Gran Turismo 8 – Latest News And Release Date

With the recent Gran Turismo 8 announcement, we look into the release date, new features, and expanded car and track rosters.

Since its introduction in 1997, the Gran Turismo series has been the ultimate racing title in the PlayStation lineup, and expectations are high as we prepare for Gran Turismo 8, the ninth major release in the series..

Gran Turismo 7, released in March 2022, brought the franchise back to its roots with the return of the GT Simulation mode while also expanding on the online features introduced in GT Sport.

While details are still scarce, series creator Kazunori “Kaz” Yamauchi confirmed that Gran Turismo 8 (GT8) development is underway and began less than a year after the release of GT7.

Fans are hoping for even more cars, tracks, and features, along with the cutting-edge graphics, physics, and attention to detail that have become hallmarks of the series.

With growing competition in the racing and drifting sim sector, Polyphony Digital is undoubtedly looking to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether that means maximizing the current PS5 hardware or waiting for the next-gen PS6 remains to be seen, a topic we’ll explore shortly.

In the meantime, despite the team’s focus on GT8, Gran Turismo 7 continues to evolve with regular updates, adding new content and refining the experience.

While GT7 has earned plenty of praise from critics and players, it has also faced criticism on various aspects, which fans hope to see addressed in GT8.

Let’s look at the latest news, rumors, and leaks as we discuss everything we know about the upcoming Gran Turismo 8 release.

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Gran Turismo 8 Release Date

Based on past release cycles, Gran Turismo 8 will unlikely arrive in 2025. Given what we know, a release window between 2026 and 2028 is expected.

Although series creator Kaz Yamauchi confirmed that the next game in the series is officially in early development, there still seems to be a long road ahead.

There’s also a chance that the next title could also be a smaller spin-off (similar to Prologue or Sport) rather than a full-fledged sequel.

Gran Turismo Release Cycle

Here’s the current cycle from the classic PlayStation release up until now. The main games are in bold, alongside the smaller spin-offs:

• 1997: Gran Turismo
• 1999: Gran Turismo 2 (2 years)
• 2001: Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2 years)
  • Gran Turismo Concept
  • Gran Turismo 4 Prologue
• 2004: Gran Turismo 4 (3 years)
  • Gran Turismo HD Concept
  • Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
  • Gran Turismo (PSP)
• 2010: Gran Turismo 5 (6 years)
• 2013: Gran Turismo 6 (3 years)
• 2017: Gran Turismo Sport (4 years)
• 2022: Gran Turismo 7 (5 years)

The studio is known for its perfectionist approach to game development, often taking several years between major releases. This commitment to quality has been a hallmark of the Gran Turismo series since its inception in 1997.

Each PlayStation generation has historically seen two major Gran Turismo releases, with the second typically pushing the console’s hardware capabilities. However, this pattern may change due to longer development cycles in modern games.

There was nearly a decade between GT6 (2013) and GT7 (2022), although GT Sport (2017) filled the gap. Even counting GT Sport as a mainline entry, there was still a five-year gap to GT7.

Given these trends, don’t expect Gran Turismo 8 to hit the shelves anytime soon.

This long wait comes down to how crazy complicated and expensive big-budget games have become, plus Polyphony’s obsession with taking each release to the next level.

Hardware also plays a massive role in when GT8 will hit the market.

While it could be released late in the PS5’s lifecycle, there’s a good chance it won’t arrive until the PlayStation 6 era (sorry to be the bearers of bad news!), as they’ve used this strategy before.

Polyphony has always used Gran Turismo to showcase the capabilities of PlayStation consoles, and they’re likely to consider even beefier hardware to push GT8 to its limits.

As development continues, seeing how Polyphony builds upon Gran Turismo 7’s foundation will be interesting.

Despite Kaz only dropping a few teasers so far, the media and fans have (unsurprisingly) been speculating on what’s yet to come.

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Gran Turismo 8 Confirmed News

When Kaz confirmed that the new GT game is underway, he hinted at a “theme” during an interview with Japanese media outlet Game Watch but remains tight-lipped on specifics.

The translation stated, “Actually, there is a theme. I’m starting to run towards the next one, but I can’t talk about it yet. It’s a shame that I can’t talk about it very often.”

These teasers have led to speculation that Gran Turismo 8 could be another spin-off, similar to Gran Turismo Sport, rather than a traditional numbered sequel, which could introduce a new focus or direction for the series.

Historical release patterns show varying gaps between main titles, with spin-offs like Concept and Prologue often serving as technical showcases that push hardware capabilities before full sequels arrive.

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Gran Turismo 8 Rumors

Given that the hints came while discussing the latest game’s VR capabilities, many felt he was suggesting GT8 may have a significant VR component or focus.

PSVR2 took Gran Turismo 7 to the next level, and we can’t wait to see how GT8 could top that.

As expected, the hints stirred up the rumor mill and got Gran Turismo fans talking about what could be coming next…

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What The Fans Want In Gran Turismo 8

Gran Turismo 7 was highly regarded for its impressive gameplay, smooth online racing, and excellent sound and visuals.

However, despite the game’s initial success and ongoing updates, some fans have been disappointed with its post-launch support.

The main concerns revolve around a lack of truly engaging DLC content and a slowdown in multiplayer activity. The current pace and quality of updates leave some fans questioning the game’s longevity.

Based on fan feedback, our experiences, and the current state of Gran Turismo 7, here are some anticipated features and improvements that would be great to see in Gran Turismo 8:

Better Content & Updates

Gran Turismo 7’s launch and subsequent update strategy frustrated many fans.

They felt the game was launched in an incomplete state (which is a familiar story these days), with a limited selection of tracks and cars compared to previous entries in the series.

While post-launch updates are regular (with some occasional gaps), they have often been criticized for lacking substantial content additions. They’ve also had some hilarious bugs.

For GT8, we hope to see a more refined package from day one, with a wider variety of tracks and cars available at launch, which we’ll dive into shortly.

There’s a strong emphasis on quality over quantity, with fans preferring unique and interesting vehicles rather than an excessive number of similar models or variants. (Renault Kangoo, anyone?!)

Post-launch, players want regular, substantial updates that add meaningful content, keeping it fresh and engaging over the long term.

Career/Single Player Mode Improvements

Although racing games have become increasingly focused on the online gaming aspect in recent years, GT8’s single-player experience is a hot topic among fans, with many hoping for a return to the series’ roots.

The criticism of GT7’s Café mode sparked calls for an improved career mode. Players are eager for various engaging race events utilizing the game’s advanced weather, time, and physics systems, creating a more dynamic and immersive racing experience.

A classic league system, offering numerous races with clear progression paths, could be complemented by replayable missions and events that provide worthwhile rewards, encouraging players to revisit and master various challenges.

Integrating proper endurance events into the career mode is also high on wishlists.

The comprehensive “licensing mode” was one of the early GT games’ most memorable aspects for old-school gamers.

This required players to prove their driving skills through increasingly difficult challenges. Many fans are hopeful that GT8 will bring back this type of structured skill development system.

Building on this nostalgia, there’s a growing interest in seeing a dedicated drifting career mode in GT8.

We’re not alone in saying we’d love to see Polyphony take the opportunity to teach drifting and gradually increase complexity as drivers build their skills. The mode could then build up to drift battles and tandem runs, similar to what you get with CarX Drift Racing 3.

GT7 received a physics update in July 2024 that improved weight transfer and suspension physics, making the game more drift-friendly, but there isn’t yet a dedicated drifting career mode.

Given that GT is the main sponsor of the D1GP Japanese drift series, it feels like a wasted opportunity not to incorporate drifting better into the game!

Multiplayer & AI Improvements

While GT7’s multiplayer was generally well-received, fans eagerly anticipate significant improvements in GT8, particularly with the implementation of Sophy AI.

This advanced AI system, which has already shown impressive capabilities, could provide more challenging and realistic opponents, potentially improving single-player “multiplayer” races.

One of the most requested features is the ability to create custom championships with a mix of friends and AI opponents. This would allow players to craft their racing series, adding a new layer of depth to both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Additionally, fans want better qualifying systems and more comprehensive practice sessions that closely mirror real-world motorsport. The penalty system, a persistent frustration in GT7, is another area where they can improve.

There’s also hope for a fairer system that can accurately judge incidents without penalizing the wrong driver unfairly.

Microtransactions & Live Service Model Changes

Gran Turismo 7’s implementation of microtransactions was controversial, and many fans are concerned that GT8 will follow a similar model. It would be nice to see Polyphony be more transparent about their monetization plans upfront rather than surprising players with aggressive microtransactions post-launch.

Focusing on earning cars and credits through gameplay rather than real-money purchases would be much better. If GT8 is designed as a long-term live service game, it should be priced lower at launch to reflect ongoing revenue from updates and microtransactions.

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Gran Turismo 8 Cars

While GT fans certainly can’t complain about the sheer quantity of cars available in GT7, with an insane roster of 508 vehicles to choose from, there’s a valid argument that the focus is more on quantity than quality.

While the number of cars on paper is impressive, there are several areas where GT8 could be improved.

One of the main criticisms of GT7’s car list is the imbalance between niche or quirky vehicles and popular racing categories.

While including unique and quirky cars like the Suzuki Jimny or Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) concepts adds character to the game, these seemingly come at the expense of more widely requested vehicles.

We hope to see a better balance for GT8, with more emphasis on popular racing and competition drifting cars.

Despite GT being the main sponsor of Japan’s flagship drift series, D1GP (D1 Grand Prix), for several years, there’s just one single dedicated drift car to choose from in the game – Dai Yoshihara’s Formula DRIFT car, or “Subaru BRZ Drift Car ’17”.

There’s so much potential for improvement here, and with other games such as Assetto Corsa, CarX Drift Racing, and Forza Horizon fully embracing the drift culture, it’s baffling that Gran Turismo continues to ignore it.

Drift fans aren’t the only ones feeling disappointed, either.

Many racing fans call for increased representation in modern GT3 racing, WEC (World Endurance Championship) cars, and IMSA legends. Other neglected motorsport disciplines include NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, and V8 Supercars.

Including these categories would create a more complete motorsport experience without needing tons of variants for each type. Even a small selection would excite fans and attract new players to the game.

Another issue is how vehicles are spread across different events and game modes. Some GT7 players felt that certain car types, particularly the VGT concepts, were mostly unused because of limited event options.

GT8 has a chance to ensure that each category is represented across various modes, giving players better reasons to explore the full car list.

Also, let’s not forget the fresh competition with Forza Horizon 5 arriving on PS5 consoles. It features a roster of nearly 900 vehicles that embrace a wide selection of vehicles and car cultures.

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Gran Turismo 8 Tracks

Alongside the impressive car roster, GT7’s track list doesn’t disappoint either, providing 38 tracks featuring 116 configurations.

Despite this, there’s a significant opportunity to expand the current game’s offerings, particularly in drifting, an area neglected throughout the Gran Turismo series.

Although they admittedly redeemed themselves a little with the recent return of Eiger Nordwand, integrating some tracks from Japan’s GT-sponsored D1GP series would be a huge step forward.

Drifting has a rich history and culture, especially in Japan, and incorporating some of the legendary drifting circuits could add a new dimension to the game.

Ebisu Minami, for instance, brings a challenging layout and iconic drift jump entry. Including this would not only please drift enthusiasts but also provide a unique challenge for racing.

Although unlikely, it would be even more incredible to see the inclusion of touge mountain road circuits for drifters and racers. With the legendary Fujimi Kaido returning to Forza Motorsport, they’ve again got the upper hand!

Looking beyond Japan, the U.S. Formula Drift series calendar brings additional unique tracks.

Integrating the legendary “Grand Prix of Long Beach” track for racers would include the “Streets of Long Beach” Formula Drift layout, offering a unique urban setting and potentially providing a taste of street drifting to the game in a track-based environment.

Another standout could be Evergreen Speedway, known for its high-speed entry and twisty turns.

As we’ve seen from many new games, including JDM: Japanese Drift Master, the upcoming CarX Drift Racing Online 2, and the Tokyo Xtreme Racer reboot, fans love the opportunity to drift and race in open-world, free-roam city areas and courses.

It would be incredible to bring these additions alongside the return of classic Gran Turismo original tracks that fans have been missing.

Circuits like Grand Valley Speedway, Midfield Raceway, and Apricot Hill Raceway have a special place in the hearts of long-time players. Their return would satisfy nostalgia and provide a well-balanced selection for various racing disciplines.

Additionally, expanding the selection of real-world circuits could provide more interest in the game. Tracks like Watkins Glen in New York or Phillip Island in Australia could add variety to the international roster.

The key will be to create a diverse tracklist, including technical circuits for precision driving, high-speed tracks for ultimate excitement, drift-friendly layouts for sideways action, and a mix of fictional and real-world locations to satisfy all players.

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Gran Turismo 8 vs The Competition

Suppose Polyphony Digital waits too long to release the next Gran Turismo, whether GT8 or another spinoff, possibly holding off until the PlayStation 6 for a major overhaul. In that case, it risks losing ground to the new and old competition.

The sim racing landscape is evolving quickly, and GT needs to adapt to maintain its position as a leading racing franchise.

Embracing new technologies and providing an improved racing experience will be crucial for the series to remain at the forefront of racing games in the coming years.

Forza Horizon

With the racing game sector shifting, titles like Forza Horizon 5 offer a more open-world experience with a huge selection of relevant cars and customization options, appealing to casual and hardcore racing fans alike.

Its shock arrival on PlayStation will surely capture the attention of fans who are bored with GT7. Horizon 5 offers a totally unique experience and a huge selection of drifting opportunities. There are also plenty of drag cars and high-speed racers.

The upcoming Forza Horizon 6 will raise the bar even further, and it’s looking increasingly likely to arrive before Gran Turismo 8.

If Playground Games maximizes the Horizon hype train after the PS5 release, Summer Game Fest 2025 offers the perfect opportunity for a FH6 announcement, aligning with their typical release schedules. Fable’s delay also made this even more likely.

However, as with most of the gaming world, is seems GTA IV’s release will likely be a deciding factor when Horizon 6 releases.

PlayStation fans hope Horizon 6 will also be available for PS5, but we expect it to be an Xbox/PC exclusive on initial release.

One thing that almost everyone agrees on, though, is that Japan would be the perfect location!

Assetto Corsa EVO

Meanwhile, the newly released Assetto Corsa EVO represents the next evolution in sim racing. Its expected release on consoles could offer a more realistic and immersive experience than GT7.

Assetto Corsa’s reputation for modding support and physics accuracy on PC has already made it a favorite among serious sim racers.

While its initial Early Access release hasn’t been as much of a game-changer as planned, they’ll soon be rolling out the open-world features, once again evolving beyond GT7’s limitations.

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Is Gran Turismo Coming To PC?

With its ability to support mods and high-end hardware setups, the rise of PC-based sim racing risks leaving console-only titles like Gran Turismo behind.

Many pro racing drivers, including F1 stars like Max Verstappen, are deeply involved in the sim racing world. However, they focus purely on PC-based sims, offering more realism and customization than console-focused games like GT7.

The unexpected arrival of Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation has sparked fresh speculation about Gran Turismo potentially breaking its PlayStation exclusivity.

Rumors of a previously planned but canceled PC port for GT7, which was reportedly shelved for unexplained “future plans,” suggest Sony might be considering a multi-platform approach for Gran Turismo 8.

Whatever happens, Gran Turismo needs to evolve rapidly to stay relevant. Polyphony must listen to fans’ requests to keep them on their side and consider where they’ve not fully delivered with GT7.

With all this in mind, we can’t wait to see what announcements Kazunori “Kaz” Yamauchi makes next.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated along the way. It’s an exciting time for the racing game sector, and there’s no shortage of ways for the Gran Turismo series to improve. We sure hope they can meet the fans’ expectations.

While you wait for GT8, our best GR3 and GR4 cars in GT7 guides will help you master GT7 so that you’re fully prepared when it (eventually) releases!

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Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

K putt
SoulRider.222 / Eric Rider

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