The PlayStation and Xbox rivalry has been going on for decades now. Nintendo does pop up with a console of its own once in a while, but it is more focused on the handheld side of gaming. As far as the console wars go, while the fervor is not as intense as it used to be, the subtle undercurrents are still flowing.
Both companies have their competing franchises, and while these games don’t always overlap in genre, there is one level playing field for the gaming giants: racing. Both of the companies are ready to put the pedal to the metal, but one of them has been steadily smoking the other through repeated entries, and one wonders if Gran Turismo will ever overtake Forza.
Gran Turismo’s Victory Lap Remains a Question for Many PlayStation Users
The racing genre has seen a lot of titles come and go. From the more high-octane ones such as Burnout to long-standing franchises like Need for Speed, gamers have a multitude of ways to hit the asphalt. Among these, Gran Turismo has been a series that focuses more on realism, intending to give the player an accurate feeling of being within the cockpit of a professional race car.
Racing enthusiasts with a Sony console have flocked to this title due to its accurate driving emulation, the ability to tune the car’s performance to one’s desires, and the graphical prowess. The game is one of the more beautiful racing sims out there, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one that offers the same attention to detail as Polyphony Digital.
With a solid roster of usable cars, the more serious fans even invested in a steering wheel setup to provide a more authentic feel to the entire experience. At the end of the day, that was Polyphony’s primary goal—to offer racing enthusiasts as authentic a racing experience as possible in the comfort of their homes. However, even with all the work put into the title, it seems Xbox is constantly pulling ahead.
Forza Motorsport Leaves Gran Turismo in the Dust
Microsoft released the first Forza game in 2005 on the original Xbox, and the franchise has grown vastly in the past two decades. With amazing visuals, scenic locations, and a wide array of usable vehicles, the game has taken the gaming world by storm and is not letting its foot off the gas anytime soon.
One of the biggest highlights for players is the dynamic experience of driving around in the game. The weather and lighting systems in Forza Horizon and Motorsport are among the most advanced in all racing titles. It creates a sense of dreamy realism, and gets the player far more engaged into the race.
Even in the same arena, each lap can feel like a new experience due to the passage of time, sudden weather effects, random events, and the changing of shadows as the player passes through different spots within the track. With many expecting the next game to utilize Unreal Engine 5, it’s going to be a visual feast for car lovers.
The open-world formula and ease of switching between cars in the game also add to the appeal, as the player is not required to constantly navigate menus before getting behind the wheel. The experience feels seamless; as easy as slipping into second gear from first. When Microsoft has created such a holistic racing experience, it’s little wonder that Sony’s entry in the genre doesn’t quite match up.
Forza’s Lead on Gran Turismo Will Continue to Grow Thanks to Certain Factors
On the surface, both titles may seem to be everything a racing enthusiast could want, and in many ways, they also complement each other. Where Gran Turismo satisfies the desire to feel like a pro on the track, Forza is akin to a fun race among friends in some rented supercars down a scenic route on vacation. But, even with such synergistic uses, the latter has always dominated the former in sales and public opinion.
Sony’s attempt to bring their racing sim into the spotlight by way of a feature film also didn’t seem to pan out as intended. The movie performed average at the box office, and there wasn’t any massive uptick in sales for the game after its release. On the other hand, Microsoft’s racing offers more in the game that seems to draw people to the title, which may change if rumors of it coming to PlayStation end up being true.
Aside from the visuals as mentioned earlier and dynamic environments, Forza offers a much wider selection of cars for the player to drive. As the character roster of a fighting game determines how popular the title will be in the community, the same could be said for racing titles too. After all, the more variety the game offers, the more time players are likely to sink into the world and explore all the options available to them.
Along with that, the emphasis on freedom also appeals to many more players. Sony’s title may be realistic, but it confines itself to a very specific use case through that rigid adherence.
Microsoft’s racing sim, on the other hand, seems to emphasize just having fun with whatever car you choose to drive. Races in the game may be set on the track, but the open world between these races further pushes the focus on freedom.
Both the games are over 2 years old at this point, but it’s too early to hear anything concrete about the next installment in the series. Sony is ahead of Microsoft in hardware sales, so that might affect the overall sales numbers. But which game do you think is going to become the reigning racing champion? Let us know your pick and why you believe that to be the case in the comments below!
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