A fan-favourite circuit from the PlayStation 3 era is returning to the Gran Turismo series, as Polyphony Digital has revealed that the Eiger Nordward will be coming to GT7 in update 1.49 this month.
The update was revealed, unusually, at the Gran Turismo World Series live event in Montreal today, between races in the Manufacturers’ Cup. A short trailer, similar to the ones we normally see, showed off the content, and it’s fair to say it was something of a surprise – not least because it’s the first road course added since Grand Valley in February 2023.
GTPlanet reported on the possibility of the Eiger changing course for a reappearance in the series in August 2023, after the region was shown at a Sony Creators Conference presentation. The DP crew was shown photographing the landscape from a helicopter and the slides included a number of 3D models of buildings such as the Kleine Scheidegg railway station.
The original Eiger Nordward circuit appeared first on Gran Turismo HD, as the only course in the game along with its reverse variant. While only a short course, 1.5 miles, the track was tricky and featured some spectacular scenery.
After appearing in Gran Turismo 5 Prologuelocation expanded to Gran Turismo 5 AND 6 with three additional off-road courses. However, it joined many other countries in the big GT recycling bin (or rather, ashtray), after being cut out of selection for Gran Turismo Sport.
Only the Eiger Nordwand track is mentioned for update 1.49, so it looks like we’re only getting the original, high-quality track and not the later Rally additions. It also appears to be very close to the original layout, unlike some of the other classics that have been modified, although we’re not entirely sure where the pit lane is this time around.
This much-welcomed addition is also accompanied by one of the largest car pools in a GT7 lifetime game update, as six new vehicles join the roster. It’s also a list full of PS3-era nostalgia, with two cars making their debut in the series and one that GT fans may recognize from GTHD trailers but not the game itself.
The first two are the perfect version, the Scuderia of the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. They will be joined by another supercar, in the form of the all-new 2016 Ruf RGT 4.2 – a rare addition to the Ruf marque in the era of freely available Porsche licensing.
One we didn’t expect to fill a long-standing gap in Gran Turismo’s car roster, as the 1997 E36-generation BMW M3 will be part of the update. It’s not the first time we’ve seen an E36, but it’s the first appearance for this generation’s M3.
Finally there are two racing cars, with the 1998 version of the Subaru Impreza WRC likely to join the Group B lineup, and the anticipated racing version of the Genesis Vision Gran Turismo, which we expect to be a vehicle Gr. 1.
- BMW M3 (E36) 1997
- Ferrari F430 Scuderia 2007
- Genesis Gran X Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept
- 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
- Ruf RGT 4.2 2016
- Subaru Impreza WRC 1998
That’s not all in the update though, as there’s a Gran Turismo Sophy expansion that offers two new circuits: the Nurburgring 24 Hour course and the full Autodrome Lago Maggiore course.
New tires, new wheels and, interestingly, “new physics” are also being touted, though we’ll have to wait a while to find out exactly what that means – aside from a possible reset of the experience’s leaderboards. county and license and possible changes to time targets.
The update itself is scheduled to arrive on Thursday July 25, so there’s plenty of time to spare for the new fleet of vehicles.
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