Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) Review: Ver. 1.70, FFB and VR

To get straight to the point, Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) remains the pinnacle of “simcade”—the middle ground between simulation and arcade racing—even in 2026. It is a complete package for people starting sim racing on PS5, existing Gran Turismo players, and advanced drivers who enjoy comparing it with real cars. Updates continuing through Version 1.70, released on June 11, 2026, have substantially evolved the physics engine and FFB support. It also has official support for major direct-drive wheels including the Fanatec DD Pro / DD Extreme and Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel. Full PSVR2 support delivers top-tier VR immersion, while its rare ability to offer a serious experience even on the PS5’s stock DualSense controller is another defining strength.

In this article, I organize what 783 Picar Channel videos have said about GT7. It is aimed primarily at people who own a PS5 and want to start sim racing, as well as intermediate drivers looking to understand its position relative to iRacing, ACC, and AC EVO. I cover what makes simcade a distinct genre, the update history, supported devices, and comparisons with other sims.

My verdict in 30 seconds

My conclusion from 783 Picar Channel videos is that Gran Turismo 7 is the unrivalled pinnacle of its own simcade genre. Ongoing updates have advanced official direct-drive wheel support, full PSVR2 support delivers exceptional VR immersion, and it has the unusual design strength of being genuinely serious with a DualSense as well. Rather than treating “realism” as a competition, if you want a sim you can enjoy and grow with, GT7 remains one of the best answers in 2026.

What Is Gran Turismo 7? The pinnacle of simcade

GT7 is the latest PlayStation-exclusive entry in the series developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Since its 2022 launch, it has received continuous updates for four years, and in 2026 it still stands as the strongest current Gran Turismo title.

To broaden the comparison, also see my iRacing Review: Is PC Sim Racing’s Pinnacle the Closest to Real Racing? and Fanatec GT DD Extreme Examined Through Past Videos: Current 18 N·m Model.

Key information

What the “simcade” genre means

The most important thing to understand about GT7 is its distinct position as a simcade title.

Polyphony officially states that it uses a multi-point tire model, and I rate that tire model highly. My assessment is that it has a distinctive characteristic: it carries a certain level of depth comparable to rFactor, while its game design comes into play and prevents things from falling apart just as they are about to. Tire feel in the low-slip range is extremely realistic, but in the high-slip range the game behaves as if it is helping the user, making it harder for the car to break away completely. That balance with game-like accessibility is the defining feature.

— From Picar Channel: “[GT7] [acEVO] [iRacing] Simulator Comparison! I Rank Which Is the Most Realistic”

GT7’s simcade philosophy comes down to this: “realistic like iRacing in the low-slip range; designed not to fall apart in the high-slip range.” Where a dedicated sim such as iRacing will ruthlessly spin you once things break down, GT7 is designed to hang on at the moment it seems about to break away. That gives it a breadth that beginners and advanced drivers alike can enjoy.

Key past update period (Ver. 1.31–1.55)

The descriptions of Ver. 1.31–1.55 document a key period of past updates. The currently checked version is Ver. 1.70 (released 2026/06/11).

GT7’s greatest appeal is that its physics engine and FFB have continued to develop through post-launch updates. I have tested each update as it arrived.

Update 1.31 — A “legendary” update for DD Pro support

Where the Pro stands now: to summarize this Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.31, the clear conclusion is that force feedback with the DD Pro improved dramatically, delivering a more realistic and enjoyable driving experience. Fine details—from the car’s response to steering input and information coming through from the road surface, to the way it rides over curbs—became closer to a real car. That took simulator immersion forward by a huge margin. “Sportier and more fun” is probably the most accurate description of this update.

— From Picar Channel: “[Gran Turismo 7] Update 1.31: Driving Every New Car! DD Pro Got Better Too”

Update 1.35 — Tire-model evolution was “god-tier”

When I drove the Cayman on the old Version 1.34, its high lateral grip was striking. It was extremely responsive: the more steering lock I added, the more securely it turned, and longitudinal traction was powerful too. It behaved exactly like a racing car. Then, when I switched to the Version 1.35 Cayman, I could definitely feel the change. … Overall grip felt lower. The reduction in lateral grip was especially noticeable. … Response to slip angle was generally weaker, with the peak of the grip curve seeming lower. … This change made 1.35 feel more like the natural behavior of a slick tire.

— From Picar Channel: “[GT7] Update 1.35 Behavior Is God-Tier! Explaining the Differences from 1.34 Using Two PS5s”

By setting up two PS5s and comparing 1.34 and 1.35 simultaneously, I was able to show just how subtle and meaningful GT7’s physics updates can be.

Supported wheels and recommended settings — The evolution of official DD support

Your GT7 sim-racing experience changes substantially depending on your wheel. Major direct-drive wheels, including the Fanatec DD Pro / DD Extreme and Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel, are officially supported.

Fanatec DD Pro / DD Extreme

The realistic “rubber feel” of the DD Extreme: the standout characteristic of this wheel is its exceptionally realistic sense of the tire gripping the surface. From the tire taking hold of the road, through the rubber flexing, to the moment it begins to slide, it communicates the behavior in remarkable detail. It feels as if the road and tire have become one, clearly conveying sensations I could not feel with previous wheels: the sense of rubber being loaded up, or beginning to move. It creates immersion much like driving a real car.

— From Picar Channel: “[GT7] A Thorough Comparison of the Ultimate Wheels: DD+ vs. DD Pro”

Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel

In my hands-on experience, the Logitech G PRO is notable for the fine detail of its GT7 settings, but TrueForce Audio needs careful adjustment.

TrueForce Audio is Logitech’s proprietary feature that sends in-game audio information—engine sound and road-surface conditions, for example—to the wheel as force feedback. When I tried it in iRacing, it was very effective and reproduced realistic vibrations. In GT7, though, if I set it strongly, I got the impression that unnatural vibrations similar to an earlier bug returned. So, for GT7, I set TrueForce Audio to zero for the time being and continued testing.

— From Picar Channel: “Retesting G PRO Racing Wheel PS5 Edition on PC with GT7”

The fact that the same TrueForce feature can be effective in iRacing but feel unnatural if set too high in GT7 shows the depth of refining wheel-by-game settings.

Full PSVR2 support — Immersion compared with my real BRZ

One particularly noteworthy GT7 feature is full PSVR2 support. Because I own a real BRZ, I have been able to conduct the unusual direct comparison between the in-game BRZ and the real car.

Driving at the Nürburgring, you can really see how beautifully the BRZ’s low center-of-gravity design and roll-center geometry work together. It feels like it rolls more than the previous car, but the front stays firmly connected to the road while the rear moves just slightly. It has extremely stable, confidence-inspiring follow-through. I feel GT7’s physics engine made such a leap in this update that it deserves to be called a “legendary” one. Control of the car with the brakes in particular is superb, to the point that it feels like driving a real car. I can only hope this quality remains in future updates. More realistic shifters have appeared recently too, requiring you to fully disengage the clutch before they will engage a gear, and I am considering adding one myself. GT7’s handling is extremely realistic, but if I could ask for one thing, it would be for the behavior after the car has started to slide to move a little closer to a real car. That would make it even more immersive.

— From Picar Channel: “[GT7 VR2] I Bought a Real BRZ, So I Compared It with GT7”

Buying a real car and comparing it is a test even most sim-racing enthusiasts cannot conduct. It is distinctive Picar Channel content. The fact that GT7’s physics does not fall apart under a direct comparison with the behavior of a real BRZ is evidence of a level of polish that goes beyond the simcade label.

A serious experience even with the DualSense (the standard PS5 controller)

Another GT7 strength is that it is designed to be thoroughly enjoyable even without a wheel, using the DualSense.

The first thing that impressed me when playing GT7 was how superb the PS5 DualSense controller is. Until then, I had considered a racing wheel the best possible way to play racing games. But the DualSense presents an alternative to a wheel, and it can even make you feel that playing with a controller gives you sensations closer to a real car. Why was it so impressive? Its trigger feedback. The spring resistance in the L2/R2 buttons used for throttle and brake changes with what is happening in-game. Under braking, for example, the trigger applies strong resistance; under acceleration, its resistance strengthens or weakens in step with the sensation of engine torque. That sends the feeling of the tires biting into the road, or the engine squeezing out power, directly into your fingertips.

— From Picar Channel: “[Gran Turismo 7] My Conclusions After 25 Days of Play”

The assessment that it can “even make you feel that playing with a controller is closer to a real car” overturns conventional sim-racing thinking. In fact, the DualSense adaptive triggers can be more intuitive than a wheel in certain situations as a tool for reproducing delicate throttle and brake application.

Comparison with other sims — Forza / iRacing / AC EVO

A direct comparison with Forza Motorsport

I conducted a direct comparison with Forza Motorsport with Microsoft’s official approval.

To make the comparison as fair and accurate as possible, I was meticulous about the equipment and settings. First, I used Fanatec’s DD Pro wheel. The DD Pro supports PlayStation 5, while on Xbox it requires a Fanatec steering wheel with an Xbox license or a compatible hub. … Reviewing with unsupported hardware could cause trouble for the manufacturers, so preparation like this is extremely important. I went into the comparison fully prepared. I chose Suzuka Circuit, which both titles include, and standardized the conditions to clear weather and three laps.

— From Picar Channel: “I Made the Forbidden GT7 vs. Forza Comparison Video”

This comparison used rigorous matching conditions: the same wheelbase (DD Pro; Xbox used a licensed Fanatec steering wheel or compatible hub), the same circuit (Suzuka), the same weather, and the same number of laps. It is valuable content that brings the difference in the two sims’ design philosophies into focus.

Physics comparison with iRacing / AC EVO

Assetto Corsa Evo added the long-awaited Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Version 0.4 update. … The first striking thing was just how strong the sense of being in the car is. Gran Turismo 7 feels ahead in graphics, but AC Evo offers extremely realistic vehicle behavior and road feedback, with immersion that feels much like driving an actual car.

— From Picar Channel: “[AC EVO, Planned for PlayStation Release] Driving the Latest Nordschleife While Comparing It with GT7”

“GT7 for graphics, AC EVO for the pure feeling of realistic physics” is a basic decision axis when choosing a sim. GT7 competes through visual beauty and broad accessibility, while AC EVO competes through the raw realism of its behavior.

Why familiarity matters more than “realism”

The important point is that rather than fixating on how close something is to reality, you need to get used to the differences in behavior from one simulator to another. Gran Turismo and a different simulator such as iRacing, for example, have different vehicle behavior and control feel. Every simulator has its own characteristics. Understanding and getting used to those characteristics is ultimately the quickest route to lowering your lap times.

— From Picar Channel: “Can You Enjoy Gran Turismo 7 with a Controller? My Thoughts”

My philosophy that “it is important to get used to each simulator’s differences in behavior” is crucial when discussing GT7. The meaningful question is not which title wins a contest for “most realistic,” but which sim you can enjoy most and grow with.

Who it is for—and who it is not for

✅ Recommended for

• Anyone who wants to start sim racing on PS5 (a serious experience without the PC barrier)
• Drivers who want to play across varied devices, from wheels in the ¥10,000–¥100,000 range to DualSense and PSVR2
• Anyone interested in real-car comparisons and realistic behavior from road cars
• Players who enjoy a game whose physics continues to develop through regular updates
• Beginners through advanced drivers who want to enjoy the broad appeal of simcade
• Players who prioritize Polyphony Digital’s graphics quality
• Those who want to play with family or friends (DualSense is serious enough too)

❌ Not recommended for

• Drivers who put the pure realism of a dedicated PC sim (iRacing / AC EVO) above all else
• Anyone without a PS5 or PS4 (there is no PC version)
• Players who prefer strict online rating systems, such as iRacing’s iRating / SR
• Players who want to install mods (GT7 does not support mods)
• Those looking specifically for a rally sim → EA SPORTS WRC is a better fit

Related videos

• [Gran Turismo 7] Update 1.31: Driving Every New Car! DD Pro Got Better Too
• [GT7] Update 1.35 Behavior Is God-Tier! Explaining the Differences from 1.34 Using Two PS5s
• [GT7 VR2] I Bought a Real BRZ, So I Compared It with GT7
• [Gran Turismo 7] My Conclusions After 25 Days of Play
• I Made the Forbidden GT7 vs. Forza Comparison Video
• [GT7] [acEVO] [iRacing] Simulator Comparison! I Rank Which Is the Most Realistic

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Which is more “realistic,” GT7 or iRacing?

A. I have consistently said that it is more important to get used to the differences between simulators than to fixate on which is closer to reality. Both are realistic in the low-slip range, but their design differs in the high-slip range: iRacing spins you when things break down, while GT7 uses game design to let the car hang on.

Q2. Can I play without a racing wheel?

A. Yes, absolutely. The adaptive triggers on the standard PS5 DualSense controller—whose L2/R2 spring resistance changes—are part of a rare design that can “even make you feel that playing with a controller is closer to a real car.” It is also ideal for casual play with family and friends.

Q3. Is PSVR2 support the real deal?

A. It is fully supported. I own a real BRZ and compared it with the in-game BRZ at the Nürburgring. My conclusion was that the evolution of the physics engine has brought the behavior close to that of a real car.

Q4. Which racing wheel do you recommend?

A. Among PS5-compatible direct-drive wheels, the DD Pro (¥100,000–¥120,000) is the standard option, the DD Extreme (¥178,790) is the flagship choice, and the Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel is highly rated for GT7’s realistic presentation. At entry level, you can still have plenty of fun with the HORI Racing Wheel Apex (no FFB; ¥16,000).

Q5. Will updates continue?

A. As of July 26, 2026, updates have continued through Version 1.70, including new cars, physics-engine refinements, and new features such as PSVR2 support. Based on Polyphony Digital’s support approach, further updates appear likely.