existed in the game, and the patch simply activates this functionality.

9 Dynamic 3D Audio

3D Audio in Gran Turismo 7 VR

Sony experienced some blowback when it first revealed that the PS5 would not support Dolby Atmos audio. Instead, the company employs its own Tempest 3D AudioTech, geared toward headset users while gaming as opposed to movie-watching with cinema speakers.

Sony's 3D audio provides spatial audio effects, making a gamer feel more immersed in a title, but the company enhanced the technology further for Gran Turismo 7 VR compatibility. Using the included PSVR 2 earbuds, drivers are now surrounded by a racing soundscape at a level never experienced before, with head movements impacting what they hear.

8 VR Replays

Replay Gran Turismo 7 VR

During the build-up to the Gran Turismo 7 PS5 release date, gamers learned that certain graphical enhancements would only appear during replays after races and in cut scenes just prior to the start of races. Replays showcasing GT 7's ray tracing with its stunning lighting and shadows are almost as enjoyable to watch as driving in the races.

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There is a replay system specifically designed for the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode, though it lacks many options available for conventional replays. After a race, drivers transport to a viewing distance near the trackside, instead of having the opportunity to see the action from inside various cockpits.

7 Wheel Or Controller Required

Gran Turismo 7 VR Controller

The PSVR 2 includes a pair of Sense motion controllers, but in Gran Turismo 7, racers will have to use either a standard PS5 controller or a compatible steering wheel. While it may seem like that means GT 7 is not taking full advantage of the PSVR 2, immersive motion controllers or wands lack the precision required when controller a car at insane speeds.

Fortunately, anyone who has used a steering wheel or PS5 controller for more than a few minutes should quickly adjust to not actually looking at the peripherals with a headset on. However, that may not be the case if PSVR 2 owners want to give family members foreign to gaming a quick spin in the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode.

6 Eye-Tracking

Eye Tracking in Gran Turismo 7 VR

One of the most exciting features of VR is eye-tracking giving gamers the ability to change their point of view in a game simply by moving their heads to the side or up and down. The Gran Turismo 7 VR mode takes full advantage of this technology, allowing racers to view every part of the cockpit and outside the windows, from the same perspective as a real-life driver.

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Eye-tracking is more than just an immersive experience in Gran Turismo 7, as it allows racers to see how much space there is between them and other cars, and discover what dangers lurk around sharp corners sooner than usual.

5 Which Modes are VR Compatible?

Game modes in Gran Turismo 7 VR.

Some VR-enabled titles in the past have limited gamers to certain modes and features and don't provide the same experience as playing the title without a headset. Gran Turismo 7 is an example of one game where drivers can seamlessly switch back and forth between VR and non-VR and have their progress maintained in most game modes.

Gran Turismo 7 players can enjoy single-player menu book challenges and online multiplayer races in virtual reality, but split-screen head-to-head action with racers in the same room is one exception to an otherwise complete VR experience.

4 Options for Adjusting Seat Position

Cockpit View in Gran Turismo 7 VR

The most advanced racing simulators, including Assetto Corsa Competizione, allow drivers to adjust their position in the cockpit to provide the best perspective while maintaining a sense of realism. Unfortunately, camera options are sparse in the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode, so drivers looking to fine-tune the height of their seat or change their viewing angle are mostly out of luck.

Many of the camera adjustments normally available in Gran Turismo 7 are grayed out when using the PSVR 2. One partial workaround gamers have discovered involves using the PS5 controller's Options button while crouching as low as possible, which will then reposition the player higher up in the cockpit.

3 All Cars and Tracks in VR

Cars and Tracks in Gran Turismo 7 VR

A testament to the depth of the Gran Turismo VR experience is the fact that drivers can choose the same fastest cars or best tracks they normally could select without using the PSVR 2 headset. The highly detailed cockpits of each car are now appreciated like never before since drivers can examine the side doors or floors with a turn of a head.

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Included in the VR compatibility update, Gran Turismo 7 fans will appreciate five new cars, highlighted by a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera and a 1965 Honda RA272 Formula One racing car. Also, the Gran Turismo classic track Grand Valley returns complete with drastic corners that challenge even the best drivers.

2 Sophy Introduces More Realistic AI Competition

Sophy in Gran Turismo 7

In a project that started years ago, Sony and Gran Turismo 7's Polyphony Digital collaborated with AI developers to create Sophy. The intent of Sophy is to create AI drivers that race more like humans, learning from mistakes and reacting emotionally to events on the track.

Polyphony Digital utilized the arrival of the Gran Turismo 7 VR mode to introduce Sophy for the first time in a limited series of challenges. Since virtual reality brings a new level of realism to GT 7, it only makes sense to have drivers compete against AI that is smarter and more human-like. Drivers should be aware that if they wrong Sophy during a race, the AI car just might take it personally.

1 VR Showroom

VR Showroom in Gran Turismo 7

The VR Showroom, unlocked with the recent Gran Turismo 7 update, is not a feature that received much attention in the months leading up to the mode's release, but it is an enthralling experience on its own.

In the new VR Showroom, with 12 backgrounds to choose from, players can obsess over every detail of a car and examine the finest details of their racing machines previously overlooked. Players can even open doors and inspect the interiors of hundreds of automotive classics and modern supercars in GT 7's VR Showroom, just as a very fortunate prospective buyer would at a dealership.

Gran Turismo 7 with its VR mode is available now on the PS5.

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