The Gran Turismo series is one of the longest-running simulation racing series. First started in 1997, the series has since released more than ten games, and the list continues to grow as time passes. Gran Turismo 7 was the last and latest mainline game in the series, having just arrived on both the PlayStation 4 and 5 on March 4, 2022. Developed by Tokyo-based Polyphony Digital, the studio is one of the many subsidiaries of the Sony PlayStation company. The popularity of Gran Turismo has reached far and wide since its reception, with the series having sold more than 90 million copies as of November 2022. And now, fans of Gran Turismo have been waiting eagerly for the release of Gran Turismo 8.
Developing games these days, especially big-budget ones, takes a considerable amount of time. At the very least, a minimum of two years is guaranteed, and even that is stretching a bit. Games, no matter the genre, are getting bigger in scope. And so are the expectations of the fans. The mainline Gran Turismo games have started to fluctuate when it comes to their release. The development time between Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7 was about 5 years. That’s how long it took for Polyphony to develop Gran Turismo 7. And now that it’s already here, when will Gran Turismo 8 be released? Let’s find out.
Gran Turismo 8 Release Date, Platforms, & More Details
While there isn’t really a confirmed release window for Gran Turismo 8, we do know that the development of the next game has already begun. Kazunori Yamauchi, the CEO of Polyphony Digital and the creator of the series, hinted at GT8’s development in an interview back in February of 2023, with Japanese magazine – Game Watch. Here’s what he said:
“I’m starting to run towards the next one, but I can’t tell you yet. It’s a pity that I can’t talk much.”
-translated
Considering Gran Turismo 7 just released on March 4th, 2022, we speculate that the next mainline installment in the franchise, which is expected to be Gran Turismo 8, will probably get released between the years 2026-2027. As we said earlier, it took Polyphony around 5 years to develop GT 7 after the release of GT Sport, so based on this, it’s most likely that the previously stated years will be when we get Gran Turismo 8. Moreover, Sony considers the GT series to be one of its flagships, so just hurrying up the development schedule will result in an underwhelming game.
Additionally, we are 100% sure that Gran Turismo 8 will never see its launch on other platforms like the Xbox Series X/S and the Nintendo Switch. We aren’t currently sure about a PC port since GT7 itself was a PlayStation exclusive.
All we can say about GT 8 regarding its platform release is that it is likely for the game to be available on the PlayStation console, probably the PS5 or the latest-gen console. But note that the predicted release window could get stretched out if Polyphony Digital decides to work on a spin-off title or an entirely new IP.
However, the chances of a new IP being in the works are quite high. Kazunori Yamauchi did express his desire to work on a new IP back in 2021. Here’s what he said:
“Well, I intend to continue Gran Turismo going forward, which will be in the same boat as the car culture and automobile industry. At the same time, I would like to also do something different.”
Nothing is ever certain in the gaming world. Many new and old games get canceled midway through their production, and some don’t even leave the concept stage. For now, fans only have the option to wait and watch. The upcoming years will surely be filled with leaks and rumors about Gran Turismo 8. We will be keeping an eye out for them, so make sure to visit DigiStatement for more details on the Gran Turismo series.
Also, read: Gran Turismo 7 not connecting to server: How to fix it
