Gran Turismo 7 is the most anticipated racing title in years. Following the online focus of Gran Turismo Sport, GT7 will be a return to what made the franchise famous, awesome single-player experiences.
With a renewed focus on single-player, comes increased demands on the AI drivers. Gaming has come a long way since the days of GT6, and expectations are high. Will Polyphony be able to deliver a modern racing experience for those racers that focus on offline play?
Latest news - New Sony AI to revolutionise GT
When we talk about games that are on the cutting edge of technology, Gran Turismo is one that is always up there. That appears to be the case with GT7 as well, as new innovations and inventions by Sony AI and Polyphony will revolutionise the gameplay of future GT's.
The CEO of Polyphony and GT creator Kazunori Yamauchi has said that GT7's AI was going to be better than in previous GT games. Going off some of the gameplay demos, that appears to be the case, as the AI has made visible strides since GT Sport on the PS4.
Polyphony and Sony AI have taken this up a level too, with the invention of Sophy. Sophy is a new AI that races like a human player while also being quicker than the fastest GT racers in the world.
Sophy won't be in GT7 for the game's launch but it has massive implications for video gaming. We believe it could revolutionise racing games and give GT a huge advantage over its rivals. Sony AI have released this video about the making of Sophy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l948hMaTPuo
Gran Turismo's aggressive AI issues
The GT series has always tried to give players an enjoyable racing experience, but sometimes the opposition has hampered that.
From easy and passive AI in previous titles to the overly aggressive drivers that are glued to the racing line regardless of your presence alongside them, it's been a mixed bag over the years.
GT7 aims to solve that though, and it absolutely must. In a world where the Formula 1 series and Assetto Corsa Competizione both have compelling single-player racing, Gran Turismo risks being left behind when it comes to offline gameplay.
AI improvements
In an interview with MeriStation, a Spanish outlet, Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi had some good news for fans when it comes to single-player and offline racing.
Yamauchi said “When it comes to AI development, it’s something you can never be entirely satisfied with, but compared to GT Sport, the AI is faster and they will drive in a more human way than they did in the past.”
What does that exactly mean? Well hopefully "more human" means AI that makes the odd mistake, crashes with other AI drivers, and doesn't circulate on rails every lap.
Separate difficulty and aggression sliders, similar to ACC, would make for a far more dynamic and engaging experience against the AI. Players need the ability to tweak their opponents so that races aren't impossible to win or too easy.
We'll have to wait to get a full look at how much control over the settings players will get though.
Daytona gameplay
The AI have undoubtedly been improved from GT Sport for GT7. Nothing shows this better than the latest gameplay trailer, which shows a thrilling lap around the Daytona International Speedway. The driver we spend the lap onboard with has some fantastic battles with the AI, and the AI battles with itself as well too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9jikqFiOnc
Gran Turismo 7 release date
We don't have to wait too much longer for Gran Turismo 7 to arrive. The game has an official release date of 4 March, 2022.
GT7 will release simultaneously on PS4 and PS5, so you won't need the new console to play GT7, but you will if you want to enjoy the best the game has to offer.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Gran Turismo