Polyphony Digital’s PS5-exclusive racing title, Gran Turismo 7, will officially be delayed into 2022. The development comes after Sony revealed more time in its production was needed due to pandemic-related hold-ups.
“GT7 has been impacted by Covid-related challenges and therefore will shift from 2021 to 2022,” a Sony spokesman told British GQ in an interview with PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan. Ryan did not elaborate on what these exact challenges were, but it was said the pandemic has affected “critical aspects of game production.”
A possible delay was first rumored last December when an altered PlayStation advertisement removed fine print detailing a “first half 2021” launch window for the next-gen title.
The series has a history of struggling to reach intended release dates, with Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 5 each receiving lengthy delays. However, fans will now see the longest gap between installments in franchise history.
When Gran Turismo 7 does eventually land on shelves, it is said to serve fans of all games in the franchise. Speaking to GTplanet, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi dispelled the next entry “will be a combination of the past, present, and future — a complete form of Gran Turismo.”
In in its reveal at Sony’s “The Future of Gaming” presentation in 2020, GT7’s first footage of gameplay showcased the return of the GT Simulation campaign mode and Gran Turismo Sport-introduced GT Sport mode. It is also expected to feature haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, thanks to the PS5’s DualSense controller.
