Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed, when speaking to Eurogamer, that Gran Turismo 6 will follow in Gran Turismo 5’s footsteps, and get a whole host of patches over the first year of its release, starting off with a big one on the day of release.
He said that “It’s the same every time. Everything’s very tight. It’s an incredibly tight schedule. As to being able to include everything we want to on day one, we probably won’t be able to. I think for the 12 months following the release we’ll continue to update the software. Because in Gran Turismo 6 we’re preparing a lot of different things we haven’t even touched on yet.”
It’s not just next-gen games who want to work right up until the day of launch. So, as we saw with GT5’s 2.0 patch, and yesterday’s statement that the game’s audio systems would not be overhauled in time for launch, it will be the case that the Gran Turismo you can play at the end of 2014 will be a big improvement upon the one launching in December of this year.
That isn’t to say that GT6 isn’t going to be a vast improvement on GT5’s numerous flaws. In particular, the online infrastructure has received an overhaul, with Yamauchi stating that, “The system we had in Gran Turismo 5 was hard to understand. In Gran Turismo 6 it’ll be more clear cut.”
As for whether this system of patching could see the Gran Turismo business model turn into more of an ever-evolving platform from an initial Prologue-like launch, rather than set releases, Yamauchi answered to EG, “I think you’re sort of right in that we’ve really changed how we make games now. Even now when we’re near the end of development [on Gran Turismo 6] we’re still creating features that will be provided in this game in updates later on.”
I’m stroking my beard as I think about the PlayStation 4…
Source: Eurogamer
Bilbo_bobbins
and one big reason that I wont be buying it on ps3 or ps4 when the next one arrives.
tonyyeb
I wouldn’t say GT5 was a disappointment when it first released but 2.0 made it into the game I think most people were expecting. I hope the same doesn’t happen with GT6, especially as the demo already felt quite similar and not the big step forward I was hoping for.
Stefan L
GT5 was fundamentally flawed in many ways at launch, but GT6 is able to build upon that solid base, and then continue to move forwards.
cam the man
Yep, it will only get better and better.
tonyyeb
I’m sure it will be much better, but I’d rather it was great from day one rather than living in the hope that it will get better and better.
cnutard
So in simple terms; the game won’t be complete until the end of 2014?
So the day one buyer gets an unfinished game that he has to waste valuable hd space installing patches for. While average Joe bloggs waits a year then buys the inevitable ultimate edition with all patches and dlc for half the price.
Think I know which I’ll be doing. if I even bother to pick it up.
leeroye
Dont release it until its ready then, simple.
Bilbo_bobbins
exactly, the way it should be, instead letting the customers “test” the game, and then implementing things when they moan.
It pretty much happened with BF3, so many problems and only now is the game really playable in a balanced way.
tonycawley
Bf3 is worse now than it was when it released. The custom servers have ruined the game. Nobody wants to play a 3 hour match that is unwinnable.
Eldave0
Won’t be checking out GT6 then. Buying GT5 on launch day and then having to wait over 5 hours for the bloody thing to install and update remains my most frustrating gaming moment this gen.
parryman
I’ll be buying it on day one
bunimomike
Agreed with the majority of sentiment here. I’ve been enjoying Payday 2 (Steam/PC) but if I have to be honest about it, it released a month early. Definitely. It’s had 12 patches already. :-\
This is infuriating, especially when you see game-breaking bugs introduced in patches. Technically we could play the game but the bugs reduced the fun so much that people left. Simple as that.
aerobes
This is something I don’t actually mind. Means I can play the game at my leisure and enjoy incremental updates and little add-ons here and there pretending it’s free DLC. The whole situation is stupid to be honest but when I boils down to it I want to play the game and have these updates than wait another year without getting to enjoy it.
Stefan L
That’s where my thinking lies, too. GT6 should hopefully come out and be effectively a full game. What comes after that is extra. They could release it and then just do a few bug fixes, and keep quiet about what they plan for GT7, but instead they’re saying that they still want to take what is there and continue to add and improve upon their work with a new audio engine etc. etc.
Kennykazey
I kinda like the idea of an evolving game, the same may be true of DriveClub. As long as it’s not broken and awful at launch, a game like GT can work with this model.
freezebug2
I was really impressed with the improvements seen with the GT6 Academy competition demo, and they’re obviously way beyond that stage with the games development by now, so in my view GT6 will be the full build from day one and anything added or patched in will be an enhancement rather than a game build as others have mentioned.