Sony: The world still loves Gran Turismo

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 23 November, 2010

GT5 "takes your breath away".

Has the gaming world left Gran Turismo behind? Is the simulation racer still relevant in today's fragmented, socially networked word? For Sony, the answer is, unequivocally, yes.

Not only that, but the gargantuan Gran Turismo 5 can do for PlayStation 3 what Gran Turismo 3 and 4 did for the PlayStation 2.

"I didn't know until I saw it," Sony UK boss Ray Maguire told Eurogamer.

"Like you I was thinking, well, the world has moved on a little bit, social gaming has emerged, people are accepting smaller, bite-sized bits of gaming at very low value.

"Then I saw it, I saw the detail of it, and it does take your breath away. You go, 'Oh my God, now I understand it.' "

Gran Turismo 5, created by Polyphony Digital's car-obsessed president Kazunori Yamauchi, releases at midnight tonight after half a decade of development.

It is the first pillar release in the Gran Turismo series since 2004's PlayStation 2 game Gran Turismo 4.

Maguire added: "We have to understand that the gaming landscape has changed and recognise that, but at the end of the day, I want it all. I don't just want Angry Birds and Doodle Jump, I want Gran Turismo as well.

"Consumers will decide what they want to entertain themselves with at a certain point in time. Some of it will be a deep experience, some of it will be a very casual experience, but they'll all fit together in a wider universe."

Looking back on the Gran Turismo series and its impact on the success of the PlayStation brand, Maguire said the sim has always pushed the limits of PlayStation hardware.

"Clearly one of the games which was very important for PS2 was Gran Turismo," he said. "It took the machine to the limits, and it continued to do that all the way through to the last iteration.

"What's interesting is that there's been nothing until now on GT. That's because the hardware that we have now allows for so much more freedom. The passion and the drive for excellence that Kazunori has is taking him all the way through to try and push the technology we have now."

The Gran Turismo series has sold a whopping 55 million units since it burst onto the scene in 1997. How many copies will Gran Turismo 5 sell?

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Domstercool #1 2 years ago

    Will sell a fair bit, but not Who. :>

  • LHH #2 2 years ago

    Looking at the track list and they have the Lancia Delta Integrale back in it. Loved that car in GT2 so I am now officially tempted by long load times for a chance to see it in hi res :)

  • lcmnick #3 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 12:48:44 14-04-2012

  • dr_zoidthrob #4 2 years ago

    As long as you can win a kart race driving backwards all the way, it'll be fine...

    oh, you can... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qotsrSxyqXA

  • GamesConnoisseur #5 2 years ago

    The hypes goes into overdrive.... I m still waiting to get my hand on collector edition and see if the game can comes up trump against all expectations.

    I m hoping so... only mere hours away!

  • patch #6 2 years ago

    Sony ARE advertising GT5 (in the US).

    Love the "Mr Butler is a professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt.".

  • KayJay #7 2 years ago

    I know we are all excited. But lets not get sloppy... ;)

    "What's interesting is that there's been nothing until now on GT." - I assume that is supposed to say PS3

    "Who many copies will Gran Turismo 5 sell?" - Perhaps How.

  • ZizouFC #8 2 years ago

    Some people don't even want Angry Birds.

  • Bernkastel #9 2 years ago

    Those are some mighty lungs, to hold their breath for that long.

    /picks up hat
    /leaves

  • StolenGlory #10 2 years ago

    Got Review?

  • GamesConnoisseur #11 2 years ago

    Review all embargoed until the day of release, I hate that... as if the publishers doesnt have confidence that there ll be positive reviews and would affect sales.

    In this case, very unlikely as already reading of postive feedbacks from reviewers who couldnt give offical reviews, but tweeted etc etc.

    So my anticipations is getting higher by the hour!

  • Machetazo #12 2 years ago

    too early. Content yourself reading something else, until 8AM tomorrow. ;)

  • Doctor_What #13 2 years ago

    Until today I didn't realise it was being released this week, or even this month. Sony haven't done a very good job at advertising this. I await the 'disappointing first week sales for GT5' story next week.

  • RevanNL #14 2 years ago

    It really does lack advertising. So far the only ads I've seen are clips cut into a general PS3 ad (in the Netherlands anyway). A launch party or something wouldn't have been a bad idea.

  • bad09 #15 2 years ago

    Am I the only one who thinks this has been rushed out and rather silently? After the long delay you'd think they would screaming from the rooftops hyping it and advertising it. If it wasn't for EG I would not know this was out this week!

  • Negotiator #16 2 years ago

    Have to say the hype got to me, ordered it a few days ago, lets hope it lives up to the hype.

  • Dizzy #17 2 years ago

    >As long as you can win a kart race driving backwards all the way, it'll be fine...

    Lol... somebody forgot something there.

  • Pac #18 2 years ago

    I got the game this morning from Shopto. I was playing it for a couple of hours after the massive install. However now it keeps freezing on the title screen saying a connection to the server cannot be establish. Are they trying to tell me I cannot play this at all today?

    Anyone else having problems?

  • levitate #19 2 years ago

    I got my fair share of Angry Birds when I watched the Hitchcock movie...

  • tachometer #20 2 years ago

    "Lack of advertising"?
    What with all the fuss of delays GT5 has hardly been out of the gaming press for the past few months

  • Doctor_What #21 2 years ago

    Lack of advertising that it's actually being *released* not delayed again :)

  • PixelPirate #22 2 years ago

    @Pac

    I wouldn't be surprised if the game is disabled until midnight, its usually the case for DLC coming with games, that you cant cash it in until the official release date, so i dont see why other things couldn't check the internet and see the date first too.

  • MasterNameless #23 2 years ago

    @Pac

    Just unplug your PS3 from the net for today I'd say... you'll still be able to play it then I'd have thought. Will just have to wait until tomorrow for online play.

  • CaptainKid #24 2 years ago

    I agree with everyone here saying it wasn't advertised enough.
    If it wasn't for this news report I would not know it releases at midnight tonight.

    I thought it was due in december.

  • Pac #25 2 years ago

    @PixelPirate and MasterNameless

    Thanks Guys.

    Its funny because I was able to play it fine for a couple of hours (Do the licences etc). Anway after pissing about for a couple of hours I have finally got back into the arcade mode. I will see how I get on from there. But might resort to offline as suggested.

  • BouFushidara #26 2 years ago

    @pac

    Have you thought about taking the ps3 offline and changing the date to tomorrow?

  • jonsaan #27 2 years ago

    Tonight?????

    My poor wallet :(

  • dr_shambles #28 2 years ago

    Time to get the YLOD on my PS3 fixed then.

  • Razz #29 2 years ago

    i'll pick this up after the holidays as i have more than enough racers to play at the moment.

  • natashaspice #30 2 years ago

    My force gt steering wheel just arrive plus the game arrive from shopto this morning so happy gaming for me this week.

  • rudedudejude #31 2 years ago

    The world loves Gran Torino

  • JamieR #32 2 years ago

    the crashing in that video in the page looked so rubbish but back on topic they is clearly still a love for the games because its getting so many pre orders

  • mcreddie #33 2 years ago

    Anyone else thinking about the lack of official steering wheel?

  • crooky369 #34 2 years ago

    Damn this installation!

    13:05: "30 seconds remaining"
    13:06: "30 seconds remaining" :/
    13:10: "30 seconds remaining" :/
    13:16: "30 seconds remaining" :(

    13:18: "3 seconds remaining" :/
    13:21: "3 seconds remaining" *(
    It's like some sort of joke by PD just to let you wait that little longer.....
    Edited by crooky369 at 23/11/10 @ 13:21

  • Haerger #35 2 years ago

    GT5p sold 5 milllion of copies and it was 3 years ago when PS3 userbase was much smaller.

    GT5 will sell a lot more.

  • Velios #36 2 years ago

    I own a PS3, and I won;t be buying this. Pretty much the only reason i haven't sold my PS3 last year is me holding out for Uncharted 3.

    Other than that, the console sits unused, and unloved.

  • firef7y #37 2 years ago

    Sony really need to advertise this more. MS had massive hype for Halo, Acti had massive hype for COD, surely this should get the same treatment being the crown jewel fir Sony this holiday? I don't understand the decisions the company goes through. First day sales won't be spectacular, sure 5 yrs builds a lot of pre-orders but no-one knows it's evenout today (outside of the hardcore).

  • xero521 #38 2 years ago

    want nfs but just feel like i gotta get this just for the fact its gran turismo!

  • The_Beef_Hammer #39 2 years ago

    @Velios

    Why bother posting then?

    Anyway...I am (im)patiently waiting for my copy of GT5 to arrive. Got my confirmation that it was dispatched from Amazon just a moment ago.

    /wishes I'd taken the day off work tomorrow

  • Pac #40 2 years ago

    @crooky369

    Yup, exactly the same thing happened to me.

    You think that's bad, wait till you have sat looking at the title screen for half an hour when it fails to connect to the servers.

    I might just leave it till tomorrow otherwise I might be tempted to throw the console through the window.

  • drxym #41 2 years ago

    Embargoes stink. Any game company which prevents reviews before actual release makes it look like they have something to hide. In GT5's case I'm sure the game is pretty good, but I wonder what they don't want people to know? Does it have obvious glitches or something that would detract from the hype?

  • Rodster #42 2 years ago

    @drxym "Embargoes stink. Any game company which prevents reviews before actual release makes it look like they have something to hide. In GT5's case I'm sure the game is pretty good, but I wonder what they don't want people to know? Does it have obvious glitches or something that would detract from the hype?"

    The reason there is an embargo is because here in the US word is leaking out that this game is half baked with typical crappy AI. You have to unlock damage on premium cars and no one has successfully done that after level 20. I'll receive it tomorrow but so far it doesn't look good. 5 years wasted good, job PD.

  • darc #43 2 years ago

    I've never been a GT fan, but I am completely psyched for GT5. Simulation racers will ALWAYS be relevant! Long live the simulation racer!

    And you can take back every one of my iPhone minigames for all I care about the "gaming landscape". :)

  • paulf #44 2 years ago

    I got it today

    first impressions - 'Shiny'

    havent played it enough to say more than that

  • geeza2020 #45 2 years ago

    I predict it will be like GT4 but with more cars and shinier paint-jobs. 8/10

  • Miths #46 2 years ago

    55 seconds left of my installation. Although it's been saying that for five minutes now :).

    I've got my Logitech G25 hooked up and ready to go. And I'm looking forward to seeing if head tracking actually works with the PS Eye. If it's anything like The Fight, head tracking will only work in bright daylight or otherwise excellent lighting conditions.
    But of course GT5 doesn't have any Move controllers to track, so I imagine it can use entirely different camera sensitivity settings.

  • Thunderbolt #47 2 years ago

    So you still have to get those licences. Bah!

  • excelexcel #48 2 years ago

    "Too right. There must be at least 10 million who were waiting for it. Millions more who will get it when they see it and millions more who will get the console for it.. 20 million seller I expect."

    Er, you do realise that would mean it'd be the 7th highest selling game of all time?......not going to happen

  • arcam #49 2 years ago

    There is an embargo because this is a huge deal for Sony with a lot of money behind it, far too much to leave anything to chance.

    I don't really think it says anything about the game quality. Lots of AAA games have an review embargo currently - expect that to move to all of them within a few years.

  • sfp_noodle #50 2 years ago

    Well, considering people love Forza (raises hand) which owes its very existence to the Gran Turismo series, I find it hard to believe how anyone, including Sony doubts the credentials of the franchise. It's a monster.

    Also, on the lack of advertising - I don't know about most of you, but I've seen a lot more of the toy car flippy ad for GT5 than I have seen for Kinect. And they spent $500 million advertising that? Only in the US it seems.

  • Collymilad #51 2 years ago

    Ah the old "Yeah I thought it wouldn't matter either, just like you, but then I saw it" switcheroo.

    What a load of BS.

  • Collymilad #52 2 years ago

    Yeah velios, dont post unless your opinion about everything ps3 is positive. The Sony fanboys don't like it otherwise.

    We all know this is going to be a shinier GT4. The way it's being overhyped is ridiculous.
    Edited by Collymilad at 23/11/10 @ 16:05

  • stu197733 #53 2 years ago

    'Has the gaming world left Gran Turismo behind?'

    More like Gran Turismo has left the gaming world behind hence the marketing shift towards motoring media.

    GT is one of a handful of titles that appeals to non-gamers.

  • The_Beef_Hammer #54 2 years ago

    @Collymilad

    "Yeah velios, dont post unless your opinion about everything ps3 is positive. The Sony fanboys don't like it otherwise."

    I'm no fanboy - I have a PS3, a 360 and a Wii, and they all have their positives and negatives. Surely spending your time reading and posting on a GT5 story just to say your not getting it, and not contributing in any way to the discussion, is a little pointless, no?

    Much like your comment.

  • stu197733 #55 2 years ago

    'Review all embargoed until the day of release, I hate that... as if the publishers doesnt have confidence that there ll be positive reviews and would affect sales.'

    When you see some reviewers using chase cam with driving aids on while using a controller and making comparisons with NFS you begin to wonder how relevant mainstream reviews are.

  • patootik #56 2 years ago

    God damn, was gonna wait till Xmas for this, but it's getting very hard to hold out, I'm getting caught up in the hype of it all, might have to look through the old games for trades.

    I honestly don't care if it's much the same as 3 and 4, I love the format, I love the feel. We already have PGR, Shift, Hot Pursuit for crashes and over the top action. I just wanna play with my gear configurations and down force till it's perfect, slowly working my way to the better cars, the excitement of winning a new car, then selling it for new suspension for my TT, bringing a Yaris to it's full spec, and even getting the stupid licenses, THATS what GT has always been about to me.

    Goddamn, I just got even keener!
    Edited by patootik at 23/11/10 @ 16:39

  • sfp_noodle #57 2 years ago

    ^^

    I have it now and all I can say to you is take the plunge. Let Xmas come early for yourself. Just played a few races in arcade mode and the handling of the cars is perfect. The weather effects are astonishing and the A.I is definately more agressive, cars barging each other out of the way jostling for position. Of course, looks wise it's absolutely jaw droppingly gorgeous. You won't be disappointed. Get it now!

  • Lucodeath #58 2 years ago

    But its not possible to have!!!!

  • darc #59 2 years ago

    "I just wanna play with my gear configurations and down force till it's perfect, slowly working my way to the better cars, the excitement of winning a new car, then selling it for new suspension for my TT, bringing a Yaris to it's full spec, and even getting the stupid licenses, THATS what GT has always been about to me."

    That's what Forza 1 and Forza 2 were for me, before some idiot decided Forza 3 would be better if all that stuff were simplified and happened more or less automatically. Here's hoping GT5 fills the void.

  • Lucodeath #60 2 years ago

    Ace handling if you turn off all the driving aids and put it on simulation. How come only the cockpit view shows water/snow effects on the windows but rest of car seems uneffected on outside views?

  • Kaminari #61 2 years ago

    Oh my God... it's full of stars.

  • Rodster #62 2 years ago

    First review is out and GT5 got slammed. The review is in French but a 14/20 is shit in any language. :p

    http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/0...

  • paulf #63 2 years ago

    right having played it for an hour of so, it feels like an 7/8 i.e. solid but nothing that blows you away, nfs hot pursuit certainly has more immediate appeal

  • sumguy206 #64 2 years ago

    GT2 already took my breath, all thats left for the rest of the GT franchise is my money.