Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed this once again Gran Turismo 7 becomes a main series title in the form of previous games in the series.
The head of the Polyphony Digital studio spoke to journalist Toshifumi Watanabe for Octane Japan, in an interview published earlier today. While the talk was mostly about Scapes, there was plenty of time to talk about the PlayStation 5, Gran Turismo 7, and also the series’ ‘royal purpose’.
One of Watanabe’s questions related to the identity of Gran Turismo and its future. While Yamauchi was not going to be drawn from the latter part of it, he did make special mention of the influence that Japanese car culture had on the original Gran Turismo, and how that served as a purpose behind the series.
“I grew up as a car enthusiast myself, surrounded by the influence of Japanese car manufacturers and the transmission of car media,” says Yamauchi, “and that is also the driving force behind my production. Although the title has been played worldwide, I have never forgotten that it originated in Japan, and now I feel a responsibility and mission to inherit Japanese car culture. “
Interestingly, Yamauchi recognizes that fans may not always follow how Gran Turismo games change from generation to generation. That is especially true for Gran Turismo Sport, and the shift to esport. “Maybe it seemed quite bizarre to some people!” he noted, noting that support for the game grew in a different way than previous titles, gaining momentum later in life.
Sports mode then, as we have seen in the Gran Turismo 7 trailer last July, still has a big part to play, but GT7 will be nostalgic for those who played the previous games. “While inheriting elements such as the [FIA] championship realized in Sport, Gran Turismo 7 will return to the royal purpose of full volumes like [Gran Turismo] 1-4, offering the best Gran Turismo experience to date, ”said Yamauchi.
Of course we have heard that before GT7 would be a combination of Gran Turismo’s “past, present and future”, so this amplification is music to those fans of classic GT games.
The interview also covers areas such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where Yamauchi has served as a guest judge for 11 years, and the real-time ray tracing capabilities of PS5. You can read the full article – in Japanese – on the Octane Japan website.