Sony has launched a new initiative called The Playerbase, giving one lucky PlayStation fan the chance to literally become part of Gran Turismo 7. The winner will have their face and likeness scanned and appear as an in-game character.
The Playerbase program invites PlayStation enthusiasts to apply and undergo a selection process for inclusion in games through 3D scans of their appearance. Gran Turismo 7 is the first title to debut this feature, with plans to extend it to other flagship franchises like God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Astro Bot down the line.
”For over 30 years, we’ve been looking for ways to celebrate our gaming community’s passion,” said Isabel Tomatis, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s VP of Global Marketing. ”Now, we want to bring fans even closer to the heart of the PlayStation ecosystem.”
The opportunity is open to PlayStation Network users over 18 from the U.S., Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Australia. Applicants must sign in with their PSN ID and answer a few questions-sharing what PlayStation means to them, their favorite memories, and how much time they’ve spent gaming.
Sony will then select finalists for video interviews. The winner will travel to Los Angeles for a professional 3D scanning session and become immortalized as an in-game character portrait, available for a limited time.
Beyond the portrait, the winner will collaborate with artists to design a unique logo and custom car livery that will be permanently accessible in the game’s Showcase section.
Sony will cover all travel expenses and allow one guest to accompany the winner. The winner will be announced in summer 2026, with their in-game debut arriving later in an update.
This move reflects a growing trend of game studios enhancing player engagement by integrating real-world fans directly into gameplay. While other major developers have experimented with personalized touches-like Fortnite’s creator-themed skins or EA’s MyPlayer modes-Sony’s approach offers a rare chance for players to literally insert themselves into AAA titles across multiple genres.
As the Playerbase initiative expands beyond racing games, it will be worth watching how fans respond and whether this kind of personalized content drives deeper engagement or becomes a novel gimmick. With the debut set two years away, anticipation is building for how Sony will blend community participation with its biggest franchises.