Sony and Polyphony Digital have announced the next entry in the popular Gran Turismo franchise. Racing fans have a lot to look forward to in Gran Turismo Sport including an intriguing partnership with the International Automobile Federation.
Unveiled at the annual Paris Games Week trade show, the first thing you need to know is that this is not Gran Turismo 7. It's a totally new game that'll be more substantial than earlier Prologue titles designed to hold fans over until the next major release.
Jim Ryan, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's president and CEO, said that in the old days when games were offline, the experience was defined by what is on the disc. When the game becomes more of an online connected experience, that distinction blurs.
Gran Turismo Sport will feature three modes of play: campaign, sports mode and arcade mode. The partnership with the International Automobile Federation will allow for two online virtual championships via a Nations Cup and a Manufacturers Cup. Winners of each will be presented with real-life awards at a ceremony in Paris.
A beta for Gran Turismo Sport is scheduled to arrive early next year. The game, being exclusively developed for the PlayStation 4, will also be compatible with Sony's virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR. Hopefully Sony and Polyphony Digital will be able to stick to the 2016 launch window.