As Forza Motorsport Winds Down, Gran Turismo Is Experiencing A ‘Phenomenon’ At PlayStation

The two titans of the console racing simulation world are currently driving in very different directions. According to new reports, while Xbox’s Forza Motorsport is effectively ending its major content cycle, PlayStation’s Gran Turismo 7 is hitting unprecedented levels of engagement.

Forza hits the Brakes Turn 10 Studios recently confirmed that the 2023 reboot of Forza Motorsport will not receive any major new content updates in 2026. While the game will continue to be supported with server maintenance and minor tweaks, the “winding down” phase has officially begun after just two years on the market.

This news comes as a disappointment to Xbox sim-racing fans, many of whom felt the title—while possessing a solid driving foundation—didn’t quite evolve into the long-term platform originally promised.

Gran Turismo’s “Phenomenon” In stark contrast, Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 7 is seemingly just hitting its stride. In a recent roundtable interview, series producer Kazunori Yamauchi described the current state of the game as a “phenomenon.”

“Gran Turismo 7 has been released for several years, but still, the active users are currently over 2 million people, and the new users are increasing,” Yamauchi stated. “The status that Gran Turismo 7 is in now is probably the best of any Gran Turismo titles that we’ve had in the past. We’ve never experienced this phenomenon before, and neither has PlayStation.”

Why the Difference? The disparity in longevity is striking. Yamauchi attributes GT7‘s success to a shift in how the studio supports titles long-term and an evolving relationship with the community. Recent expansions, the “Power Pack” DLC, and the integration of high-level esports events have kept the ecosystem vibrant.

Meanwhile, Xbox appears to be shifting its racing priority heavily toward Forza Horizon, the open-world sibling that continues to dominate the casual market. While Horizon remains a massive seller, the “sim” crowd on Xbox may be left waiting a long time for their next lap.