Gaming

Gran Turismo 7: For car enthusiasts

Car simulator extraordinaire

Published

March 2, 2022

Gran Turismo is considered the de facto racing game for the PlayStation console. I know I’ve played my fair share of the franchise on the original PlayStation. As a dumb child-person-thing at the time, I only saw it as nothing more than a racing game. It wasn’t super appealing to me as I preferred the more bombastic, anime-inspired Bakusou Kyoudai Let’s & Go!! Eternal Wings. But times have changed, and so the Gran Turismo franchise and I grew up as well.

For its 25th anniversary, the franchise is making a grand comeback with Gran Turismo 7. It’s the first main line game since 2013’s Gran Turismo 6. There was a Gran Turismo Sport for the PlayStation 4 in 2017, but it didn’t offer the full experience expected of a GT game.

GT7 is a triumphant return, offering top-notch racing and driving mechanics, while offering an expanded experience. An experience that I think car enthusiasts or even just car curious people will enjoy.

Racing and driving still at its core

There are no ifs and buts about it. The racing and driving experience is still the main draw of Gran Turismo 7. The sound of the engine, the way each car handles, and the diversity of the terrain. Polyphony Digital, the game’s developer, took its sweet time making this and it shows.

The game is friendly whether you’re a beginner who’s not used to racing or driving games or you’re a seasoned pro. There are plenty of controller options and settings that you can tweak to your liking to really make the game work for you.

When getting started, I picked the beginner mode on normal difficulty. Beginner mode turns on driver-assist settings that I wish were present in today’s smart vehicles. It’s especially helpful for someone like myself who has road trauma. Not only are there braking assists, this mode also turns on road indicators warning you of turns, where to brake, and where to position your vehicle.

I got smug after a handful of wins on the racetrack and decided to turn-off driver-assist. The controls are easy to pick up. You hold down R2 to accelerate, L2 to brake, and the left stick to steer. You press the cross button (X) to go up a gear, and press square to go down a gear. If you’re not at all used to driving, mastering this while knowing exactly when to change gears or hit the breaks is a nice challenge to overcome.

Ultimately, I went back to beginner mode because I’m a noob and I suck. But I’m not putting this game down until I get good at driving, so long as my work schedule allows.

A guided campaign

There’s a lot of handholding in the beginning of the game. Gran Turismo 7 takes great care in making sure no player is overwhelmed from the get go. What initially feels like a lengthy tutorial slowly turns into some kind of an educational tour of what the game has to offer.

You begin by buying a used car. You then make a go round at the Café where you’ll get most of your campaign objectives. These are called menus and they’re tightly organized. Each menu introduces you to a different mode of the game as well as teach you about the cars available in the game.

The game slowly opens up until you learn what each mode has to offer. From there, you can slowly climb up the ranks, upgrade your licenses, modify your cars, and the really fun part – build your car collection.

Car Collection

I imagine this will be the most rewarding experience for anyone who picks up Gran Turismo 7. Nearly every facet of the game is geared towards the player building and completing the Car Collection.

There are a multitude of brands and cars here including those from top brands we know and love. You have Ferrari, Audi, Totoya, Ford, Lexus, and many, many more. The Car Collection can be sorted by country, manufacturer, and more.

When you go into the collection, you can click on each car to learn more about it. This whole learning about cars is actually integrated into the campaign through the menus. You’re given objectives to complete and a lot of times it involves races to win cars. These cars are grouped together in a common theme and you learn about them after you complete objectives.

Naturally, you can acquire cars in different ways. There’s the used cars store mentioned earlier, and then there’s Brand Central where you can buy them shiny and new. If you don’t have funds yet, you can always add certain cars to your wishlist.

An audio and visual treat

Part of the allure of the game are the many locations in which the races take place. While this isn’t Forza Horizon levels of visual prowess, there’s more than enough here to make you feel that you’re actually playing a next-gen game.

You can choose Performance or Ray Tracing Mode but the game takes it upon itself to choose which one suits certain modes best. During my playthrough, I found Performance mode to be most ideal while shifting to Ray Tracing every so often to take in the view.

The photo mode is rather unique. Instead of pausing during your gameplay, it offers the option to take your cars to a selection of scenic locations. From there you can customize the look and feel of the photo like you would in other games. Photo mode fans might feel limited by this, but the breathtaking locations are truly eye candy.

The music of Gran Turismo 7 is chef’s kiss. Every track fits every game mode, location, and situation. During races, you’ll be treated to alternative pop rock tunes to get you pumped. There are even tracks that are reminiscent of background music in sports animé where the protagonist is about to bounce back. It truly gets you in the right mood, especially when you’re trying to overtake to win the race.

This kind of consistency remains throughout. Museums in Brand Central offer regal and majestic music. Meanwhile, the café will treat you to some jazzy tunes to get your mind at ease.

Is this your GameMatch?

There’s a lot to love about Gran Turismo 7 even if you’re not super into cars. The game draws you in slowly and teaches you everything, every step of the way. Before you know it, you’re looking up more information online about the cars that really caught your eye.

Performance-wise, it’s a truly next-gen game in presentation and experience. I already gushed about the visuals and music, but the controls and DualSense utilization are all on point.

Gran Turismo 7 is an easy game to get into. It’s a game you’re going to want to keep installed as sort of an in-between game when you’re taking a break from story driven titles.

Related Topics:Gran Turismo 7 PlayStation 5 PS5

Gaming

FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods delayed to 2027

The game needs more development time.

Published

October 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

It’s been a while since the last time we got a FromSoftware game. Elden Ring Nightreign felt like an age ago, even if it was launched just last year. Plus, the title isn’t even a new one, technically, since it’s just building off of Elden Ring. Unfortunately, our wait for a new FromSoftware game has to go on for a little bit longer. FromSoftware has delayed the launch of The Duskbloods to 2027.

The Duskbloods is an interesting addition to the FromSoftware oeuvre. Compared to the usual fare, the Switch-exclusive title is a multiplayer extraction game with a distinctly Bloodborne-like feel. If you’re used to FromSoftware’s usual formula, The Duskbloods represents a huge change.

But it’s a welcome one, nonetheless. If the recently released Elden Ring port of the Switch 2 is any indication, FromSoftware does have a handle of what performance looks like on the console.

Sadly, the new title needs a bit more time in the oven. Citing “final adjustments to game rules and balancing,” FromSoftware is delaying the launch of the game to 2027. According to the studio, this is in response to the successful network test a while back.

The delay shouldn’t come off as a surprise. Though the studio promised a 2026 launch for the title, most of the year has passed without a definite launch date. That was already a telltale sign that a delay was coming.

At the very least, the delay comes with the benefit of launching the game farther away from Grand Theft Auto VI and the Ocarina of Time remake, which will surely dominate holiday gaming this year.

Gaming

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 launches on Switch 2

Demon Slayer arrives on Switch 2

Published

October 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

SEGA has released Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The new edition delivers enhanced graphics, smoother 60 FPS gameplay, and additional playable characters through the Infinity Castle Character Pass.

Developed as the latest entry in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba action game series, The Hinokami Chronicles 2 lets players follow Tanjiro Kamado’s journey in Story Mode. Players can also take their favorite characters into online and offline battles.

The game series has sold more than six million copies worldwide across physical and digital releases, including deluxe editions.

Switch 2 version runs at 60 FPS

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition takes advantage of the newer console’s hardware to improve visual quality and performance over the original Nintendo Switch version.

The game runs at 60 FPS, with enhanced graphics that bring character expressions and special attack animations into sharper detail. SEGA also promises more responsive controls for its fast-paced battles.

The Switch 2 Edition includes 54 playable characters, with seven fighters from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Character Pass. These are Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Giyu Tomioka, Shinobu Kocho, Doma, Akaza, and Kaigaku, all featuring their respective Infinity Castle-related versions where applicable.

Players can fight locally with up to two players or compete online. The game also supports battles between Nintendo Switch 2 and original Nintendo Switch players. However, cross-generation online matches run at 30 FPS.

Those who already own the Nintendo Switch version can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free by downloading the Upgrade Pass from the Nintendo eShop. The free upgrade does not include the Infinity Castle Character Pass, which requires a separate purchase.

Ultimate Edition also available

Alongside the Switch 2 launch, SEGA has released The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Ultimate Edition for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam.

The new bundle offers another option for players looking to jump into the series or expand their existing collection.

About Demon Slayer

Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows Tanjiro Kamado, whose family is killed by demons. After his younger sister Nezuko becomes a demon herself, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps in search of a way to restore her humanity.

The manga ran for 23 volumes in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump and has sold more than 220 million copies worldwide. Its anime adaptation, produced by ufotable, premiered in April 2019 and has since expanded across multiple television arcs and theatrical releases.

The latest major installment, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, began its three-part theatrical finale in Japan on July 18, 2025.

With its expanded roster and improved performance, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gives players another way to experience Tanjiro’s demon-slaying adventures.

Gaming

PlayStation unveils Prism Collection

Transparent PS5 accessories return

Published

October 29, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

PlayStation is bringing back the see-through aesthetic with the Prism Collection, a new lineup of transparent DualSense controllers and PlayStation 5 console covers.

Announced on October 28, the collection features three colorways: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray. Each combines translucent materials with a glossy finish, offering a glimpse of the hardware beneath the exterior.

The collection takes inspiration from the transparent electronics trend of the late 1990s, giving the PS5 and its accessories a retro-inspired look with a more contemporary design.

Three colors, one transparent design

The Prism Collection applies the transparent treatment to both the DualSense wireless controller and matching PS5 console covers.

The three color options are:

Flare Orange: A vibrant orange finish with subtle rosy tones where the transparent materials overlap.
Emerald Green: A deep green finish that gains visual depth through its translucent exterior.
Graphite Gray: A cool-toned gray design with a more understated appearance.

The DualSense controllers feature a high-gloss transparent finish across the back, revealing parts of their internal components. A metallic finish on the center cover adds contrast to the design.

The collection revisits an aesthetic popularized by consumer electronics in the late 1990s, when transparent plastic casings let users see the technology inside their devices.

According to PlayStation designer Leo Cardoso, the goal was to revive that look while keeping it consistent with the PS5’s design.

PlayStation Prism Collection price and availability

The Prism Collection will launch starting February 4, 2027, with preorders opening on November 10, 2026, at 10 AM local time in supported markets.

The DualSense controllers will be available globally, while the matching console covers will be sold directly through PlayStation in supported regions and in limited quantities through select retailers elsewhere.

Here’s how much the accessories will cost in select markets: