Copycat Gran Turismo Games Now Ripping Off PS5 Racer’s Marketing
Developer Straight4 Studios is facing criticism for directly copying the marketing style of Gran Turismo 7, the popular PlayStation 5 racing simulator. The developer’s game, Project Motor Racing, uses YouTube thumbnail compositions and promotional strategies that closely mirror Polyphony Digital’s approach to monthly update announcements. Specifically, the arrangement of cars in Project Motor Racing’s promotional materials matches the visual composition Polyphony Digital consistently uses, and the game’s car pack is branded as “GT Icons”—a clear reference to Gran Turismo’s iconic status.
This is the latest instance of a smaller developer attempting to capitalize on Gran Turismo’s established brand recognition and marketing playbook. A previous example, Gran Carismo (later rebranded to Grand Car Racing), employed similar tactics. While such imitation exists in a legal gray area, it raises questions about consumer deception and fair marketing practices within the gaming industry.
The practice appears designed to increase visibility and confuse potential players browsing gaming content, as the thumbnail styling successfully fooled viewers expecting official Gran Turismo 7 content. While the games themselves may be distinct products, the marketing mimicry represents a problematic trend where smaller studios attempt to ride the coattails of established franchises through visual and nominal similarity rather than standing on their own merit.