Gran Turismo 7 “Power Pack” Paid DLC Now Available: New Races Including Endurance Events, Qualifying, and “Sophy 3.0”

[GingerBredMan]

The Power Pack isn’t “secretly funding” the free update. PS4 players can’t even buy it and still get Spec 3 for free. Your idea that it’s being used to pay for the update doesn’t make sense.

It’s completely normal for developers to release a free major update and a paid optional DLC on the same day FH/FM, ACC, NFS, COD, everyone does this.

Free updates maintain the game, Paid DLC funds ongoing development, PD are doing what most long running games do, and nothing about this contradicts PD’s stance about free content updates.

Ongoing development includes content.

It's the other side of an earler argument: while the content updates are "free", one way or another we're paying for them. PS4 users don't have the opportunity to pay, but also subsiquently lose out on features. We keep talking about how expensive new content is, they had to offset 2 new F1 tracks and a GT3 car somehow. Ultimately I'm just pointing out that the 'Free' content stuff is a bit of a mirage.

 

[CTRL Garage]

Ongoing development includes content.

It's the other side of an earler argument: while the content updates are "free", one way or another we're paying for them. PS4 users don't have the opportunity to pay, but also subsiquently lose out on features. We keep talking about how expensive new content is, they had to offset 2 new F1 tracks and a GT3 car somehow. Ultimately I'm just pointing out that the 'Free' content stuff is a bit of a mirage.

You’re stretching the word “Free” to mean something it doesn’t. Spec 3 costs nothing to download. That makes it free regardless of PS4 or PS5, end of story.

The Power Pack is a PS5 only optional addon with content separate from Spec 3. There is no offsetting costs of the Spec 3 content, unless you’ve been in PD meetings and negotiations for the content with an influence on this decision.

Your arguments typically contradict themselves. Paid DLC existing alongside free updates is normal industry practice, There is no “Mirage” other than your understanding and/or explanation here.

 

[eran0004]

Oh those. Yeah I’d prefer to race with all of that off. Is that working in Cockpit view or only bumper cam? Because that looks a bit different to what I’m used of. All that looks higher up more closer to middle of the screen.

I only play in cockpit view, but I believe it's in all the views. You do need to have the HUD on though, obviously...

 

[hawkeyez]

I only play in cockpit view, but I believe it's in all the views. You do need to have the HUD on though, obviously...

I paid attention tonight while racing. Yeah it’s there but it definitely takes your eyes off the road. Probably why I never noticed it before. Not ideal in my opinion. Something more peripheral would be better.

 

[Bojador]

Every single update I hope for a rear-vision mirror for bonnet cam.

How many decades has it been now?

And then Kaz uses the excuse that it would give an unfair advantage. Some cars have access to a full rear mirror, like the example below. So that argument (excuse) doesn't hold water.

 

[Deni323]

How would that be unfair advantage? It's for everyone there to use it

 

[Bojador]

How would that be unfair advantage? It's for everyone there to use it

Beats me.

 

[Baka_Marimo]

Only catching up with these news now. I think I haven't been playing GT7 for well over a year, due to the nerfed nature of Sophy-controlled AI opponents. Sophy 3.0 is going to be what makes or breaks this dlc pack for me.

 

[hawkeyez]

And then Kaz uses the excuse that it would give an unfair advantage. Some cars have access to a full rear mirror, like the example below. So that argument (excuse) doesn't hold water.

Played again last night, been awhile. You’re right some cars it’s easy to see out the back. I think it’s the 66’ XJ13, it’s got a mirror, it’s got no roof but the mirror just looks back at the sky. Can’t see anything out of it haha. Somebody said virtual mirror would ruin cockpit experience, sure, for some, but that’s why you just make it optional to toggle on or off.

I’ve come to the conclusion, the game is great, there’s just a whole lot of things that could be dialled in to make it THE ABSOLUTE best driving/racing game out there.

The physics are good enough to have fun races, the sounds are good enough, the car customization is out of this world, they have lots of cars (they could class some together more that would be competitive with each other right from stock form) and then things like custom hud layout, better radar, custom garage organization…. And a few other things, and it turns the experience into why would you bother with the other racing sims? Simply for better physics? GT7 looks amazing for the most part, everything that could be changed isn’t touching any of that, it’s simply changes that allow a little customization to hud and menu screens etc. you’d think they’d each be one week fixes but who knows.

 

[Bojador]

Played again last night, been awhile. You’re right some cars it’s easy to see out the back. I think it’s the 66’ XJ13, it’s got a mirror, it’s got no roof but the mirror just looks back at the sky. Can’t see anything out of it haha. Somebody said virtual mirror would ruin cockpit experience, sure, for some, but that’s why you just make it optional to toggle on or off.

I’ve come to the conclusion, the game is great, there’s just a whole lot of things that could be dialled in to make it THE ABSOLUTE best driving/racing game out there.

The physics are good enough to have fun races, the sounds are good enough, the car customization is out of this world, they have lots of cars (they could class some together more that would be competitive with each other right from stock form) and then things like custom hud layout, better radar, custom garage organization…. And a few other things, and it turns the experience into why would you bother with the other racing sims? Simply for better physics? GT7 looks amazing for the most part, everything that could be changed isn’t touching any of that, it’s simply changes that allow a little customization to hud and menu screens etc. you’d think they’d each be one week fixes but who knows.

That's what is so disappointing. We are not asking for complete overall. Some of these things should be very easy to implement.

They got the most difficult part right, but refuse to listen to what players want.

 

[hawkeyez]

That's what is so disappointing. We are not asking for complete overall. Some of these things should be very easy to implement.

They got the most difficult part right, but refuse to listen to what players want.

I agree. Most of my “that grinds my gears” type of things with the game have nothing to do with the driving part of the game. Aside from poor AI but it’s obvious they’re working on that.

Can’t be that difficult to do the things I’ve mentioned in wishlists many times and other have either suggested the same or strongly agreed.

I don’t get it, is anyone going to complain if they can simply turn the HUD on and off with an assignable button on their wheel/controller? I doubt it. Even further, is anyone going to complain if they can customize the HUD and only put what they want or need or there as opposed to you get the top half or the bottom half or both.

I assure you nobody is going to complain about being able to share a tune with a friend with a click of a button. Haha

 

[GingerBredMan]

You’re stretching the word “Free” to mean something it doesn’t. Spec 3 costs nothing to download. That makes it free regardless of PS4 or PS5, end of story.

The Power Pack is a PS5 only optional addon with content separate from Spec 3. There is no offsetting costs of the Spec 3 content, unless you’ve been in PD meetings and negotiations for the content with an influence on this decision.

Your arguments typically contradict themselves. Paid DLC existing alongside free updates is normal industry practice, There is no “Mirage” other than your understanding and/or explanation here.

I mean, you said it yourself: Paid DLC funds ongoing development, that includes content.

 

[CTRL Garage]

I mean, you said it yourself: Paid DLC funds ongoing development, that includes content.

You’re not understanding what I’m saying… you keep trying to link DLC to the free content updates when they’re different things.

Spec 3 = free content for everyone.
Power Pack = optional PS5-only DLC.

Development still occurs whether 0 DLC’s or a thousand DLC’s are sold.

Don’t put words in my mouth when you can’t put two and two together.

Edit: You don’t own the game(self admitted), you haven’t bought into the update cycle/content delivery you’re criticising, you’re still insisting the paid PS5 DLC is secretly funding the free PS4 update.

That’s not how the game works, and it’s not how development works. You’re connecting dots that aren’t connected.

 

[Sir Crashalot]

I’ve come to the conclusion, the game is great, there’s just a whole lot of things that could be dialled in to make it THE ABSOLUTE best driving/racing game out there.

I guess that's the conclusion most ppl will come to after playing a while.

 

[Yard_Sale]

You’re not understanding what I’m saying… you keep trying to link DLC to the free content updates when they’re different things.

Spec 3 = free content for everyone.
Power Pack = optional PS5-only DLC.

Development still occurs whether 0 DLC’s or a thousand DLC’s are sold.

Don’t put words in my mouth when you can’t put two and two together.

I always get a kick out of these free DLC vs Paid DLC themes, as two viewpoints at direct odds with each other always emerge.

Do businesses exist to provide goods and services for a profit? Or do they exists to distribute wages and benefits? Should they charge what the market will bare like Rockstar, EA or on a smaller scale, Iracing? Or should they straddle the line like Polyphony generally tends to, and offer value to the customer in addition to profits? All a person needs to do is look up the Net Worth’s of Rockstar, EA and Polyphony (minus their Sony handlers), to find out who wins

 

[Seikenfreak]

Development still occurs whether 0 DLC’s or a thousand DLC’s are sold.

I mean.. Not really. If they have no income then no development happens. SIE says.. You are not making us money, only spending it. Okay time to shut down or sell this developer. I'd imagine the majority of the base software sales come from launch or the first year or whatever. And then small spikes with sales. This pattern can be seen with game popularity on Steam.

I choose to believe what I think @GingerBredMan is trying to say. They don't want to split and complicate the community and game design by working around some people having certain cars/tracks and some not. So they are offering those to everyone. But at the same time, they need money. As he points out, unless track owners and car manufacturers are paying Polyphony/SIE to add their tracks and cars, then it's costing PD or SIE money.

We know Sophy AI development isn't necessarily handled by PD. So another theoretically scenario and way you could look at it is: The new tracks cost money but they want everyone to have them. Sophy AI is not core or critical to the game, especially not PS4 players, so why not charge for the Sophy AI instead of the tracks.

🤷‍♂️ There's a million different scenarios. We don't know what's going behind the scenes. What do we know? Say it with me now: Nothing. Is. Free.

Edit: Unless of course you are drawing a line only at yourself, the consumer, financially paying or not. In which case, yes, you are getting something for free and there is no exchange of money. But then PD is paying for you. And they can only do that until they run out of money and then you have no more Gran Turismo and that is a cost in its own way. Choose to support PD or not. Do you believe in or like the DLC or not. Pay or don't pay.

 

[Nacho Libre]

If anything, this will set a precedent for GT games moving forward, and maybe expect GT8 to launch (only on PS5, Pro and PS6 eventually) in standard and "deluxe" versions, so there is no confusion on what we are getting from the start.

 

[Voodoovaj]

Or should they straddle the line like Polyphony generally tends to, and offer value to the customer in addition to profits? All a person needs to do is look up the Net Worth’s of Rockstar, EA and Polyphony (minus their Sony handlers), to find out who wins

Sony Games, ESPECIALLY GT, exist to drive console sales. It always has been the case, and as long as there's consoles, it always will be the case. IMHO, if the Playstation brand ever dies, GT will go with it. PD can provide extra value to keep people buying consoles. Remember, if you buy the PS version of a game like Madden or FIFA, Sony gets a big cut of that, so they want every house to have a Playstation.

EA, Rockstar, etc, only sell software, so it's a different strategy.

Look at the fate of Xbox - MS decided to try and maximize software revenue, so they (essentially) stopped with Xbox exclusives (as in you didn't need an actual xbox, you could use a PC), and the Xbox went to hell in handbasket. This is why the Steam Machine is such a threat. Sony thought that putting some exclusives onto steam could earn a little more money, and now they've been blindsided. Rest assured, they'll stop putting Sony games on Steam OR they'll kill off Playstation if the Steam Machine takes off. It's going to be an interesting few years.

 

[hawkeyez]

I guess that's the conclusion most ppl will come to after playing a while.

True, you will find things you don’t like about a game after playing it a while. But there are things that can be fixed or changed to make it better without actually changing the game. I’m satisfied for the most part with the physics and sounds and looks. It’s all good.

It’s the little things that start to grate on your nerves. One for example, buy parts for a car. You get to see power/weight ratio. But not in settings page. So if you’re tuning cars to match, you’re jumping between different areas just to get that info.

It’s stuff like that which I’m talking about and shouldn’t be all that hard to change. It has nothing to do with gameplay.

Yes some gameplay stuff is also annoying but were that far into it, I don’t expect them to change stuff but I can still be disappointed with this or that. And hope it’s different for GT8.

 

[Dave A]

That's what is so disappointing. We are not asking for complete overall. Some of these things should be very easy to implement.

They got the most difficult part right, but refuse to listen to what players want.

Personally, I'd like a fair bit of an overhaul to the single player career and balancing of the in game economy. It's not happening at this point in GT7 though, too much of an overhaul for that.

The core elements though (graphics, physics, tuning etc.) are all there and are great. I just with the game was better balanced and structured. For me, it should have been more like GT3 or GT4's career structures and GT4's economic balance than what we got.

The GAAS and online only have had a negative impact on the experience IMO. It's still a good game, but it could have been so much better for what I hoped for.

 

[Seikenfreak]

If anything, this will set a precedent for GT games moving forward, and maybe expect GT8 to launch (only on PS5, Pro and PS6 eventually) in standard and "deluxe" versions, so there is no confusion on what we are getting from the start.

The sales and reception of this DLC will definitely inform future development and design. Though, for all we know, GT8 could be like Forza Horizon or something. Some weird open world mess that makes them start over from scratch. Knowing PD, I would not be surprised. I'm hoping that since the hardware between these modern consoles is generally the same infrastructure, that PD can actually take two steps forward instead of one step forward, one step backward.

But if GT8 is more along the lines of the previous games, and this DLC does sell well, then whomever the powers at be are maybe decide to actually start selling cars and tracks community be-damned. Or maybe they sell event or theme packages instead of cars/tracks. Or maybe it's a combination.

While I despise something like Fortnite, at the same time I'm jealous of the support a game like that gets because of the amount of money it rakes in. I think I'd be willing to let GT sell silly cosmetics-- assuming it doesn't interfere with my experience, if it meant they were swimming in cash and we got like 10 new cars and a track a month.

 

[hawkeyez]

The sales and reception of this DLC will definitely inform future development and design. Though, for all we know, GT8 could be like Forza Horizon or something. Some weird open world mess that makes them start over from scratch. Knowing PD, I would not be surprised. I'm hoping that since the hardware between these modern consoles is generally the same infrastructure, that PD can actually take two steps forward instead of one step forward, one step backward.

But if GT8 is more along the lines of the previous games, but this DLC does sell well, then whomever the powers at be are maybe decide to actually start selling cars and tracks community be-damned. Or maybe they sell event or theme packages instead of cars/tracks. Or maybe it's a combination.

As much as I’d like an open world type Gran Turismo game. I hope they look at all the wishlist stuff and come up with a plan. Make GT8 what GT7 currently is but better. More tracks, more themed car categories not all the one offs. Maybe grabbing from what other racing sims do but not so hardcore.

I’d make a list but that’s for another thread. It’s hard not to when you’re trying to make a point though.

They have a lot of strengths. Maybe they can make a poll or what people love most about GT7 or the previous releases. And then make a constructive criticism thread and see what players don’t like. Make some jot notes and tackle GT8 with all of that in mind.

At least that gives some direction. Instead of people buying the game and going “hey what happened to this I always loved that about this game, this feature or track or car”

I’m sure people will pipe in and rave over music rally. But I would think majority would say, yeah you know what, drop it and focus on other things.

 

[Seikenfreak]

As much as I’d like an open world type Gran Turismo game. I hope they look at all the wishlist stuff and come up with a plan. Make GT8 what GT7 currently is but better. More tracks, more themed car categories not all the one offs. Maybe grabbing from what other racing sims do but not so hardcore.

I’d make a list but that’s for another thread. It’s hard not to when you’re trying to make a point though.

They have a lot of strengths. Maybe they can make a poll or what people love most about GT7 or the previous releases. And then make a constructive criticism thread and see what players don’t like. Make some jot notes and tackle GT8 with all of that in mind.

At least that gives some direction. Instead of people buying the game and going “hey what happened to this I always loved that about this game, this feature or track or car”

I’m sure people will pipe in and rave over music rally. But I would think majority would say, yeah you know what, drop it and focus on other things.

It's frustrating for sure. Just like you, I sit and fantasize about all the ideas I think they could do that would be very much inline with Kaz and GTs vibe.

A weird, sad, and dumb thought I've had in the past is that I often don't post them on here cause I figured Turn 10 was probably combing the internet for design ideas and they'd steal mine and do a crappy job of it lol But now it seems like they are gone so..

I find myself really wishing I had some art/programming skills just to make a mock, proof of concept GT menu to show the game structure I want. Like a design doc.

Also, like Music Rally, I believe "Rally" in general needs to be ditched. Maybe some other people disagree. It's a big waste of resources. How many dirt/snow/rally courses are in the game? Those could've been original tarmac courses at least. Keep putting rally cars in the game, but just in their Tarmac setups. I've seen Famine say this has (or will now have) the biggest track list in the series but it feels so small to me. I don't like many of these new original courses. Maggiore & Dragon Trail are good I guess. I still never drive on them.

Off on another rant tangent..

 

[hawkeyez]

It's frustrating for sure. Just like you, I sit and fantasize about all the ideas I think they could do that would be very much inline with Kaz and GTs vibe.

A weird, sad, and dumb thought I've had in the past is that I often don't post them on here cause I figured Turn 10 was probably combing the internet for design ideas and they'd steal mine and do a crappy job of it lol But now it seems like they are gone so..

I find myself really wishing I had some art/programming skills just to make a mock, proof of concept GT menu to show the game structure I want. Like a design doc.

Also, like Music Rally, I believe "Rally" in general needs to be ditched. Maybe some other people disagree. It's a big waste of resources. How many dirt/snow/rally courses are in the game? Those could've been original tarmac courses at least. Keep putting rally cars in the game, but just in their Tarmac setups. I've seen Famine say this has (or will now have) the biggest track list in the series but it feels so small to me. I don't like many of these new original courses. Maggiore & Dragon Trail are good I guess. I still never drive on them.

Off on another rant tangent..

Yep, rally drop. Doesn’t feel like this one has the most tracks. I think layouts bump that number way up and the rally tracks eat into it as well as Tokyo which I despise so not their fault on that.

I do like original tracks and that’s an opportunity to have way more tracks available. I’m not that hardcore that I need to only drive tracks that exist. I say save that for the “real racing sims” although I do like the real life tracks and wish we had more of them too.

I don’t mind menus, but I agree, I think I would do them differently and a little more streamlined. When tuning a car and painting it etc there’s so much jumping around. I get it, you’d have to take it here for that or here for this. But it’s a game, we want to be able to do that stuff all in one place. I buy a car, I leave as is and make a livery or I tune it, widen it, aero gets thrown on and I create a livery for it and I set it up. It’s a lot of moving through menus.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Every single update I hope for a rear-vision mirror for bonnet cam.

How many decades has it been now?

YES PLEASE

 

[Nakano219]

Also, like Music Rally, I believe "Rally" in general needs to be ditched. Maybe some other people disagree. It's a big waste of resources. How many dirt/snow/rally courses are in the game? Those could've been original tarmac courses at least. Keep putting rally cars in the game, but just in their Tarmac setups. I've seen Famine say this has (or will now have) the biggest track list in the series but it feels so small to me. I don't like many of these new original courses. Maggiore & Dragon Trail are good I guess. I still never drive on them.

There's been two occasions this series has cut things down to the bare minimum content wise (GT3 and GT Sport).

Both times, rally has survived what were drastic culls. PD absolutely see it as core series content (not that you'd know that from the physics, admittedly!) and aren't ever cutting it.

 

[GT_Tuga]

It's frustrating for sure. Just like you, I sit and fantasize about all the ideas I think they could do that would be very much inline with Kaz and GTs vibe.

A weird, sad, and dumb thought I've had in the past is that I often don't post them on here cause I figured Turn 10 was probably combing the internet for design ideas and they'd steal mine and do a crappy job of it lol But now it seems like they are gone so..

Also, like Music Rally, I believe "Rally" in general needs to be ditched. Maybe some other people disagree. It's a big waste of resources. How many dirt/snow/rally courses are in the game? Those could've been original tarmac courses at least. Keep putting rally cars in the game, but just in their Tarmac setups. I've seen Famine say this has (or will now have) the biggest track list in the series but it feels so small to me. I don't like many of these new original courses. Maggiore & Dragon Trail are good I guess. I still never drive on them.

Off on another rant tangent..

Might be going a little off topic here but since you brought this up...

Interesting... a few weeks ago, during an ongoing Rally Time Trial where pretty much only a few select aliens can make it into the Gold range I found myself wondering about PD making the bold (and probably VERY controversial) decision of getting rid of all things rally in GT.

How about making a (spin-off) Gran Turismo exclusively dedicated to Rally instead? 👀 From the oldies to the very latest machines out there, the classics, the most famous tracks... a proper Gran Turismo for the die-hard rally fan, huh?

As much as I don't love it, I also don't hate it as well so I think it's probably excessive to remove rally altogether from the series.
One thing I like about Gran Turismo is that the game actually gives you the chance to try many different things, things you weren't expecting to do at first, like driving on dirt/snow for example.

Some people might actually prefer this type of racing over the "standard" tarmac racing, despite being just a "tiny diversion" from the main focus of the game... personally I just try to do my best every time, but the tarmac is definitely where I'm comfortable at.

One thing I'd very much love to see someday is something in the lines of the Legends DLC for NFS Shift 2 were we get the chance to drive on very iconic tracks from the 60's and 70's (with their layouts accurately recreated) so we could actually use/recreate some very legendary races with all of those expensive beauties from the LCD, hell I'd even go further back all the way to the 30's, imagine a grid filled with "Silver Arrows", Auto Union vs Mercedes, huge V16 engines revving... this is the kind of stuff that makes my heart pump!
We already had Monza and Brands Hatch in their 80's layout in GT6 so... one can dream.

Anyway, this isn't a wishlist thread so I'll see myself out...

 

[o000o]

As much as I don't love it, I also don't hate it as well so I think it's probably excessive to remove rally altogether from the series.
One thing I like about Gran Turismo is that the game actually gives you the chance to try many different things, things you weren't expecting to do at first, like driving on dirt/snow for example.

I wish that Power Pack in the future installments will finally give actual true rally racing as it's depicted in motorsport.

 

[Voodoovaj]

I just with the game was better balanced and structured. For me, it should have been more like GT3 or GT4's career structures and GT4's economic balance than what we got.

Dude don't get me started. The single player of this game doesn't conform to basic game design best practices. We overlook it because the rest of the game feels so good, but there is no real progression. There's inconsistent application for the cars in the garage as a glaring example. There's very little in the way of structured progress at all.

Take the license tests. There is a massive gulf of skill level required to achieve and S license compared to the lack of skill required to compete in S level races.

Like, we have the 250 GT), the Shelby Daytona, the D- type...There should be an event for those cars, but there's no event because the cars are so difficult to achieve, but since there is not event, there's also no point in owning the cars - The blow is softened by the fact that the regular AI is BORING. Hopefully things change with Sophy.

Like, if I had the credits for it, I would totally build a Sophy race for them, but it would take hundreds of millions of credits on top of the wait time to buy the cars from the Legends dealership (which I ABSOLUTELY believe to be one of the WORST additions to this game). GT8 will be out before I earn enough to make that custom race.

OH EDIT - P.S. We're also fighting against the people who are more than willing to cough up the money to buy the credits needed to own those cars. I've seen people own up to it in Facebook groups...The GTO, 20mil credits, is $200USD in real money, double the game itself. Imagine all the people that threw hundreds (thousands?) at Sony to own these cars. We will never win that battle.

 

[jrbabbitt]

And then Kaz uses the excuse that it would give an unfair advantage. Some cars have access to a full rear mirror, like the example below. So that argument (excuse) doesn't hold water.

How would that be unfair advantage? It's for everyone there to use it

Beats me.

The Gumball Rally (1976)

Franco: And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving.

[Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car]

Franco: What's-a behind me is not important.


(and that is a gorgeous Ferrari 365GTS)