Gradually, with more manufacturers embracing the technology in recent years, virtual reality headsets have become more commonplace in living rooms and PC gaming rigs. While Microsoft has essentially stayed on the sidelines in the VR arena, Sony unveiled its first PSVR headset for the PS4 in 2016.Racing titles have always showcased the exciting possibilities of the technologyand the VR mode inGran Turismo Sportwas one of the most played virtual reality experiences to date. Recently, to welcome the new PSVR 2, Sony released a much-anticipated update to enable theGran Turismo 7VR mode and improved uponGT Sport’s virtual reality capabilities, bringing racing realism to a new level.
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Packing an OLED HDR display at a 2000 x 2040 per-eye resolution,Gran Turismo 7VR is an opportunity to drive the fastest cars on the planet as if a player is at the wheel inside a stunningly detailed cockpit. Beyond the graphics, Sony has released a number of audio and gameplay enhancements that compliments the VR experience and makesGran Turismo 7an even more authentic driving simulator.
The following is everything a player needs to know before strapping on a PSVR 2 headset and lining up on the starting grid of aGT 7race.
10Yes It’s Really Free
For many players who have experienced theGran Turismo 7VR mode, they remark that it’s almost like playing an entirely different racing game. Yet, unlike other titles designed for VR including the nearly full-pricedHorizon: Call of the Mountain, VR inGran Turismo 7unlocks after downloading a free update file of over 7 GB.
The file size seems small for all the features that it enables, especially when it comes with some new cars and tracks as well. Most likely, the foundation for the VR mode already existed in the game, and the patch simply activates this functionality.
9Dynamic 3D Audio
Sony experienced some blowback when it first revealed that the PS5 would not support Dolby Atmos audio. Instead, the company employs its ownTempest 3D AudioTech, geared toward headsetusers while gaming as opposed to movie-watching with cinema speakers.
Sony’s 3D audio provides spatial audio effects, making a gamer feel more immersed in a title, but the company enhanced the technology further forGran Turismo 7 VRcompatibility. Using the included PSVR 2 earbuds, drivers are now surrounded by a racing soundscape at a level never experienced before, with head movements impacting what they hear.
8VR Replays
During the build-up to theGran Turismo 7PS5 release date, gamers learned that certain graphical enhancements would only appear during replays after races and in cut scenes just prior to the start of races. Replays showcasingGT 7’s ray tracing with its stunning lighting and shadows are almost as enjoyable to watch as driving in the races.
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There is a replay system specifically designed for theGran Turismo 7VR mode, though it lacks many options available for conventional replays. After a race, drivers transport to a viewing distance near the trackside, instead of having the opportunity to see the action from inside various cockpits.
7Wheel Or Controller Required
The PSVR 2 includes a pair of Sense motion controllers, but inGran Turismo 7, racers will have to use either a standard PS5 controller or a compatible steering wheel. While it may seem like that meansGT 7is not taking full advantage of the PSVR 2,immersive motion controllers or wandslack the precision required when controller a car at insane speeds.
Fortunately, anyone who has used a steering wheel or PS5 controller for more than a few minutes should quickly adjust to not actually looking at the peripherals with a headset on. However, that may not be the case if PSVR 2 owners want to give family members foreign to gaming a quick spin in theGran Turismo 7VR mode.
6Eye-Tracking
One of the most exciting features of VR is eye-tracking giving gamers the ability to change their point of view in a game simply by moving their heads to the side or up and down. TheGran Turismo 7VR mode takes full advantage of this technology, allowing racers to view every part of the cockpit and outside the windows, from the same perspective as a real-life driver.
Eye-tracking is more than just an immersive experience inGran Turismo 7, as it allows racers to see how much space there is between them and other cars, and discover what dangers lurk around sharp corners sooner than usual.
5Which Modes are VR Compatible?
Some VR-enabled titles in the past have limited gamers to certain modes and features and don’t provide the same experience as playing the title without a headset.Gran Turismo 7is an example of one game where drivers can seamlessly switch back and forth between VR and non-VR and have their progress maintained in most game modes.
Gran Turismo 7players can enjoy single-player menu book challengesand online multiplayer races in virtual reality, but split-screen head-to-head action with racers in the same room is one exception to an otherwise complete VR experience.
4Options for Adjusting Seat Position
The most advanced racing simulators, includingAssetto Corsa Competizione, allow drivers to adjust their position in the cockpit to provide the best perspective while maintaining a sense of realism. Unfortunately, camera options are sparse in theGran Turismo 7VR mode, so drivers looking to fine-tune the height of their seat or change their viewing angle are mostly out of luck.
Many of thecamera adjustments normally available inGran Turismo 7are grayed out when using the PSVR 2. One partial workaround gamers have discovered involves using the PS5 controller’s Options button while crouching as low as possible, which will then reposition the player higher up in the cockpit.
3All Cars and Tracks in VR
A testament to the depth of theGran TurismoVR experience is the fact that drivers can choose the same fastest carsor best tracks they normally could select without using the PSVR 2 headset. The highly detailed cockpits of each car are now appreciated like never before since drivers can examine the side doors or floors with a turn of a head.
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Included in the VR compatibility update,Gran Turismo 7fans will appreciate five new cars, highlighted by a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera and a 1965 Honda RA272 Formula One racing car. Also, theGran Turismoclassic track Grand Valley returns complete with drastic corners that challenge even the best drivers.
2Sophy Introduces More Realistic AI Competition
In a project that started years ago, Sony andGran Turismo 7’s Polyphony Digital collaborated with AI developers to create Sophy. The intent of Sophy is to create AI drivers that race more like humans, learning from mistakes and reacting emotionally to events on the track.
Polyphony Digital utilized the arrival of theGran Turismo 7VR mode to introduce Sophy for the first time in a limited series of challenges. Since virtual reality brings a new level of realism toGT 7, it only makes sense to have drivers compete against AI that is smarter and more human-like. Drivers should be aware that if they wrong Sophy during a race, the AI car just might take it personally.
1VR Showroom
The VR Showroom, unlocked with the recentGran Turismo 7update, is not a feature that received much attention in the months leading up to the mode’s release, but it is an enthralling experience on its own.
In the new VR Showroom, with 12 backgrounds to choose from, players can obsess over every detail of a car and examine the finest details of their racing machines previously overlooked. Players can even open doors and inspect the interiors ofhundreds of automotive classics and modern supercars inGT 7’s VR Showroom, just as a very fortunate prospective buyer would at a dealership.
Gran Turismo 7with its VR mode is available now on the PS5.
