Forza 7's first trailer takes a Porsche 919 to the desert

We can't help but feel this is a retrograde step. Game developers spent years mastering the art of recreating cars in crisp, clean detail. Now they've sussed it, Forza Motorsport 7's artists have turned their attention to making the cars as filthy as possible. Take this Le Mans-winning Porsche 919 from the game's stunning new trailer, which has been thoroughly sandblasted by the UAE's dizzying Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road.

The 919's starring role in the trailer is apparently part of a new six year partnership between Forza and Porsche. It's a relationship that has already borne fruit, specifically the absolute peach that is the outrageously proportioned Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which was unveiled by surprise at the E3 gaming show yesterday. Crucially, unlike the previous EA deal, it's not one that will keep Stuttgart's cars from appearing in other competing racing games.

Forza 7 itself is looking spectacular, running on Microsoft's newly revealed Xbox One X, a 4K Ultra HD capable version of the Xbox One that produces graphics so sharp you could slice your finger open on them. You'll be thankful for that extra detail though when you're desperately squinting for the apex in the middle of a biblical rainstorm. For the first time in the series, Forza 7 will feature dynamic rather than static weather, meaning storms will roll in, drenching the circuit and forcing you to scramble for the pit lane for a new set of boots.

Other headline features include full driver customisation, which allows you to create as garish a race suit and helmet as your fevered imagine can conjure, 30 international locations to race in and over 700 cars crammed into the game at launch. As usual, Forza 7 will be the automotive equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet.

We'll have much more on Forza Motorsport 7 between now and its October 3rd release date, but until then why not just rewatch that spectacular trailer over and over again? We're not bored of it yet and we've already seen it more times than that episode of Only Fools and Horses where Del Boy falls through the bar...