BeamNG.drive Graphics Overhaul Adopts Gran Turismo 7 Tone Mapping
The adoption of Gran Turismo 7's open-source tone mapping in BeamNG.drive shows how Polyphony Digital's SIGGRAPH 2025 presentation is directly influencing other car games, bridging a simulation and a racing title.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
BeamNG.drive version 0.39, released July 30, includes a major graphics overhaul that replaces the conventional ACES tone mapper with tone mapping technology from Gran Turismo 7. Polyphony Digital presented the technique at SIGGRAPH 2025 and released C++ sample code under the MIT license. The update also adds HDR support for Vulkan and Direct3D 12, a UI overhaul, and a revamped photo mode.
BeamNG.drive's version 0.39 update, released July 30, is described by developer BeamNG as the largest in the game's history. The graphics overhaul includes more stable shadows, physical light attenuation based on the inverse-square law, and HDR support for Vulkan and Direct3D 12.
According to the official documentation, the update replaces the conventional ACES tone mapper with tone mapping technology from Gran Turismo 7. Polyphony Digital presented this technique at SIGGRAPH 2025 and released C++ sample code under the MIT license. The tone mapping deforms a common tone curve for SDR and HDR based on target maximum luminance, and processes luminance and chrominance separately to suppress hue shifts.
BeamNG.drive, a driving simulation known for soft-body physics, has received 380,000 Steam user reviews with 97% positive. After version 0.39, it recorded a peak of approximately 47,000 concurrent players. The PS5 version is scheduled for release within the year.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.