Hey guys, sorry for the delay in getting my thoughts about GT Sport together. I played both betas extensively and now have many hours into the final game. I am running it with a PS4 Pro on a 1080p monitor, but I also have played it with my 4K HDTV. I am using my Accuforce Direct Drive wheel, Main Performance PC Simpedals and dual Thrustmaster THR8S shifters (one in Sequential, one in H mode), all of which are set up via the GIMX software which causes the game to think I am using Logitech G29 wheel and pedal set.
First, lets get the elephant in the room out of the way. If you like a ton of cars and/or tracks, then this is not the game for you. It has around 160 cars, none of which are older than 2009, and only 17 tracks, only 6 of which are real life. If you like lots of cars, go with Forza 7 which has more than 700 cars at launch from all different eras. If you like a ton of tracks, go with Project CARS 2 which has around 60 tracks, the majority of which are real life.
Also, if you like race cars games like GT6 where you can run events, get money and collect gobs of cars, go with Forza 7 which has a robust in game economy and career mode. The single player in GT Sport is very scant, its largely driving license tests, missions and circuit "experiences", very few of which are actual races against AI. The Arcade mode is fine, you can get experience and credits running those races, but there is no progression. The VR mode seems tacked on, it looks good but you can only race against one other car and there is no progression and a limited car selection.
OK, here is why if you are still reading that you should buy and love this game. ONLINE MULTIPLAYER!!! GT Sport is clearly built around the online multiplayer experience and it shows. Like iRacing, GT Sport has a SR and Driver Class (similar to iRacings iRating system). That means that if you ram other cars in turn 1, your SR will suffer AND you will be penalized. Moreover, if you go off track and stupidly come back on the track, the game will usually make your car ghost. IMO, that is the central reason why the many online races I have done have been very clean, much cleaner than Forza 7 and on par with iRacing. Yes, I said it, get over it. The world does not revolve around iRacing, rather it revolves around this thing called the Sun.
You can race online via GT Sports weekly events, which are available every 20 minutes, or you can participate in FIA and Polyphony Digital championships, both of which starts next month. You also can jump into hosted races. The weekly events are good fun, there is nice variety and you can enter the race and qualify, something Forza 7 does not offer. My experience has been that the servers are stable and I have seen no lag. Also, there is no FPS drop that I have seen, but of course YMMV if you are running a standard PS4.
The graphics are drop dead gorgeous, but not quite as amazing as Forza 7 because they are somewhat sterile. 4K on the PS4 Pro is of the "checkboard" variety, which means its about 1800p, but hey, you could have fooled me because they are amazing. HDR is a standout as well, the color palette with HDR really shines. Even if you are relegated to a standard 1080p display, you will be fine. The game also shines in 1080p, which is how I play it most of the time because of my cockpit set up. The game almost always runs at 60 FPS, I have yet to see any FPS drops.
The sounds are much improved over prior GT games, the vacuum cleaner sounds seem to be gone. There is a bit too much transmission whine for my taste but that is just me. Also, the music in the menus is cool and very GT-like. If you have played the prior GT games, you know what I mean. If you have never played a GT game, then I don't know what to tell you, you have been buried under a rock for the last 20 years.
Physics and FFB are solid, but not up to par with rFactor 2, iRacing and Assetto Corsa. Now, keep in mind I am using a direct drive wheel and so if you are using a mass market gear or belt drive wheel, YMMV. I can feel what the car is doing and weight transfer is good. The FFB is very strong, I have to set it in game at 2 out of 10 to avoid making my arms fall off.
The cockpit view is solid, you can adjust the FOV and back and forward. The standard GT view with the virtual mirror is back, I recommend using it for multiplayer so you can better see behind you. There is no triple screen support, but perhaps they will add that later like they did in GT5 and GT6.
GT Sport is an online only title, meaning you cannot save your game offline. So, if the servers are down, you are relegated to Arcade Mode and you cannot save any progress. That sucks.
In summary, I am having fun with GT Sport and I recommend it to any of you that can live without a robust single player mode and car and track roster. For online multiplayer action, it is the best option available on consoles IMO.
You can race online via GT Sports weekly events, which are available every 20 minutes, or you can participate in FIA and Polyphony Digital championships, both of which starts next month. You also can jump into hosted races. The weekly events are good fun, there is nice variety and you can enter the race and qualify, something Forza 7 does not offer. My experience has been that the servers are stable and I have seen no lag. Also, there is no FPS drop that I have seen, but of course YMMV if you are running a standard PS4.