The physically-based materials used in Gran Turismo are amongst some of the best in the business. Being built on that engine means the same industry-leading HDR and lighting quality are present to deliver consistent and accurate cars and interiors that are convincing as they differentiate themselves with excellent micro-facet behavior and energy consumption properties. These were already convincing in GT Sport, and what we see here is an iteration or two further from that 2017 release. The PlayStation 5’s Ray Tracing hardware empowers Polyphony to increase the realism and accuracy of the car models and all materials. Doubly nice, it’s not exclusive to the PlayStation 5 version, meaning PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro players are not left wanting. That’s not the only big addition though, as a full dynamic weather and cloud simulation system is now present in the engine, a welcome addition since the feature debuted in Driveclub many years ago.

Polyphony has always strived for photorealism, and thanks to the power of the PlayStation 5 it’s made another leap here – especially when it comes to Ray Tracing, though that does come with some limitations we will discuss later. Our Gran Turismo 7 review gave the game a 9, in no small part thanks to the stunning visuals on display. Only time will tell if this game will steal hours upon hours from me the way Gran Turismo 3 did, but so far, I'm having a great time with the latest from Polyphony Digital.Gran Turismo, the RPG of racers, returns with the seventh entry in this long running series – so long as you go by the numbers at least. The series hasn't held my attention to that extent in the time since, but even in my early stages, I can feel Gran Turismo 7 begin to sink its hooks in me. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec captivated me more than two decades ago and was perhaps the most-played game on my PlayStation 2. Not only that, but it appeals heavily to the collector in me, continually encouraging me to build as robust a garage of vehicles as I can. Whether you're competing in white-knuckled races over the course of several laps, completing activities to satisfy special missions, or racking up mileage in special time trials set to musical playlists, Gran Turismo 7 offers a diverse set of content. That means you won't be exploring a vast, open world or launching yourself off ramps, but there is plenty of fun to be had.

Unlike Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7 is a sim racer that takes place on closed tracks.

Gran turismo 7 playstation 4