3d ago
LEGO Japan announced on September 3, 2026 that general sales of the LEGO PlayStation begin October 4. The set recreates the first-generation PlayStation's gray body silhouette and controller using 1,911 LEGO pieces. When complete, it measures approximately 6 cm high by 26 cm wide by 19 cm deep, nearly the size of the actual console. The controller connects to the main unit, and the Open and Power buttons are functional and can be pressed. The central gimmick is a diorama revealed when the console opens. Two scenes are available: a miniature course from the 1997 racing game Gran Turismo and a scene from the 1999 game Ape Escape, complete with the red and blue monkey helmets. These dioramas store inside the console or can be removed for separate display. The set is priced at 27,980 yen including tax and is recommended for ages 18 and up. LEGO Insiders members can purchase early starting October 1. Retail locations include the official LEGO online store, LEGO stores nationwide, the Benelic LEGO Store Rakuten Market shop, and LEGOLAND Japan Resort locations.
3d ago
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the large update "Spec IV" for Gran Turismo 7 during its State of Play broadcast on September 3, 2026. The free major update will roll out in two parts, with the first arriving in October and the second in December. It adds two courses: Sportsland SUGO, a Japanese technical circuit with varied elevation changes, and Autumn Link, a track that has appeared in the series since the first title. A total of 12 new car models will be introduced, added in two batches. The update also brings several new modes, including Online Drift Trial, where drivers compete on control, precision, and style; Shuffle Race, which sets online race conditions randomly; the new driving experience "Experience"; and the garage feature "View Car." A mode called Family Mode, designed so even small children can play, was also teased, with elements aimed at hardcore players. Further details are scheduled for October 3 at the Gran Turismo World Series Round 3 event in Singapore.
Aug 20
Sony Interactive Entertainment released Gran Turismo 7 update 1.71 on August 20 at 15:00 JST. The free update adds four cars: the Toyota Mark II Tourer V '97, Toyota Chaser Tourer V '97, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N '25, and Caterham Seven Superlight R500 '08. New race events and a Scapes feature are also planned.
Aug 17
Mazda released a teaser video on August 15, 2026, for the MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 EVO, an evolution of the RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT racing car in the Gran Turismo series. The car was first shown at the Gran Turismo World Series 2026 Round 2 Tokyo event. It is scheduled to appear in Gran Turismo 7 within 2026.
Aug 8
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.
Jul 22
Kazunori Yamauchi has released free web content titled "The Gran Turismo Magazine Beyond the Apex" that reconstructs the booklets included with early Gran Turismo games. The content covers themes about cars, their physics, and driving, and is a culmination of past booklet materials. Yamauchi is considering future revised editions.