Is Gran Turismo 7 Free on PlayStation Plus? Here‘s a Detailed Breakdown
As an avid PlayStation gamer yourself, you may be wondering – can I get Gran Turismo 7 for free on PlayStation Plus? This is one of the biggest releases on PS5 and PS4 in 2022, so it‘s an obvious question.
Well friend, I‘ve got good news and bad news. Let me walk you through the details on whether GT7 is free on PS Plus and breakdown what edition you should get. Buckle up and get ready to go full throttle!
Can You Get GT7 for Free with a PlayStation Plus Subscription?
Let‘s start with the bad news – no, Gran Turismo 7 is not currently a free game included with PlayStation Plus.
Unlike some other Sony titles that launched free on PS Plus (such as Destruction AllStars), GT7 was released as a full-priced retail game back in March 2022. A standard PS Plus subscription (Essential, Extra, or Premium) will not grant you access to Gran Turismo 7 for free.
As of July 2022, the game remains a paid title only available for purchase separately. Even with an active PS Plus membership, you‘ll have to shell out money to buy GT7.
Now I know what you‘re thinking – that stinks! But don‘t put the brakes on just yet. There‘s a glimmer of hope it could be free in the future. Let‘s dig into that possibility.
Could GT7 Come to PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium?
In June 2022, Sony overhauled PS Plus into a three tier service:
- PS Plus Essential – Same as the old PS Plus with online play, cloud saves, and monthly games
- PS Plus Extra – Adds a catalog of 400+ PS4 and PS5 games to download
- PS Plus Premium – Extra perks like game trials, game streaming, and classic games
An important note – Sony said first party games like GT7 would not be included in the new PS Plus at launch.
However, they left the door open for Extra and Premium to potentially offer first party games later on, after they‘ve been out for a while. And we‘ve already seen this happen with other big exclusives:
- God of War (2018)
- Returnal
- Spider-Man Miles Morales
These titles were added to the PS Plus catalog in July 2022, around 6-12 months after their retail launch.
So while Gran Turismo 7 isn‘t available right now, I think it‘s likely it could be added to PS Plus Extra or Premium in the future, probably in 2024.
But when exactly? Here‘s my expert speculation on when GT7 might hit the PS Plus catalog, based on past examples:
| Game Title | Release Date | Date Added to PS Plus | Time Since Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| God of War | April 2018 | July 2022 | 4 years |
| Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Nov 2020 | July 2022 | 1.5 years |
| Returnal | April 2021 | July 2022 | 1 year |
Given this pattern, I predict Gran Turismo 7 will come to PlayStation Plus in:
- Spring 2023 – Around the 1 year mark (following Returnal)
- Fall/Winter 2023 – Around the 1.5 year mark (following Spider-Man)
Sony will want GT7 to have time to sell at full price first. So while not guaranteed, I‘d bet on seeing it come to Extra/Premium by the end of 2024.
For now, purchasing it is the only way to play. But with patience, you may eventually get GT7 "free" by subscribing to PS Plus!
Which Edition of GT7 Should You Buy?
Okay, let‘s shift gears and talk about which version of Gran Turismo 7 you should purchase. You have two options:
Standard Edition
- Base game
- MSRP:
- PlayStation 4 – $59.99
- PlayStation 5 – $69.99
25th Anniversary Edition
- Base game
- 100,000 in-game credits
- 3 exclusive cars
- Custom PS5 dynamic theme
- MSRP:
- PlayStation 4 – $89.99
- PlayStation 5 – $99.99
That‘s a $30-$40 price difference between editions. Are the bonuses worth the bump in cost for the 25th Anniversary Edition? Let‘s hit the brakes and take a closer look.
Gran Turismo 7 25th Anniversary Edition – Is It Worth it?
Here‘s my take on the value-for-money on the Gran Turismo 7 25th Anniversary Edition:
100,000 In-Game Credits
This is enough bonus credits to buy 2-3 decent high-end cars in GT7‘s in-game dealerships. Nothing super rare, but solid cars.
- Plus, credits are easily earned through regular play. I‘ve banked over 500,000 credits after just 12 hours of gameplay.
- The 100k credit pack is nice, but not essential. More of a convenience than a must-have.
Exclusive Cars
You get 3 cars only available in the 25th Anniversary Edition:
- Mazda RX-VISION GT3 – Cool concept racer but not ultra competitive.
- Toyota Supra GT500 ‘97 – Fun retro racer but not best in class.
- Porsche 917 Living Legend – Insane top speed but tricky handling.
These are desirable collector‘s items, especially for long-time Gran Turismo gearheads. But none are absolute top-tier competitive racers. You won‘t be missing out on game-changing exclusive cars without them.
Custom PS5 Theme
A stylish dynamic theme featuring iconic Gran Turismo concept cars in motion. It‘s slick, but custom themes are never a huge selling point to me.
So is the 25th Anniversary Edition worth the extra $30-$40? For hardcore fans who must have every car, the credits and exclusives may justify it. But for average players, the Standard Edition gets you the full experience and is sufficient.
Ultimately it comes down to your budget and passion for the GT series. The 25th Anniversary extras are nice bonuses, but not essential.
Buyer‘s Guide – How Can You Get GT7 for Less?
Brand new copies of the 25th Anniversary Edition retail between $89.99-$99.99, while the Standard Edition ranges from $59.99-$69.99. That‘s a lot of dough!
Here are a few money-saving tips if your budget is tighter:
- Buy a used disc copy – Check local game stores or eBay for discounted pre-owned physical copies. Supply is still low but you may get lucky!
- Wait for a sale – Digital prices often drop 20-30% after 6-12 months. I‘d expect holiday sales in late 2022.
- Share via game sharing – If you have a friend with the digital version, game sharing could let you play their copy.
- Subscribe to PS Plus Premium – If GT7 comes to the service, Premium members could potentially stream it.
Buying pre-owned or waiting for a sale brings costs way down. Game sharing or Premium cloud streaming means potential access without any cost!
Should You Buy Gran Turismo 7? My Expert Verdict
We‘ve covered a lot of ground. Let‘s bring things full circle – should you buy Gran Turismo 7? Is it worth the high sticker price?
In my expert opinion as a hardcore racing game fan, Gran Turismo 7 is an absolute must-buy title, easily worth $60+ for the total package.
Here‘s why GT7 is a sensational virtual driving experience that‘s worth every penny:
Jaw Dropping Visuals
With ray tracing, 4K graphics, rock solid 60fps performance – GT7 sets a new visual benchmark for sim racing. Some of the most photorealistic cars and environments I‘ve ever seen.
Endlessly Deep Progression
The legendary GT campaign returns bigger than ever with over 400 events across dozens of hours of playtime. There‘s always another race, license trial, or mission to conquer.
Masterful Driving Mechanics
The driving feel is incredible. You can sense the weight shift of the car and nuances of tire grip. Braking into corners has a true to life learning curve. It just feels RIGHT.
A Car Lover‘s Dream Garage
The sheer variety of vehicles is astonishing – 420+ cars covering 60 years of automotive history. Classic racers, JDM icons, modern exotics – it‘s all here to collect.
Best in Class Customization
Not just visual mods, but fine tuning of parts, suspension, gears, and handling dynamics. Make the car truly your own with unmatched customization tools.
Social Community Features
Share awe-inspiring photos, download other‘s designs, check leaderboards, and compete online against drivers worldwide. The community expands GT7‘s life.
No game is perfect. The always-online requirement, aggressive microtransactions, and slow pace of acquiring cars do negatively impact GT7 to an extent.
But for petrolheads craving an authentic driving experience – the sublime feel of the cars trumps all. The driving model is so good, all other shortcomings fade away once you hit the track.
If you‘ve loved past GT games, picking up a DualSense controller and sliding behind the wheel of GT7 will make you fall in love all over again. It whisks you away to motoring nirvana.
For racing fans, Gran Turismo 7 is absolutely worth every hard-earned dollar. See you on the track!
The Bottom Line – Is Gran Turismo 7 Free with PlayStation Plus?
Let‘s bring this full throttle guide home:
- No – Gran Turismo 7 is not currently free with a standard PlayStation Plus subscription
- It‘s possible it could be added to the Extra/Premium catalogs later, maybe by late 2023
- The 25th Anniversary Edition has nice bonuses but isn‘t essential for most people
- If budget is tight, buy pre-owned or wait for a sale to get GT7 cheaper
- This is a must-buy title for racing fans – an incredible virtual driving experience
Hopefully this breakdown has given you expert insight into playing GT7 on PlayStation Plus. I tried to cover all the key questions in detail. Let me know if you need anything else! In the meantime, I‘ll see you on the track. Enjoy the ride!