Gran Turismo 7 is continuing to innovate and improve by introducing Sophy to the game in its latest update. Polyphony Digital is making its futuristic AI Sophy available to all players starting today!
It's no exaggeration to say that the introduction of Sophy in Gran Turismo 7 update 1.29 could be the start of something very special for racing games. Sophy is the most advanced racing AI ever made and will spark a revolution in gaming if it's as impressive as Sony claims.
So, with Sophy being available very soon, what can we expect to see when we take to the track alongside it?
Gran Turismo 7 Sophy
Sophy is not a new concept. In fact, it was first announced just over a year ago and GT gamers have been excited to experience Sophy ever since. We've waited patiently, but the wait is over now!
Sophy is the most advanced racing video game AI ever created, Sony claim.
Not only is Sophy able to beat the fastest esports racers in the world (including previous GT World Champions) but it also races more like a human than any AI before it.
It's that dedication to being more real that sets Sophy apart from AI in all other racing games. Sony AI has been working on Sophy behind the scenes for years and ultimately will want it to improve and become a feature of Gran Turismo 8.
Experience Sophy
A new video from Gran Turismo has shown us that we can experience Sophy out on track when the latest GT7 update lands.
Sophy is still a work-in-progress and this update will effectively function as an open beta for gamers to test the new AI out.
Thanks to a new "Race Together" mode, gamers can race with Sophy for the first time. There are four races on offer at different circuits and with varying levels of difficulty.
Races around Tsukuba, Alsace - Village, Trial Mountain and Suzuka make it a quartet of races for you to enjoy. Each turns Sophy's pace up more than the last, and we know it's going to be a real challenge.
You'll be able to turn the difficulty to either Beginner, Intermediate, Expert or "1vs1" mode, where you'll be able to take on Sophy. There will be four Sophys out on track, Bleue, Rouge, Verte and Violette.
You'll also notice that the Sophys will have different emojis to represent emotions in real-time out on track. If they make a pass, they smile. If you hit them, they get angry, just like a real driver.
How Sophy was created
If you're wondering about how exactly Sony AI created Sophy, wonder no longer. Sony AI released the video below when Sophy was first publicly announced and it explains how this AI was made.
The amount of effort that Sony AI has gone through to create Sophy is admirable, and we know that it'll only continue to improve.
Keep in mind as well, if you're playing Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 4, you won't be able to enjoy Sophy. This feature is an exclusive for those playing GT7 on PS5.