My First Gran Turismo is coming to PS4 and PS5 on Dec. 6, promising a new, easy way in to Gran Turismo 7.<\/b>
\nGran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital will release a new, free-to-play version of Gran Turismo 7 on Friday under the name, My First Gran Turismo. Ostensibly a demo version of Polyphony\u2019s \u201creal driving simulator,\u201d My First Gran Turismo is more interesting for what it\u2019s trying to do: appeal not just to racing sim enthusiasts, but players aged \u201c7 to 77\u201d, according to its official website, \u201cwho have yet to experience Gran Turismo.\u201d
It also appears to have taken inspiration from a line of kid-focused products Sony released in the 1980s.
My First Gran Turismo looks to be less of a streamlined demo version of Gran Turismo 7, and more like a newcomer-friendly, focused experience. Players will be able to collect 18 cars, compete in three races and time trials, and earn licenses to learn specific driving techniques in My First Gran Turismo. The developer also promises bits of car history and trivia that will turn players \u201cinto an automotive expert in no time.\u201d A simplified menu interface will get players right into the action.
\u201cThis experience holds a special place in my heart, as it pays tribute to the origins of the first Gran Turismo, where players of all generations discovered the joys of driving,\u201d said Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital, in a post on the PlayStation Blog. \u201cWhether it\u2019s introducing kids to the joy of racing for the first time or reigniting a forgotten passion for driving, My First Gran Turismo was designed to be both approachable and immersive, created for everyone, with no limits on age or driving skill level.\u201d
Yamauchi said that My First Gran Turismo is about \u201cembarking on a personal driving journey,\u201d and that players \u201cwill build confidence one lap at a time, tackling new challenges that\u2019ll steadily refine their driving skills.\u201d
The name My First Gran Turismo appears to be an homage to a similarly named line of Sony electronics products from the 1980s. Starting in 1987, the company made kid-friendly \u2014 read: smaller, colorful, and plastic \u2014 versions of the Walkman, walkie talkies, and cassette recorders. Those My First Sony products were typically bright red. My First Gran Turismo adopts a similar color scheme, with a bright red main menu and a Lamborghini Countach as the first car players will see. A big yellow \u201cStart\u201d button leads right into the game, a far different experience from the complexity of the full-fat Gran Turismo 7.
My First Gran Turismo will be released for free on Dec. 6 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Cars obtained by completing My First Gran Turismo can be unlocked in the full version of Gran Turismo 7.<\/p>\n