With Christmas just around the corner and 2025 drawing to a close, Gran Turismo 7 finds itself in a position that few modern racing games ever reach. Four years after launch (March 2022), the game continues to grow. Gran Turismo has long been considered one of the best games for console-based simulation racing, and GT7’s current momentum reinforces why that reputation still endures.
GT7 is available exclusively on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It was never released on PC and was never bundled with PlayStation Plus. While franchises like Assetto Corsa Competizione, which focus solely on hardcore sim racing, or Forza Motorsport and F1, which rely heavily on platform reach and subscription attention, Polyphony Digital took a slower, more deliberate route. The payoff? The number of monthly active users now exceeds two million, and new players continue to join well beyond the typical lifecycle period.
Free monthly updates consistently add cars like the sleek-looking Polestar 5. Bigger expansions like Spec II and Spec III, followed by the first paid Power Pack DLC, which launched earlier this month, keep players engaged.
Moreover, GT7 takes a rare middle ground. You get precise physics models, tire behavior that rewards precision and meaningful car tuning, without the intimidation factor that can sometimes be intimidating to casual players.
This broader appeal is clearly reflected in the sales figures. The Gran Turismo franchise surpassed 100 million units sold worldwide in June this year, with GT7 alone estimated at over 14 million units. The World Series now attracts around eight million spectators per event, uniquely positioning the game between hardcore simulators like iRacing and more accessible console racers.
To end the year, Polyphony is also running a year-end connect campaign offering 350,000 credits and premium roulette tickets by simply logging in on five separate days before December 26, 2025. Next month, January 2026, the Hyundai Elantra N TCR will join the Gr.4 category, adding a modern front-wheel drive racing car developed and tested by Hyundai Motorsport.
Looking ahead, the Gran Turismo World Series opens its 2026 season on March 28 in Abu Dhabi with Yas Marina Circuit already playable in GT7. While GT8 is on the horizon, possibly in line with 2027 and the series’ 30th anniversary, Gran Turismo 7 continues to prove that disciplined updates that include not just cars but popular race tracks, simulation credibility and respect for the player will keep a racing franchise alive for the long term.
Images: Polyphony Digital
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