Do I need PS Plus for GT7 online?

Yes, a PlayStation Plus membership is required to access online multiplayer and certain other online features in Gran Turismo 7.

This requirement was explicitly confirmed by PlayStation in a February 2022 blog post detailing GT7‘s online functionality:

"A PlayStation Plus membership is necessary for online play and features like Sport mode."

Specifically, PS Plus is mandatory for:

• Sport mode races against real opponents
• 2-player split-screen with online multiplayer enabled
• Sharing liveries, photos, and replays
• Viewing global leaderboards

Without an active PS Plus subscription, these components involving connectivity with other players will remain locked.

PS Plus Tier Options and Pricing

Sony gives players choices when it comes to PS Plus pricing plans based on their budget and needs. Here are the tiers available as of February 2023:

The base PlayStation Plus Essential tier enables online multiplayer access needed for GT7 at the lowest price point.

Higher tiers like PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium offer additional downloadable games and game streaming, but do not confer any further benefits for GT7 connectivity itself.

Playing GT7 Without a PS Plus Subscription

While PS Plus facilitates GT7‘s online integration, there are still ample single player activities that do not require a subscription:

• Extensive career mode with 39 Menu Books
• Custom single player races with AI opponents at over 90 track Layouts
• Track mastery through missions and circuit experiences
• Collecting and customizing over 420 cars
• Expansive Scapes photo mode

After an initial one-time internet connection for updates and data syncing, GT7 can then be played offline indefinitely without actively connecting to PSN. This allows focusing on solo content without PS Plus.

However, community and competitive online features will remain locked, such as:

• Viewing friend progress updates
• Comparing leaderboard rankings
• Sharing creative liveries or photos

So factor in how important online connectivity is for your enjoyment.

Is PS Plus "Worth It" for GT7?

Gauging the value PS Plus adds for GT7 depends largely on your areas of focus:

• For those interested primarily in competitive online racing, PS Plus is likely seen as essential access to Sport mode‘s ranked lobbies and daily races. Pitting skills against drivers of similar ability increases challenge and engagement for many.
• More casually-minded multiplayer fans may still enjoy features like lounges and split-screen with PS Plus enhancing, but not defining, the experience.
• Single player purists focused just on career mode progression, licenses or custom races may find little value in a subscription if community and leaderboard tracking aspects seem unimportant.

So weigh your gameplay priorities and decide if PS Plus provides suitable benefits.

GT7 Server and Update Issues

While Polyphony aims for continuous uptime, GT7 has seen some turbulence since launching:

• Sporadic server disruptions interrupting online services
• Game update bugs needing emergency patches
• Longer downtimes for major version releases

Yet recent improvements are promising, as director Kazunori Yamauchi noted:

“We implemented updates responding to the feedback…enhancing the online experience itself.”

The February 2023 update aimed at greater reliability through server optimizations and race control tweaks. Still, intermittent downtime remains possible when new content deploys and maintenance occurs.

Always check the GT7 server status site for the latest connectivity updates.

Summarizing GT7’s Online Dependencies

While online multiplayer specifically demands PlayStation Plus, Gran Turismo 7 takes connectivity further by integrating shared community functionality across both single and multiplayer modes. This means that even solo play relies on online access for crucial functionality like:

• Viewing and sharing creative liveries, photos, and replays
• Comparing racing progress against friends lists or global leaderboards
• Benefiting from game updates that refine content and physics

So while PS Plus gates social competition like Sport mode races, many web-enabled features intersect across GT7’s entire experience. Players prioritizing continuity in tracking accomplishments versus rivals or sharing creative designs online may want to consider that broader reliance on connectivity.

In the end PS Plus specifically opens access to head-to-head competition. But Internet connectivity unlocks GT7’s deeper communal environment for solo players and racers alike. Both have their place for different interests, so consider which role fits your passion as a driver and community member.