Gran Turismo 7: Discover the Power Pack and Spec III Update!

Gran Turismo 7: tra Spec III e Power Pack

Gran Turismo 7 never dies, that much is certain. December brought two important new features for the racing game developed by Polyphony: the free Spec III update and the substantial Power Pack DLC, priced at €29.99. In both cases, we are talking about truly significant additions that we will discover with you in the following lines. Let's start with Spec III, an update that is undoubtedly the biggest GT7 has ever received, so much so that even the game's introductory video has been specially revamped.

We're talking about a large number of contents and various functionalities, with enormous attention to cars and circuits. Eight new cars make their appearance: two Ferraris, the 296 GT3 ’23 and the 296 GTB ’22, the legendary and unattainable Fiat Panda 30 CL ’85, the Gran Turismo F3500-B, the Mine’s Skyline GT-R R34 N1, the Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R ’97, the Polestar 5 Performance ’26, and the Renault Espace F1 ’95. We are talking about an extremely varied vehicle fleet suitable for all tastes, with the developers wanting to explore extremely different categories. The two Ferraris will make the hearts of those who love the Prancing Horse and GT3s vibrate, but those with a few more years under their belt can only look with enthusiasm at the 1985 Panda, and know that to get it you'll have to rush to the used car dealership.

While you're at it, invest some credits in the legendary 1997 Mitsubishi FTO, a true gem of Japanese front-wheel drive. Also noteworthy is the Renault Espace F1, born from the synergy between the French manufacturer and Williams, a car that answers the question "what would happen if you put a Formula 1 engine in a minivan?" The Polestar 5 also stands out, a luxury Swedish sedan that might make you reconsider your ideas about electric motors if you're die-hard fossil fuel fans. In any case, each of these eight cars has been recreated with enormous attention to detail, both mechanically and aesthetically, and peeking inside the "Pandino" was an invaluable trip down memory lane, even though, when I was little, my family didn't have that model but the tireless 4X4. Polyphony doesn't disappoint and once again shows that it has worked driven by a true love for the history of four wheels.

There are also two new circuits, the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi where we can test ourselves on both its long straights and in mixed zones for lower speeds, and the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal, named after the unforgettable Canadian champion, where, given the configuration of the curves, the brakes are put to the test, and with them, the drivers' ability to best manage a situation made of frequent accelerations and decelerations. Needless to say, in this case too, the rendering is of the highest quality, but by now the Gran Turismo saga has accustomed us to a first-rate visual impact (except for a few frames that sporadically go missing). I would like to point out that in time trial mode you can also find a new version of the Nurburgring, although the base circuit is not new. Furthermore, Dunlop, a famous tire manufacturer, has joined the large GT 7 family, and we can now choose their tires to equip our cars, not to mention a new data reading mode that allows us to examine in every detail what we have done on the track in order to best manage our moves during setting or line adjustments during the lap, excellent news for hardcore drivers. 

Gran Turismo 7: News and Updates for Everyone!

The collector level cap has been raised to 70, whereas before it was locked at 50: if in past months you have collected points above the previous limit, don't worry because they will not be lost, but will be immediately counted and you will automatically see your status rise. Naturally, this is joined by new Café menus with related missions and rewards, not to mention an expansion of the challenges available on the various tracks and new special and timed events. Still talking about time, now invitations from manufacturers to purchase rare cars no longer have limits, so you can get the car of your dreams with more peace of mind, not to mention that once you reach collector level 50, invitations from all manufacturers will be unlocked and you won't have to wait to draw them as a lottery prize from the tickets you receive when you reach a certain objective. Well, all this (and other secondary additions) is part of the free update, and it is clear how this is content of both quality and quantity, where the community can only rejoice at the work done by Polyphony.

Now let's talk about the Power Pack, a DLC that, at a cost of 29.99 euros, expands the range of playable challenges not only in number but from different points of view. Available only for the PlayStation 5 version, the Gran Turismo 7 Power Pack targets gamers who love a more realistic racing system, starting from its execution. Once the download is complete, a sailing ship appears in the lower left area of the world map, which we can click on to find ourselves on an RPG-style skill tree map where we can only access a small group of competitions divided by type. Each time we complete a race, we will unlock the next one, completing a list of 50 events.

The competition categories are numerous and range from small historic cars to modern supercars, not to mention some divisions related to their geographical origin. Race management nods to real-life events, and if you want to participate, you'll have to pay an entry fee. Exactly like in reality, we have three sessions available: the first is dedicated to an hour of free practice, the second to ten minutes of qualifying, and the last to the actual race. For motorsport enthusiasts, the formula is perfect and allows for optimal management of your car relative to the circuit, with all the necessary time to spend in the pits for modifications and settings. Furthermore, you can also follow your opponents' laps (once again modeled on real Gran Turismo champions) to glean their secrets, perhaps observing braking points and trajectories of their fast laps. To be honest, this information alone would be enough to pique the interest of those who want to experience GT7 in the most realistic mode possible. 

Power Pack and Spec III Make GT7 Even More Immortal!

It should be noted that you won't be able to use cars from your garage, but will be tied to preset models divided by power: if you choose to race with less powerful cars, you will receive a bonus earning at the end of the race. Furthermore, races cannot be restarted, so you won't be able to start over if you made a bad start or went off track for braking too late into a corner: you can only reach the finish line or retire, always keeping in mind that to re-enter the event you will have to pay. The Power Pack also offers endurance races that can last up to 24 hours, naturally giving you the opportunity to save your progress during the competition.

In addition to this, the DLC races benefit from a new artificial intelligence model that aims to make confrontations with opponents even more challenging, and indeed the difference compared to the original is noticeable. On several occasions (but not always), our opponents proved to be more aggressive in attacking us and more combative in defending their position from our assaults, perhaps delaying braking as much as possible. In short, the Gran Turismo 7 Power Pack is truly interesting for those looking for a more competitive and realistic experience, especially in managing the race weekend. Among other things, at the end of each race, based on the result obtained, we will receive a certain number of stars that we can spend to unlock prize boxes scattered on the map, where there will be some interesting surprises.

As a side note, included in the package are also 5,000,000 credits, a perfect amount to spend, perhaps on some of the new cars from the Spec III update. Whether you want to or don't want to open your wallet to buy the Power Pack, Gran Turismo 7 is enriched from many points of view, demonstrating that Polyphony continues to take the best possible care of its flagship title: Spec III is a very welcome gift, while the Power Pack, although expensive in its nature as DLC, offers a whole new way to experience the Gran Turismo saga and can only be highly recommended to those who love to experience the thrills of real race weekends.