Gran Turismo Sport Demo Release Date, Start Time, Download Size, and More

Similar to Forza 7 for the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, PS4-exclusive Gran Turismo Sport has a demo before its full release. It's the first time the critically acclaimed racing simulation series will grace the PS4.

Developed by Polyphony Digital, the same studio behind every game in the Gran Turismo franchise as well as cult classics such as Tourist Trophy and Omega Boost for the PS2 and PS1 respectively, here’s everything you need to know about the Gran Turismo Sport demo.

How to play the Gran Turismo Sport demo

The Gran Turismo Sport demo is free for all PS4 and PS4 Pro users. No invites, no pre-orders, and none of the usual mercenary practises to force you to give it a try. Simply download it via the PlayStation Network (PSN) to play it when it’s available.

How to play the Gran Turismo Sport demo early

The Gran Turismo Sport demo starts at 12am PDT (12:30pm IST) on October 9 for those with PS Plus - Sony's paid multiplayer online subscription. That's a whole 18 hours before non-PS Plus subscribers can check it out. If you absolutely must play Gran Turismo Sport before anyone else, PS Plus is your best bet.

Gran Turismo Sport demo release date

The Gran Turismo Sport demo begins for all from October 9. Unlike the Star Wars Battlefront 2 beta which had the same download time and release date, the Gran Turismo demo can be preloaded right now.

Gran Turismo Sport demo start time

The Gran Turismo Sport demo starts at 12am PDT (12:30pm IST) on October 9 for PS Plus subscribers. If you aren’t a PS Plus subscriber, you can check it out from 6pm PDT on October 9 (6:30am IST on October 10).

Gran Turismo Sport demo end time

The Gran Turismo Sport demo ends for all at 8am PDT (8:30pm IST) on October 12.

Gran Turismo Sport demo preload time

Sony is allowing players to preload the Gran Turismo Sport demo. A welcome move considering its a massive download. Speaking of which…

Gran Turismo Sport demo download size

The Gran Turismo Sport demo is a whopping 43GB. Colossal when compared to the likes of Call of Duty: World War 2 and Star Wars Battlefront 2. Granted they’re different kind of games, but Sony’s glaring detachment for data limits is appalling.

Gran Turismo Sport demo - what to expect
Sony has explicitly stated that progress in the Gran Turismo Sport demo carries over to the full game when it hits on October 17 (October 18 for India and Europe). Having said that, this is what the Gran Turismo Sport demo includes:

• Sport mode - drivers put down their fastest lap time. At the end of each qualifying session, those with similar performance abilities square off.
• Campaign mode - players partake in multiple challenges, missions, and circuit experiences. Think of it as a training ground for online play, replete with trial and daily workouts that result in numerous vehicle unlocks, in-game currency, and experience points to further your car collection.
• Arcade mode - choose from a wide range of vehicle classes and from three pre-selected circuit configurations with different terrains. You can also race against a friend offline in the classic two-player split screen mode.
• Scapes - Gran Turismo Sport’s take on a photo mode. It features what Polyphony Digital describes as “True HDR workflow and physics-based rendering tech”. Each photo location includes all the light energy information of a scene, letting you place your car in a host of real world locations.
• Livery Editor - allows you to customise your car’s colour, wheels, spoiler, hood, mirrors, and more. You can add your own logo designs too.

Will you be playing Gran Turismo Sport? Or have the likes of Project Cars 2 and Dirt 4 slaked your thirst for racing games? Let us know in the comments.