On Tuesday, Sony officially announced what had been hinted at by numerous leaks: the release of a new, more powerful PlayStation 5, dubbed the PS5 Pro. Set to launch on November 7, the console will retail for a staggering $700. One of the key titles that will benefit from the enhanced capabilities of this system is Gran Turismo 7.
During a nine-minute technical presentation for the PS5 Pro, PS5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny showcased the racing simulator alongside clips from other games running on the more advanced console. Although the segments featuring GT7 were short, they revealed that the game will support raytraced reflections during gameplay on the PS5 Pro while aiming for a frame rate of 60 frames per second.
Currently, Gran Turismo 7 does not feature a graphics mode that utilizes raytracing during gameplay; however, it is available in replays, certain menus, and Photo Mode. In replay scenarios, the game can show raytraced self-reflections, allowing players to see reflections of cars from their own perspective, such as wing mirrors, as well as reflections of other cars on the track. Unfortunately, the existing PS5 struggles to maintain a consistent 60 fps when accessing this feature, resulting in a lower frame rate. Notably, Forza Motorsport on Xbox Series X does provide raytraced reflections while driving at 60 fps, although the quality is somewhat lower, requiring a reduction in resolution.
The enhancements offered by the Pro version might be hard to discern in still images but are clearly visible when observing the reflections of cars moving past the player’s vehicle. (For direct access, I’ve timestamped the YouTube embed to the moment GT7 is featured in the presentation.) It remains uncertain if the introduction of raytracing will also affect environmental visuals in GT7 or the cockpit perspective. However, raytracing is observable within car interiors when viewing them in the garage, suggesting that a similar implementation in gameplay could be likely.
While not specified in Sony’s announcement, CNET reports that GT7 will also feature an 8K resolution mode on the PS5 Pro, albeit without raytracing. This provides a practical use for owners of 8K TVs who have been searching for content.
At first glance, improved reflections might not seem a compelling reason to spend $700 (or $780 if you opt for a model with a disc drive—believe it). This perception is understandable. However, achieving raytracing at the high frame rates necessary for simulation racing games or titles with competitive gameplay elements is challenging. While the game should look stunning on the Pro console, if a PC version is ever developed, it’s likely that these features could be implemented there as well—potentially reaching even higher framerates on powerful systems equipped with an RTX 4090 graphics card.
If you’re interested in the PS5 Pro (take note that a stand is not included), there will be an opportunity to experience how great Gran Turismo 7 can look without purchasing the game, thanks to the upcoming release of the free trial titled My First GT later this year.
