It’s been known for some time now that Gran Turismo Sport would be getting sunset at the start of 2024, as per the official announcement from the devs, but it now seems that the process will be more thorough than most might’ve anticipated.
Indeed, while the announcement did specify that Sony and Polyphony Digital would “end the distribution” of purchasable DLCs and online services for Gran Turismo Sport, the expectation was that the game would remain accessible in an always-offline form. This, however, hasn’t been the case, as anyone who hadn’t purchased Sport before January 31, 2024, at 06:00 UTC won’t be able to purchase, download, or play the game at all in the future. The community isn’t thrilled about this development.
Gran Turismo Sport is no longer available, but it gets worse
Certainly, one could argue that there’s virtually no need for Gran Turismo Sport now that Gran Turismo 7 has superseded the older title, which goes doubly so after the release of the recent SPEC II update. Sport, however, did stand on its own two feet with a more bog-standard solo mode focusing on regular progression and events, as seen in the older franchise entries. Regardless, it is a shame that such a relatively recent release would be no longer accessible to new players.
For those who do have access to Gran Turismo Sport, there’s more bad news on the horizon. The game will continue existing in its current, full-fledged state for less than a month. Sport has been an always-online title from the get-go, and as its online services will come to an end on January 31, 2024, that means large batches of its content will no longer be accessible. This includes:
- Any form of multiplayer
- All player-made vehicle customizations (e.g. liveries)
- Community hub
- Open Lobby features
- Sport Mode features
- Mileage Store
- Trophies
Thankfully, the game’s offline modes will remain accessible, with a limited form of progression available as well.
It’s a sad day for GT Sport fans, then, though the good news is that the vast majority of Sport‘s cars are, indeed, available for driving in the newer Gran Turismo 7 title.
The obvious question, though, is whether GT7 itself is due to face a similar fate in a few years. The old Forza Motorsport games are not available at all, either, which means that the recent generations of racing games are in a serious predicament, potentially getting lost for good.
Even for those who are sticking with the latest AAA racing game releases, there are some troubling developments. Forza Motorsport, for one, is hardly adding permanent new events to its middling roster. This makes for an air of transience in the genre, and it doesn’t seem like this will be changing anytime soon.
Published: Jan 3, 2024 10:20 am