PlayStation VR2 is finally here and we have had the chance to play Gran Turismo 7 in VR for close to a week now. You can read our PS VR2 hardware review here. We also have thoughts on the game library. With this, we are answering some of the questions that were brought to us in regard to Gran Turismo in VR. Will you get VR sick? How does it look? How does it play?
Getting Started
Screenshot taken from a PS5 In VR.
Aside from the local split screen, the entire game of Gran Turismo 7 can be played in VR. You can do anything you would normally do while playing on a TV. This is a fully-fledged AAA VR game. At first, it will feel like the VR is not working, all of the menus are in the Cinematic Mode. Cinematic Mode is the view you get when you play a non-VR game with the PS VR2 headset on. You will not leave the Cinematic Mode until your race starts. Once the race actually starts you will appear in the driver’s seat view in full VR.
GT7 supports sitting, standing, and room-scale play styles. If you are not sure what that means, you can read our PS VR2 hardware review here. Although I do not see why anyone would play Gran Turismo 7 in VR in any style other than sitting. Another thing to note, GT7 does not support the Sense VR controllers. You can play as you normally would with the Dual Sense controller. Of course, there is full support for racing wheels as well.
When I normally play Gran Turismo 7, I play in the camera style that most resembles the third-person view. The top-down or over-the-shoulder style view gives me the most visibility. I feel like I can see the cars behind me while also having the best view of the turns ahead. It is just how I feel most comfortable with any racing game. To get ready for PS VR2 I played in the driver’s seat view, I feel uncomfortable in that view, it felt restricting.
Playing Gran Turismo 7 in VR
The driver seat view basically narrows your view to what you see out of the windshield and mirrors. There is something about playing in that view that makes me feel uncomfortable, like, there is something I can not see. That all changes with Gran Turismo 7 in VR, the view feels completely different. This may sound over the top but, playing the driver’s seat view in VR feels more like driving a real car. You can see out of the side windows and, you have a wider, more natural view of what is ahead.
While playing you will notice that all of the details are intact, everything is there as you would normally expect. Conversely, many of the textures are now a lower resolution. Noticeably the grass and the fabric on the driver’s suit stand out to me as lower-resolution textures. Outside of that, the game looks amazing as it does on PS5.
During my playtime I never got VR sick, however, I can see how that would happen to someone. If you own PS VR2, you must try this, it is remarkable. Although my recommendation is to not make this your first VR game, or your second. Build your VR legs and get comfortable with PS VR2 then you must play Gran Turismo 7 in VR.
