Gran Turismo 7's Expensive Microtransactions Show Single Cars For $40
In-game purchases for the just-released PS5 racing title Gran Turismo 7 have been listed, revealing that the game's microtransactions are noticeably more expensive than in previous titles, with a single car costing up to $40. The latest entry in the long-running simulation racing franchise just released today, March 4, with plans to add more vehicles announced by GT 7's developer.
Starting on the PS1 back in 1997, the Gran Turismo series has been a long-running staple on Sony's home consoles. While it has sold consistently well, its financial success did take something of a dip around the release of GT6, the last numbered entry in the franchise. Since then, the series has been overshadowed by other games in the genre, particularly those under the Forza banner over at Microsoft. However, reviews for Gran Turismo 7 indicate that this newest game has served as a return to form for the beloved series, innovating on the franchise's highly-polished driving mechanics while taking advantage of the powerful hardware of the PS5. As with most racing games, the sprawling roster of cars takes center stage for many players - a fact which is highlighted through Gran Turismo 7's advanced photo mode.
While fans are sure to be fond of Gran Turismo's cars, the microtransaction prices they have to pay for some of them is a different story. According to a report from VGC, the real-world cost of in-game cars has skyrocketed when compared to Gran Turismo Sport, the previous release in the series. VGC calls specific attention to three cars - an Aston Martin, a McLaren, and an Audi - that were listed for less than $5 USD in GT Sport, now costing $40 in Gran Turismo 7. This exuberant pricing model is exacerbated by the fact that players need to buy packs of in-game credits rather than making these purchases directly, which can lead to spending more than is required for individual items. It's also worth noting the game itself retails for $69.99.
Some of Gran Turismo 7's stellar reviews might have read a little differently had Sony and Polyphony Digital been more transparent about the game's in-game purchases. However, as is so often the case with games featuring microtransactions, this information was not readily available during the review window. This industry practice can be wildly unfriendly to consumers, as those purchasing the game on release day will not be fully informed about its in-game purchases.
Those who defend or feel indifferent about microtransactions may argue that players can simply ignore them, but it isn't that simple; if a game has in-game purchases, it will most likely be designed around driving players to spend money on them, which more often than not leads to a worse or more frustrating game. A good example of this would be the XP boosters in Assassin's Creed Valhalla: in the interest of making the most profit possible, Ubisoft wants more players to buy these in order for players to save time. For more players to buy the time savers, natural, unpaid progression through the game needs to be slow or otherwise suboptimal. Most Sony-exclusive releases have stayed away from these sorts of in-game purchases, so it's disappointing to see that Gran Turismo 7 has such expensive microtransactions. Hopefully, this does not become a trend for Sony.
Source: VGC