Polyphony Digital founder and president Kazunori Yamauchi has spoken more about the next game in the GT series, Gran Turismo 7. Yamauchi’s comments came as part of a PlayStation Blog article which focuses on the PlayStation 5 console’s first official global ad.
The clip, officially called “Play Has No Limits”, centers on some of the PS5’s new capabilities. These include the console’s new 3D audio system, powered by a custom sound processor Sony says is as powerful as the PS4’s entire CPU, and aspects of the new DualSense controller. It doesn’t feature GT7, or indeed any specific game, but you can watch it below:
We’ve heard much about the DualSense controller since Sony revealed it, well ahead of the PS5’s own unveiling. The “sense” part of the name refers to some new technologies, including adaptive triggers and haptic response, that allow players to feel more of the environment through their hands and fingers.
A lot of the examples of how this is beneficial have looked at games outside the racing sphere. Early comments often referred to the feeling of drawing a bow — something you’ll see again in the clip above — and several of the developers speaking on the latest blog post also mention weaponry. However Yamauchi’s thoughts cover how the device will be valuable to Gran Turismo 7’s players:
“I think the most effective use of the adaptive trigger [in Gran Turismo 7] is for representing the operation of the anti-lock brake system (ABS) while braking. A typical ABS releases brake pressure intermittently while the driver applies pressure to the pedal. The adaptive trigger is suited for recreating this pedal feel, and it will allow the player to accurately feel and understand the relationship between the braking force they want and the tire’s grip.
“Compared to the rumble force feedback we had in the past, the special character of the haptic feedback is that it has a bigger range of frequencies it can produce. What this means is that sound design and tactile design can be handled in a continuous, integrated manner.”
It’s certainly an interesting application for the technology, and not greatly dissimilar to another use mentioned by Deathloop developer Arkane Studios with regards to weapons jamming. Taken further, the two triggers could simulate the different weights and pressures required for the accelerator and brake pedals, much like the pedals on a driving wheel peripheral.
Also of interest is the studios and games Sony has chosen for the article. The majority of games mentioned in the piece will come early in the console’s life, with five of the nine titles on launch day. The exceptions are Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Gran Turismo 7, neither of which has an official release date yet — which could further hint that the next Gran Turismo might be just around the corner.
