Gran Turismo Sport beta testing begins next week

After missing its November 2016 launch and with a release date yet to be confirmed, Gran Turismo Sport finally begins beta testing next week.

A few select players in the US will be able to trial the latest addition in the critically acclaimed racing franchise from 17 March, testing out a range of tracks and conditions that will rotate on a daily basis.

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The circuit available include the UK's Brands Hatch, Willow Springs in California and the fictional highway-based Tokyo Expressway. There are no details on what cars will feature, but players can expect to drive something new on each day of the test.

Gran Turismo creators Polyphony Digital said they chose to launch the beta trial in the US because it offers the optimal time differences between players and the development team in Tokyo.

Laters stages of the test will see the game opened up to other players around the world, who will need to sign up via the PlayStation Europe forum.

Polyphony also revealed it had chosen to delay the launch of the game as it needed "more time" to perfect it, reports Polygon.

While a release date has not yet been announced, the start of beta testing often indicates a game is only a matter of months away from hitting the shops.

Players can pre-order Gran Turismo Sport, which will launch exclusively on the PlayStation 4, on Amazon for £44.99.

Sony previews Gran Turismo Sport on PS4 Pro with 4K trailer

5 December 2016

Sony has released a new 4K trailer for the highly-anticipated Gran Turismo Sport, featuring a glimpse at new cars and improved graphics.

The teaser, unveiled at the annual PlayStation Experience event, reveals the racing game running at 4K resolution with HDR features enabled, which is only possible on the new PlayStation 4 Pro console.

The increase in video quality means sharp edges are noticeably reduced, while the HDR effects give a more lifelike feel to paintwork and landscapes.

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Gran Turismo Sport boasts a roster of 140 cars, each offering highly detailed interiors and improved engine sounds. The mix of road and racing cars, includes the Jaguar F-Type and Audi R18 Le Mans prototype, as well as a host of Vision GT concept cars.

While the list may be significantly smaller than the 1,200 cars of its predecessor, the new Gran Turismo Sport is tailored towards competitive online motorsport rather than collecting metal. Players will be able to compete in two championships certified by motorsport governing body, Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Another first for the Gran Turismo franchise is the ability to edit car liveries, a feature on its rival Forza Motorsport since its launch in 2005. Players will be able to create their own look for their cars, or replicate the iconic designs of motorsport heroes.

There's still no release date for Gran Turismo Sport, but Sony said it will launch sometime in 2017 for PS4 and PS4 Pro consoles.