Polyphony Digital officially announced today the planned end of support for the PlayStation 4 exclusive GT Sport, after a bit more of six years of activity. While the game will still be playable locally, this means access to some features and content will be limited.
Image credit: Polyphony Digital
GT Sport officially released on October 17th in 2017. GT6 online services were shut down six months later, at the end of March 2018, leaving GTS as the only Gran Turismo game playable online for nearly 4 full years until GT7's release in March 2022. Since then, players have been able to transfer some of their decals and liveries from the old game to the new one. But Sport's life cycle will finally be coming to an end, just shy of two years of cohabitation with the newest title. Online services will end on 31 January 2024 at 06:00 UTC, while DLCs will be removed from the store on 1st December 2023.
The Mileage Store will also become unavailable, which means you will lose the ability to buy items such as special paints (that you would not be able to use anymore anyway), helmets, suits, and even a handful of cars that were only available through that section of the game, namely the Gr.3 and Gr.B Road Cars.
If you are a PSN trophy hunter, you also want to work on getting that platinum now, as some of the trophies can only be acquired by completing online tasks.
A switch to a different coding language, a rushed launch which made GT7's debut quite chaotic, and a PS4 version now preventing the studio from unleashing the game's full potential and making the devs struggle with stability issues are all valid reasons to try and get a new fully next-gen game out as soon as possible to get rid of the series current burdens - especially as PS5 availability is not an issue anymore.
What do you make of the end of online support for Gran Turismo Sport? Let us know in the comments below!
Image credit: Polyphony Digital
GT Sport officially released on October 17th in 2017. GT6 online services were shut down six months later, at the end of March 2018, leaving GTS as the only Gran Turismo game playable online for nearly 4 full years until GT7's release in March 2022. Since then, players have been able to transfer some of their decals and liveries from the old game to the new one. But Sport's life cycle will finally be coming to an end, just shy of two years of cohabitation with the newest title. Online services will end on 31 January 2024 at 06:00 UTC, while DLCs will be removed from the store on 1st December 2023.
Will Gran Turismo Sport still be playable?
Yes, locally. You will still be able to use the cars you have in your garage, and buy cars available in the regular dealership, and particpate in all the single player racing content available. Your game progression will not be affected.Will players lose access to content and features?
Unfortunately, yes. And the amount is quite substantial. Obviously, online lobbies and sport mode won't be available anymore for GT Sport players. More annoyingly though, everything related to the Discovery feature will also disappear from your game. This includes all custom liveries. Your cars will default to their original paint, and you will not be able to access the livery editor anymore.The Mileage Store will also become unavailable, which means you will lose the ability to buy items such as special paints (that you would not be able to use anymore anyway), helmets, suits, and even a handful of cars that were only available through that section of the game, namely the Gr.3 and Gr.B Road Cars.
If you are a PSN trophy hunter, you also want to work on getting that platinum now, as some of the trophies can only be acquired by completing online tasks.
Refocusing on the Future of Gran Turismo
This announcement comes right after what appeared to be quite an underwhelming GT7 update in the eyes of the community, following a very calm summer. As a significant number of players now feel like Polyphony Digital are abandonning the current title, officially killing GT Sport can only push us to think their eyes are now fully turned towards GT8, despite 7 being less than two years old.A switch to a different coding language, a rushed launch which made GT7's debut quite chaotic, and a PS4 version now preventing the studio from unleashing the game's full potential and making the devs struggle with stability issues are all valid reasons to try and get a new fully next-gen game out as soon as possible to get rid of the series current burdens - especially as PS5 availability is not an issue anymore.
What do you make of the end of online support for Gran Turismo Sport? Let us know in the comments below!
