Certain franchises in the world of racing and sports video games are a part of the lexicon, and rightfully so. One particular series that falls into this category is Gran Turismo from Polyphony. A series that started in 1997 and continues to call PlayStation its home for over two and half decades. Still, as large of an impact as the GT series has made and continues to make, people continue to ask if Gran Turismo 7 will be on PC.
Why Hasn’t Gran Turismo Been On PC?
It’s a complex answer on some level, but it’s simple at the same time. Kazunori Yamauchi, CEO of Polyphony Digital, has continuously battled rumors about the series coming to PC and then put an end to those rumors. The reasoning basically comes down to the simple fact that Polyphony does not seem to want a PC version. Even with various Sony-aligned games like Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn, and God of War coming to PC in recent years, nothing is imminent with Gran Turismo 7.
Oh The Possibilities
As a huge fan of PC gaming myself, the reasoning behind wanting the series on PC is simple. The simplicity of hooking up my favorite wheel peripheral is always an attractive scenario, and the possibility of community mods for the series would be enough to make some purchase a gaming PC.
In the case of visuals, Polyphony does a fantastic job delivering an outstanding visual experience with each title in the GT franchise. Still, it is limited in scope regarding destruction models and licensing issues. I have seen first-hand what a fantastic job a community can do when creating game mods and know all too well the practical improvements these mods can have.
Mind you, the modding of games can drive more purchases of the title, and with their creation and enhancement of the game, push the life expectancy of specific titles way beyond their organic shelf life.
Emulation Is The Way (For Now)
With no signs of the GT series making its way to PC any time soon, emulation is the only way for people to experience the franchise on PC. Thankfully, multiple versions can be played right now through the PS3 emulator, RPCS3, and the PS2 emulator, PCSX2.
RPCS3 offers up the chance to drive out of the garage with Gran Turismo HD Concept and GT5 Prologue Demo, which are fully playable. Gran Turismo 5 is still considered a work in progress with some compatibility issues. The PCSX2 emulator has four titles, ranging from GT A-Spec to Gran Turismo 2001 Concept. While less visually exciting than the RPCS3 version, the games can be tuned to look better than when initially released.
For those unfamiliar with console emulation, it requires a solid gaming PC with a capable processor. Multiple tutorials and communities can be found online that will assist in getting each of the above emulators up and running.
Bottom Line
For now, the answer is clear. No, Polyphony will not be releasing Gran Turismo 7 on PC. Although rumors prevail, and sometimes where there is smoke there is fire, that doesn’t seem to be the case here. When someone as influential and transparent as Kazunori Yamauchi, the CEO of Polyphony, goes on record with facts, it might be time to listen.
Related:Â Best PC Racing Wheels for Gran Turismo 7 on PC Invasion
