The upcoming mainline installment in Polyphony Digital’s popular racing sim series was reportedly set to launch on the PlayStation 5. However, according to recent information, it turns out that PS4 owners will have yet another reason not to upgrade as Gran Turismo 7 is also going to be available for the PS4 at launch.
Gran Turismo 7 Confirmed as Cross-Generational Title
Gran Turismo 7 is now joining the list of upcoming next-gen titles that were reportedly supposed to be on the PlayStation 5 only. Earlier this year, Gran Turismo 7 was confirmed to be delayed from its original 2021 release date. Now, we know that the delay isn’t the only thing that’s going to change for Gran Turismo 7. According to PlayStation Studios head, Hermen Hulst, Gran Turismo won’t be exclusive to PlayStation 5 launch. In an interview for the Official PlayStation Podcast, Hulst talked a lot about PlayStation’s biggest first-party titles. This includes Gran Turismo 7, which will be launching on both the PS4 and the PS5. Speaking of launching on both the PS4 and PS5, the God of War sequel is also going to be available as a cross-generational title. Unfortunately, Hulst’s latest news regarding the God of War sequel wasn’t exactly all positive. Hulst also said during the interview that the next God of War game will not release in 2021. During the interview, Hulst clarified that Sony is still very much including the 7-year-old PS4 in its future game development plans. He explains that simply walking away from the millions of PS4 owners out there would not be “very good business”. Thus, Hulst reaffirms Sony’s stand at making sure that future PlayStation games will be available on both the PS4 and PS5. Among the games Hulst singled out as cross-generational titles are: Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and the next God of War game. The most surprising bit about this is how Gran Turismo 7 is releasing on the PS4. Previously, Sony marketed Gran Turismo 7 as a PS5-exclusive. Meanwhile, in the same leaked investor report that listed the Uncharted 4 PC port, Sony added the next God of War title as part of its lineup of upcoming PS5 titles.
What’s Next for Sony?
2021 seems to be a year where Sony has backtracked a lot on its initial decisions. The choice to make Gran Turismo 7 and the next God of War game available on both the PS4 and PS5 is just the latest example. Only a couple of months ago, Sony confirmed that it was going to close down the online storefronts of PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 3. However, as a result of the backlash, Sony changed its mind just a couple of weeks later. With that said, it does make a lot of sense for Sony not to alienate PS4 owners. After all, a lot of them are more than willing to drop some hefty amount of cash for a PlayStation 5. The only problem is that getting one is much easier said than done. Perhaps this is Sony’s way of acknowledging that the PS5 stock shortage is going to last a bit longer. We’re just hoping that this decision doesn’t end up haunting Sony and its first-party studios later on. The few times that we’ve seen what were supposed to be next-gen titles showed us just how beautiful they will look on the PlayStation 5. By making the same games also available on the PS4, the onus is on the studios to make sure that the games run just as well on the older console. Otherwise, the studio risks following the path of Cyberpunk 2077.
