Structured Report: Critical Gas Pedal Input Issue in Gran Turismo 7 and Sport

[Gio318is]

Affected Platforms:

PlayStation 4 (Gran Turismo Sport)

PlayStation 5 (Gran Turismo 7, with and without PSVR2)


Hardware Involved:

Steering wheels and pedals from Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Fanatec.



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Overview of the Issue

In Gran Turismo 7 (and previously in Gran Turismo Sport), a critical issue with gas pedal response affects all supported steering wheel and pedal setups. The game exhibits an extreme delay between the physical gas pedal input and its in-game response, which disrupts precision driving and negatively impacts gameplay.

This issue is present across multiple hardware setups, regardless of manufacturer (Logitech, Thrustmaster, or Fanatec), and originates from the game’s input handling.

Key Symptoms:

1. Delayed Virtual Gas Pedal Release:

Rapid release of the physical gas pedal does not result in an equally rapid virtual pedal release. The in-game animation and throttle response lag significantly, causing the engine RPM to drop slower than in real-world driving.



2. Inability to Feather the Throttle:

Due to this delay, it is impossible to smoothly and precisely modulate the throttle (e.g., to keep slight pressure on the gas pedal while driving). This is especially problematic for advanced driving techniques like maintaining balance in high-speed corners or managing traction during acceleration.



3. Universal Occurrence:

The issue is not specific to any single hardware manufacturer. It affects all players using supported steering wheels and pedal setups, including Logitech G29, Thrustmaster T-GT II, and Fanatec GT DD Pro.



4. Impact on Immersion and Control:

The problem is particularly evident in cockpit view and VR gameplay, where the delayed response of the virtual driver’s foot and gas pedal is clearly visible, undermining the immersive experience.





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Analysis

1. Game Engine Filtering or Input Smoothing:

The issue appears to stem from built-in input filtering or smoothing within the Gran Turismo engine. While this may be intended to simulate a gradual throttle response, it introduces unrealistic delays that do not reflect real-world vehicle behavior.



2. Functional and Visual Disconnect:

The delayed animation of the virtual driver’s foot and gas pedal might initially seem cosmetic, but testing shows that it directly affects gameplay. The throttle response is also delayed, making precise input impossible.



3. Severe Simulation Inaccuracy:

Real-world driving requires the ability to feather the throttle with finesse, keeping slight pressure on the pedal when necessary. In Gran Turismo, this finesse is impossible due to the exaggerated lag, significantly deviating from real-world driving physics.



4. Driving Aid Independence:

The issue persists even when all driving aids (e.g., traction control, stability control) are turned off, confirming that the problem lies within the game’s core input processing and not in optional settings.





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Reproduction Steps

The issue can be consistently reproduced as follows:

1. Connect any supported steering wheel and pedal setup.


2. Start a race and enter cockpit view to observe the virtual gas pedal and driver’s foot animation.


3. Attempt to:

Release the gas pedal rapidly.

Feather the throttle by lightly modulating pedal pressure.



4. Observe the lag between the physical input and the in-game response. Note the inability to maintain consistent, light throttle pressure.




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Community Evidence and Feedback

Numerous players on platforms such as GTPlanet and Reddit have reported this issue.

Videos of gameplay clearly demonstrate the delayed response, affecting players across all supported hardware.

Advanced and professional sim racers have highlighted how the inability to feather the throttle significantly hinders the precision required for competitive play.



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Proposed Solutions

1. Immediate Patch for Input Response:

Introduce an option in the settings menu to disable or customize throttle input filtering.

Provide a slider for gas pedal sensitivity and response time, allowing players to fine-tune the input behavior.



2. Real-Time Input Processing:

Ensure that gas pedal inputs are processed in real-time, with no artificial delay, to match the precision and responsiveness of real-world driving.



3. Animation and Gameplay Synchronization:

Synchronize the virtual driver’s foot and pedal animation with the actual gas pedal input to maintain immersion and visual consistency, especially in VR.

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Conclusion

This issue represents a severe deviation from the realistic driving experience that Gran Turismo aims to simulate. The inability to feather the throttle with finesse and the noticeable delay in gas pedal response significantly impact gameplay quality, especially for competitive players and VR users.

Polyphony Digital must address this issue urgently through a software patch to restore the precision and immersion expected in a high-fidelity racing simulator.
Greetings and thanks in advance Giovanni

 

[TumeK5]

You...certainly put a lot of thought and effort into it.

But unfortunately, GTPlanet =/= Polyphony Digital

 

[Gio318is]

You...certainly put a lot of thought and effort into it.

But unfortunately, GTPlanet =/= Polyphony Digital

I really hope People take notice of this issue, so that they can fix this problem once and for all 🙏

 

[MGR]

The animations have nothing to do with the throttle response and shouldn't be cited as evidence of anything other than PDs cosmetic/asthetic preferences. The throttle input bar shown on the main dash HUD doesn't have anything like the input delay you're describing.

If anything PD should be criticised for using that (infuriating) non-linear throttle map. I have to press my gas pedal 2/3 the way down to register 1/3 throttle, with the bulk of the throttle being very late in the pedal throw. (and no, I don't have a dead zone. Throttle input begins registering with even the slightest touch)

That's why feathering is so difficult because you need a lot more than a 'feather' of the right foot.

Couple that with the 100 tonne flywheel physics and it makes it very difficult to balance cars on the throttle. On the plus side if you can do a burnout in top gear it'll just continue for ages under flywheel power, even after getting off the gas.

 

[eran0004]

Yeah, the animation is not 1:1 with the physics. The physical throttle position is indicated on the HUD.

It’s an immersion issue, but nothing more than that.

 

[Lomic]

Polyphony Digital should acknowledge this as a critical issue and provide a roadmap for addressing it in future updates.

 

[Gio318is]

You can hear, feel and see the delay so i don't know how much more proof you need to understand what i'm saying this problem gives all sort of issues when driving compare any car in real life how fast the RPM's drop, iff you can show me one example where the RPM's drop as slow as in the game version of the car, then ill shut up but i know verry well that's not possible i did do that with my car some years ago and still People dismiss this verry big problem. look at this video of my MX5 ND i owned (my proof i'm telling the trooth) compare thé RPM's dropping of my car and then try this in game with samen car and stop laughing iff you don't know how a car should drive.

 

[Gio318is]

The animations have nothing to do with the throttle response and shouldn't be cited as evidence of anything other than PDs cosmetic/asthetic preferences. The throttle input bar shown on the main dash HUD doesn't have anything like the input delay you're describing.

If anything PD should be criticised for using that (infuriating) non-linear throttle map. I have to press my gas pedal 2/3 the way down to register 1/3 throttle, with the bulk of the throttle being very late in the pedal throw. (and no, I don't have a dead zone. Throttle input begins registering with even the slightest touch)

That's why feathering is so difficult because you need a lot more than a 'feather' of the right foot.

Couple that with the 100 tonne flywheel physics and it makes it very difficult to balance cars on the throttle. On the plus side if you can do a burnout in top gear it'll just continue for ages under flywheel power, even after getting off the gas.

I know what you Mean that is what i said in my previous topic bad on that effort People also just laught with me. It's just like you say it's just like a flywheel from 100kg, they need to fix this in gt6 this was not the case there the throthlle response was spot on, so i don't understand why they put this physicle delay in Gt7 and Gtsport grtz