Sony has launched The Playerbase, a new initiative designed to bring PlayStation fans directly into its games through body-scanning them, with Gran Turismo 7 confirmed as the first title to support the program. The company says this is just the beginning and plans to bring the feature to more PlayStation games in the future.
Applications are now open on their official website, where players will be asked to sign in with their PSN ID and answer a few additional questions as part of the application process. The program is currently available to players in select markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Australia.
The process allows interested players to sign up for a chance to appear in the game. After registration, Sony will select a handful of applicants for video interviews to further evaluate their suitability for the program and to learn more about their connection with the PlayStation brand and their love for its games. One winner will be invited to a professional visual arts studio in Los Angeles for the full-body scanning and design session.
Out of the selected applicants, the fan will be chosen and scanned will appear in Gran Turismo 7. According to Sony, the selected player will be featured through an in-game portrait shown in the driving simulator, similar to how other characters are presented. The appearance will be available for a limited time inside the game. But that’s not all. The chosen fan will also work with PlayStation to create a “custom Fantasy Logo and a one-of-a-kind vehicle livery,” which will remain permanently available in the game’s Showcase menu.
Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, commented on the new initiative, saying, “The Playerbase is our way of saying thank you to the players who make PlayStation what it is today.” Tomatis also confirmed that there are plans to expand The Playerbase program in the future to include additional PlayStation Studios titles.
