Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital will release a new, free-to-play version of Gran Turismo 7 on Friday under the name, My First Gran Turismo. Ostensibly a demo version of Polyphony’s “real driving simulator,” My First Gran Turismo is more interesting for what it’s trying to do: appeal not just to racing sim enthusiasts, but players aged “7 to 77”, according to its official website, “who have yet to experience Gran Turismo.”
It also appears to have taken inspiration from a line of kid-focused products Sony released in the 1980s.
My First Gran Turismo looks to be less of a streamlined demo version of Gran Turismo 7, and more like a newcomer-friendly, focused experience. Players will be able to collect 18 cars, compete in three races and time trials, and earn licenses to learn specific driving techniques in My First Gran Turismo. The developer also promises bits of car history and trivia that will turn players “into an automotive expert in no time.” A simplified menu interface will get players right into the action.
“This experience holds a special place in my heart, as it pays tribute to the origins of the first Gran Turismo, where players of all generations discovered the joys of driving,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital, in a post on the PlayStation Blog. “Whether it’s introducing kids to the joy of racing for the first time or reigniting a forgotten passion for driving, My First Gran Turismo was designed to be both approachable and immersive, created for everyone, with no limits on age or driving skill level.”
Yamauchi said that My First Gran Turismo is about “embarking on a personal driving journey,” and that players “will build confidence one lap at a time, tackling new challenges that’ll steadily refine their driving skills.”
The name My First Gran Turismo appears to be an homage to a similarly named line of Sony electronics products from the 1980s. Starting in 1987, the company made kid-friendly — read: smaller, colorful, and plastic — versions of the Walkman, walkie talkies, and cassette recorders. Those My First Sony products were typically bright red. My First Gran Turismo adopts a similar color scheme, with a bright red main menu and a Lamborghini Countach as the first car players will see. A big yellow “Start” button leads right into the game, a far different experience from the complexity of the full-fat Gran Turismo 7.
My First Gran Turismo will be released for free on Dec. 6 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Cars obtained by completing My First Gran Turismo can be unlocked in the full version of Gran Turismo 7.
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