It's a pretty big update file coming in at some 4.87GB on PlayStation 5 and 3.10GB on PlayStation 4. Given that there's a brand new track and six cars packed in there though, that should be little surprise.
Although we've had the usual update previews, there's still been plenty of information held back until now, so let's dig into all that 1.49 has to offer.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: Eiger Nordwand Circuit
First and foremost, we have a new track! For the first time since the Lake Louise circuit in November 2023, and in terms of paved circuits even further back to February 2023's Grand Valley, there's a whole new venue to explore.
Update 1.49 brings back the Eiger Nordwand location — squeezed in between Alsace and Lago Maggiore on the World Circuits map — and the hardtop track that originally made its debut back in Gran Turismo HD in 2006.
It's a fourth name change in five game appearances for the track though. First called "The Eiger Nordwand" in GTHD, it became just plain "Eiger Nordwand" in GT5 Prologue, before that became the location name and the track was switched to "Eiger Nordwand Short Track" for GT5. This persisted in GT6 but the course vanished for GT Sport and is now called "Eiger Nordwand Full Course". More to come, perhaps?
Unlike other returning tracks, the Eiger loop is almost entirely unchanged in layout terms. It even has the same 1.51-mile (2.43km) length as the original. There are a couple of detail changes though, most notable of which is the relocation of the pit lane onto the winding uphill climb rather than bypassing the hairpin section (where the entry was a useful braking marker…).
Other than that the changes are minor. The relatively big yump just after the start is gone, though there is a small crest still, and the access roads for most of the previous off-road courses appear to have been eliminated but it still feels like the original track to drive.
That'll be handy for the new Circuit Experience, worth 1m credits for a clean-sweep of golds, using the Alfa Romeo 4C Gr.4 — harking back to the 8C Competizione event. There's also a new Time Trial event at the course starting today and running for the next two weeks, using the Impreza WRC98.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: New Physics
The update patch notes give us a good idea of what's been changed under the hood, though really there's only one way to get a handle on it yourself: getting behind the wheel.
It's a pretty wide spread of changes, affecting aspects of suspension, steering, and particularly tires. PD highlights that suspension geometry calculations have been improved, as well as "damper attenuation" (a little tautologically), with the goal being a "more natural" feel.
Tires have seen changes to rolling resistance and grip loss in wet conditions, as well as adjustments to low-speed behaviors. Racing tires have new heating and degradation characteristics, about which we've heard a little previously.
Steering geometry has been updated generally, while the steering on all controllers — wireless pads and steering wheels — has also been adjusted. PD notes that an updated FFB calculation now allows devices to use their full range of torque, with some users of some wheels previously reporting limitations in this area.
With all these adjustments at play, there's now new default suspension and aerodynamic settings for all race cars and "certain" road cars (though it's not been made clear which). Performance point calculations will also see changes to vehicle PP across the board.
As one might expect with this change to game physics, times achieved previously are no longer representative of the current game state. That means that all relevant leaderboards — Circuit Experience, License Tests, and Missions — have been reset. New demonstration runs, where appropriate, are also available.
For the most part, the physics update seems to result in some slightly different driving styles and generally faster lap times. However there are also some examples of some pretty extreme vehicle behavior too…
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: New Cars
- BMW M3 '97 – Used Cars – 74,600cr
- Ferrari F430 Scuderia '07 – New/Used Cars – 380,000cr*
- Genesis Gran X Racer Vision GT Concept – New Cars – 1,000,000cr
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 '08 – New/Used Cars – 260,000cr*
- Ruf RGT 4.2 '16 – New Cars – 360,000cr
- Subaru Impreza Rally Car '98 – Legends Cars – 650,000cr
Along with the Ruf RGT 4.2, they're the only two update cars available exclusively from Brand Central, while the two mid-engined Italians are both available as new or — for a very slight discount — used cars. The Gallardo and F430 Scuderia both appear, as is the norm for new cars in updates, as "hot picks" right now and for the next few days.
Similarly, the WRC98 model Subaru Impreza WRC appears as a Legends Car as we expected. That too is made available as a "hot pick" from today but it won't be there for long as it'll drop into the rotation for that shop sometime in the next week. At 650,000cr it's the second dearest car in the update.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: New Events & Extra Menus
That's because you'll be collecting McLaren models for Extra Menu Book 40, "McLaren", starting with one of the priciest, and most rarely seen cars in the game.
You'll need to own at least one McLaren F1 '94 — priced at 20m credits, and currently available in Legends Cars — alongside the less expensive MP4-12C, and the standard Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo (which became the basis for the Goodwood-winning Solus).
There's a slightly disappointing prize for this book, by way of a Six-Star Roulette ticket. This will only award you with a Brand Central car worth over 500,000cr or either 500,000 or 1m credits as a cash sum — making the reward no better than a seventh of the outlay of collecting the vehicles.
- Extra Menu Book 40 — McLaren — Six-Star Roulette Ticket
That'll host the European Sunday Cup 500 — good for the BMW — in a three-lap race worth 35,000cr for victory, and the World Rally Challenge Gr.B for a reverse-course race over 12 laps and a 135,000cr winner's pot. Unrelated to the update cars, there's also a round of the Jimny Cup at the venue, for a 40,000cr four-lapper.
Elsewhere, the tuner-special World Touring Car 600 now adds Road Atlanta to its track set, for a five-lap race worth 94,000cr and suitable for any of the three supercars in this update. The F430 is also an obvious pick for the Ferrari Circuit Challenge, which makes a long overdue stop at Monza for a five-lap, 90,000cr race.
- Autodromo Nazionale Monza (5 laps) – Ferrari Circuit Challenge – 90,000cr
- Eiger Nordwand (3 laps) – European Sunday Cup 500 – 35,000cr
- Eiger Nordwand (4 laps) – Jimny Cup – 40,000cr
- Eiger Nordwand Reverse (12 laps) – World Rally Challenge Gr.B – 135,000cr
- Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (5 laps) – World Touring Car 600 – 94,000cr
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: New Engine Swaps
Four engines appear with a pair of new hosts apiece, starting with one entirely new engine. That's the Alfa Romeo Giulia's Ferrari-derived V6, now an option for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and — amazingly — the Mazda Atenza sedan, formerly sporting a diesel unit…
Meanwhile the Honda Civic Type R's K24A engine, from the Garage RCR Civic, becomes available to swap into the Honda S2000 and the Mini Cooper S '05.
Half of the swap list comprises BMW models. Both the new E36 M3 and the Gr.4 model of M4 can use the Subaru BRZ drift car's Chevrolet-sourced LS7 V8, while there's an endurance racing engine from the Z4 GT3 available for the 2007 M3 Coupe and 2014 M4 Coupe.
As you'll see above, the E30-generation M3 Sport Evolution gains straight-six power from the BMW engine in the Toyota GR Supra. Finally there's an RB26DETT swap available from the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R to the R31 GTS-R.
You'll need to be Collector Level 50 to buy the engines directly from GT Auto, where they are quite steeply priced, although you can also receive them as prizes in some Roulette Tickets — including Six-Star (Engine) tickets — at any level.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49: Scapes and Other Changes
All ten scenes major on snow, mainly in low or partial light and shot around the Kleine Scheidegg area upon which the track is also based.
Wheel fans will be pleased to learn that, along with eight new options for Work, there's a new brand available in GT Auto. Pokal Custom Felgen, an LA-based wheel manufacturer, now has 15 new wheels for application to suitable cars as well as decals in the presets for the livery editor.
Speaking of decal presets, the Highspeed Etoile anime stickers added in update 1.44 for a limited time have now reached their time limit and have been removed.
One intriguing change comes in Missions. The difficulty settings for the Tsukuba Circuit One Hour race — which many fans have long felt were flipped, so that Easy was the hardest — have been adjusted. We'll have to find out what that means specifically, but it likely addresses that issue.
Various steering controllers have also seen changes, with adjustments to Logitech and Fanatec wheels. This includes changes to FFB sensitivity on the G923 and strength on the G Pro, while the Fanatec range has improved "performance stability" and a new GT-optimized Auto Setup option. The GT DD Extreme's sticks will now also illuminate in the appropriate MFD setting colour.
Finally, and for PS5 players only, the GT Sophy options have been expanded to two new circuits. There's a one-lap event at the Nurburgring 24 Hour track, and — depending on difficulty — a two- or three-lap race at Autodrome Lago Maggiore's Full Course.
Naturally every GT update also includes the note that "various other issues have been addressed", and 1.49 is no different.
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