Rumors about Gran Turismo 8 are revving up after a cryptic job listing from Polyphony Digital surfaced online, hinting at the next installment in Sony’s flagship racing series. The listing, first spotted by TweakTown, seeks a Project Manager to oversee the "Gran Turismo series" at PlayStation Studios—a role many interpret as early development work on GT8.
The official PlayStation Careers page details responsibilities including "project schedule management" and "quality control" for the franchise, sparking speculation that Polyphony is gearing up for a new entry. With Gran Turismo 7 launching in 2022, industry watchers suggest GT8 could target PlayStation 5—or even skip to PS6, given Polyphony’s history of multi-year development cycles.
PlayStation’s Cross-Platform Ambitions vs. Gran Turismo’s Legacy
The timing is intriguing. Sony recently signaled a strategic shift toward multiplatform releases, with Windows Central reporting aggressive hiring to port PlayStation Studios games to "Xbox, Steam, [and] Nintendo Switch." Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios, emphasized a "thoughtful" approach to PC ports in a Video Games Chronicle interview, prioritizing live-service titles (Helldivers 2) and legacy single-player games (God of War).
Yet Gran Turismo may buck this trend. The series has been a PlayStation exclusive since 1997, driving console sales with its technical prowess. As noted in a ResetEra forum discussion, Sony treats GT as a "system seller," unlikely to debut on rival hardware. Polyphony’s meticulous development—often spanning 5–6 years—also suggests GT8 could align with a hypothetical PS6 launch window (2027–2028).
What’s Next?
While no official announcement exists, insiders predict GT8 will prioritize PS5 (and possibly PS6) exclusivity, with a PC port following years later—mirroring Gran Turismo 7’s 2024 PC release. For now, fans should temper expectations of an Xbox or Switch version. As one ResetEra user quipped: "You’ll get Forza on PlayStation before GT on Xbox."
Sony and Polyphony Digital declined to comment.
Follow our gaming desk for updates on this developing story.
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