Gran Turismo for Christmas 2009?

By Robert Purchese Published 1 December, 2008

Sony Europe chap thinks so.

Sony Europe speaker James Armstrong expects Gran Turismo 5 to be out by next Christmas.

He spilled the beans to Spanish financial site El Financiero (spotted by Kotaku). Unfortunately Sony UK was unavailable to add anything further.

Armstrong's comments fall in line with Sony US chatter from March, when we heard that Gran Turismo 5 was "about a year away".

Most recently, Polyphony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi said both Gran Turismo 5 and Gran Turismo PSP were "moving forward", although he couldn't mention any specific plans.

He could, however, tell us that Gran Turismo 5 cars had reached a "target level" of detail, and that work would now spread to environments and crowds.

Yamauchi has said roughly 150 people have so far worked on Gran Turismo 5 for four years, and that the fifth game has cost 50 times that of the 1997 PSone original.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, a precursor to Gran Turismo 5, was released back in March, and features some of the shiniest - if indestructible - cars ever in a videogame.

Head over to our Gran Turismo 5 Prologue review to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (65) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Sir_TimAlot #1 3 years ago

    Plenty of time for it to become cross platform.....

  • homerramone #2 3 years ago

    150 people... over 4 years...

    It needs to be waaay more than just another (shinier) GT !!

    (Though quite what they can do so it isnt im not sure !)

  • superjag86 #3 3 years ago

    so make that christmas 2010 then

  • DFawkes #4 3 years ago

    Why would you want it cross-platform? Forza 2 is just as good (I actually like it more), the only console with little option for sims is Wii. At least the Cube had the passable R:Racing.

  • Triggerhappytel #5 3 years ago

    *Yawn*

    Why don't they just skip this one and release Gran Turismo 6 for Christmas 2010?

  • Eraysor #6 3 years ago

    I'd still prefer GT PSP. Forza 3 would be even better.

  • mashk #7 3 years ago

    As long as they don't gimp my 'bounce off the walls' technique for going round corners really fast.

  • Lexx87 #8 3 years ago

    I don't see the point, all the effort isn't going to be worth the game is it?

  • billythekid #9 3 years ago

    As long as they gimp that 'bounce off the walls' technique for going round corners really fast it'll be ok.

  • superdelphinus #10 3 years ago

    so it's going to come out just as the speculation for the next next generation is ramped up

    nice

  • ps3owner #11 3 years ago

    delaystation? had to say it... even though I own it ;)

    what a load of shit. 4 years with 150 ppl and still no result?! what are they doing?! jesus fucking christ.

  • superjag86 #12 3 years ago

    finishing home

  • mcbi4kh2 #13 3 years ago

    As long as they gimp that 'bounce off the walls' technique for going round corners really fast it'll be ok.
    Never understood why people complain about this, only track it was helpful on was the bowl one and no one besides stupid americans play on that so its best avoided anyway.

    what a load of shit. 4 years with 150 ppl and still no result?! what are they doing?!
    GT5:p? Not the full results but counts as something?

  • andywilkie35 #14 3 years ago

    good to see this is coming out really soon. OH NO WAIT.

    Forza 3 for me then. Shame, haven't enjoyed a Gran Turismo since GT2, was hoping this would be decent but by the time it comes out I'll have ebayed my PS3

  • Velios #15 3 years ago

    WHAT! Christmas 2009 LOL

    I just cant believe it's taking this long to make what will surely be just "Another" driving game - They should just hurry up and get it out - nobody gives a toss about all the totally anal options, 80% of which people never use anyway. I was also totally underwhelmed by prologue when I got it from the PS Store.

    This is a joke.

  • Garulon #16 3 years ago

    2009=Year of Playstation confirmed!

  • ps3owner #17 3 years ago

    @mcbi4kh2

    ok, fair enough... but why does the full game take so long then? I guess it's all that detail. fair enough.

  • penhalion #18 3 years ago

    If this were a movie, the director would never work in films ever again

  • Velios #19 3 years ago

    "It cost 50 times more that the original GT on PS1"

    I bet it won't make 50 times as much money back though.

  • Velios #20 3 years ago

    If this were a cheese, the cheese maker would never work in the dairy industry ever again.

  • AbyssUK #21 3 years ago

    seriously lol... more chance duke nukem will come out before christmas 09

  • Velios #22 3 years ago

    Maybe Sony will be in administration before Christmas 2009

  • Darren #23 3 years ago

    Hopefully this "target level of detail" won't come at the expense of a solid 60 fps and *no* screen tearing unlike GT5 Prologue, which while visually attractive and technically impressive at times, was far less so when it came to the London track and one of the others. I think there's too much of a push for 1080p rendering when it's clear that the PS3, like the Xbox 360, simply isn't capable of delivering a photo-realistic raing game at that resolution without compromises. The target should be 720p with AA at 60 fps IMO. All this talk of 1080p games is like running before you can walk.

  • Law07 #24 3 years ago

    1080p 60FPS must take absolutely ages...

    WipEout HD took ages to do as well.

  • callum9999 #25 3 years ago

    How can it take so long to make? Surely it will basically be GT5P but with more cars/tracks etc? Or are they adding loads of new features?

  • aphexstwin #26 3 years ago

    good points darren tho if they trimmed the number of cars down to 8 per race 1080p might happen. but yes, 720p and 60fps would work better. as long as theres plenty of circuits and cars ON THE DISC i'll be happy, forza2's carrer got dull quickly due to lack of circuit variety. oh, and get lapped cars to move out of the fucking way too, unlike forza2

  • speedjack #27 3 years ago

    ...and Gran Turismo PSP some time in 2080 ?

  • Darren #28 3 years ago

    It takes so long to make a Gran Turismo game because Polyphony Digital are perfectionists when it comes to modelling the cars as realistically as possible and getting the handling just right. With the huge increase in the polygon count of the cars for this generation's games, each of the 400+ cars takes weeks to do, far longer than they did with the PS2 games which themselves took longer than the PS games. Then PD are talking about adding damage modelling plus there's an internal dashboard view for each car now so that is going to increase the development time somewhat. That's why the games are often technically impressive but suffer when it comes to the actual gameplay IMO... all the effort clearly goes into the cars and as such the game itself feels somewhat tacked on last minute, particularly when it comes to the AI.

    While Forza Motorsport 2 is a fairly ugly looking game by GT's standards (OK it's not that bad but it is fairly bland for a current gen game), the visuals were obviously compromised for the sake of the gameplay. The first Forza Motorsport on the Xbox was ahead of its time in many ways, having decent competitive AI and damage modelling, something GT has yet to do. In many ways the Xbox version was so good that it had the unfortunate effect of making the 360 sequel seem far less impressive IMO. It has a 60 fps framerate we except from this generation but everything else felt the same as the last game so I got bored of it very, very quickly. Much to my surprise.

  • schnide #29 3 years ago

    Gran Release Date 5.

    Loathe as I am to say it so early, and especially having predicted the opposite for the past two years, Microsoft has won this round of the console wars. Or more to the point, Sony has lost it.

  • Widge #30 3 years ago

    I really can't stand mince pies

  • TONYgr #31 3 years ago

    perfect!i will buy it with tekken 6!

  • jaluuk #32 3 years ago

    It's going to be pants anyway.

  • DoctorZoidberg #33 3 years ago

    getting the handling just right

    An interesting topic. I hate this "realistic handling" bollocks people keep coming out with. About as realistic as driving with a control pad can be! (this is where someone goes "computer steering wheels", but surely only about 5 / 10% of people own them? And even then its still never going to be the same, feedback and all that)

    I applaud the efforts, but in my eyes, realistic steering = hard to drive computer car. Of course it shouldn't be easy, and the more you put in the better etc etc.

    Anyhoo, I'm not really a racing car game fan, so I'm sure my opinion is mute! Long live Mario Kart!

  • Emth #34 3 years ago

    This is fecking ridiculous. If this is how long it's going to take to make 1080p games then I'd rather stick with the current level of graphics...

  • Johnson #35 3 years ago

    Perfect is the enemy of the good.

  • niz #36 3 years ago

    He could, however, tell us that Gran Turismo 5 cars had reached a "target level" of detail, and that work would now spread to environments and crowds.

    How about spreading the work to improving the gameplay, especially online side of things?

    I'd be happy with 720p if they could provide us a glitch free, fair, fun and extensive online experience. If GT5P is anything to go by, they probably cannot. But it'll look good...*sigh*.

  • DFawkes #37 3 years ago

    The AI (scriping that says "Use racing line regardless of other cars!";) better be good.

  • the_dudefather #38 3 years ago

    Wonder if it will be out the same time as Alan Wake?

  • TPCG_Russ #39 3 years ago

    This is fecking ridiculous. If this is how long it's going to take to make 1080p games then I'd rather stick with the current level of graphics...
    Give them as long as they like they'll never get it running at 1080p and a constant 60fps.

  • bad09 #40 3 years ago

    Christmas 2009, what's that like nearly 2 years after the demo, wow.....

    Seriously though, I don't really care anymore after experiencing the complete snoozefest that is Prologue, isn't motorcar racing supposed to be exciting? Prologue felt like a Sunday drive to the supermarket. Don't get me wrong I'm not hating, I really liked the first two games but from 3 onwards GT started to get that soulless, clinical just plain boring feeling which haunts it still (IMO) and PS3 really desperately needs a new flagship racer series if you ask me.

    / locks himself away, hiding from angry SDF screaming for his blood

  • mainaman #41 3 years ago

    1080p,60fps,AA,damage ,interior view,ultra detailed car modelling,>20 cars at the grid,online,>400 cars in the game.

    Of course it will take a while and three Forzas will come out before it!

    This is not a Need for Speed game or any other crap that can be easily churned out every Christmas.

    Perfection takes ages,just ask Team Ninja that did Ninja Gaiden for Xbox.

  • SAH1977 #42 3 years ago

    Excuse me if I don't give a rats arse about the opinions of those who consider Maro Kart and Twisted Metal as the hight of virtual driving pleasure.

  • mainaman #43 3 years ago

    Excuse me if I don't give a rats arse about the opinions of those who consider Maro Kart and Twisted Metal as the hight of virtual driving pleasure.


    Well,said!Enough arcade shit already,roll on 2009 with FM3 and GTP5.

  • citizenHUNTER #44 3 years ago

    How many racing games have Sim Bin made in the last couple of years or so? Don't they feature highly detailed car models and GPS accurate tracks, and plenty of them, as well as many different racing licenses from real events and manufacturers... and it plays incredibly realistically. So, erm.. what the fuck are Polyphony on with the GT5 lark!? Seriously, it's about time they had it out, and I seriously think it's bound to be underwhelming after all this time. But we'll see, I hope it's worth me getting a PS3 for in the end.

  • Corben_Dallas #45 3 years ago

    As long as they get rid of gimp techniques that 'bounce off the walls' for going round corners really fast like a a skill less wonder...

    There ya go fixed.
    :)

  • DoctorZoidberg #46 3 years ago

    Excuse me if I don't give a rats arse about the opinions of those who consider Maro Kart and Twisted Metal as the hight of virtual driving pleasure.

    1) Hight? Do you mean Height? Or are you confused to what hight actually means? (For the uneducated it means to call / be called.
    2) Maro? Do you mean Mario?
    3) Well that is rather lucky, because I don't give a "Rat's Arse" about those who couldn't get a basic grasp of the English language.

    Petty bickering aside (Of which I have no love), I believe it all comes down to what someone is looking for in a racing game. I can hardly imagine GT5 being entertaining with three mates at a house party etcetera etcetera unless you are a car boff.

    However, if you get your kicks from serious down to the engineering racing games, good for you!
    /pats on back.

  • chris_ace #47 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Dogs-in-Hats #48 3 years ago

    only one year to wait for no damage on the cars, hours of driving around cones and dull empty tracks
    marvelous, I can't wait

  • Xerx3s #49 3 years ago

    "hope its soon, forza is a lame knock off "

    Lol.

  • DFawkes #50 3 years ago

    Our money. There's a direct correlation between scores and sales, so they cater to the largest audience (sim fans) and make it good, people will buy it.

    I hope they use the year wisely.

  • BartonFink #51 3 years ago

    hope its soon, forza is a lame knock off
    lol

    GT5 really has to be one of the longest running jokes in the history of gaming now.

    Sony rep:
    Wait wait wait - we will release GT5: Prologue A-spec in March.
    GT5 will be out errrrr hmmmmm ...... hey look a flying pig

    /Sony rep flees

  • earobus #52 3 years ago

    they have balls you gotta give em that

  • HuggyAtHome #53 3 years ago

    There must be a point where the obssession with detail hit the law of diminishing returns. Who really cares if the rear bumper on car #386 isn't exactly right? It's meant to be fun. I enjoyed Race Driver : Grid because although it had lots of issues it looked good enough, you could damage your car and was exciting to play. The GT series was fantastic when first launched but it's looking increasingly dated and stale. Not quite sure what it is but it seems to have lost its personality.Another year wait will not help!

  • JYM60 #54 3 years ago

    "GT5 really has to be one of the longest running jokes in the history of gaming now."

    I don't know if you're trolling for a laugh, but no. I'll give you GT portable, but GT5 has been handled well. Well not well, I wish it were out, but GT5P was good and definitley good value for what you got.

    TBH Crimbo 09 is OK. If it's anything like 4 I'll love it to death, and Christmas is a good time to release.

  • gaztech #55 3 years ago

    This should be put in the same cupboard as Duke Nukem, next year it'll be coming then next year it'll be next year!

  • Velios #56 3 years ago

    @ GhenghisNaan

    Oh my god listen to you!

    The only "incentive" that developers should need to satisfy the gamers is their substantial pay cheque, which will soon dry up if the gamers are not satisfied. Are you a developer? or were you just sort of pretending to be one? either way, you sound like a complete arrogant ass.

  • Miths #57 3 years ago

    I wonder if that's enough time for Polyphony to learn how to code proper AI drivers rather than morons on rails (or in GT5P, morons on rails with occasional scripted accidents and deviations from the racing line).
    If they don't get that right this time, all the lovingly crafted cars and sterile looking tracks in the world won't make it a great game. Though I'll no doubt end up buying it anyway :p

    As someone else indicated, they really should take a cue from SimBin, they know how to make exciting racing games with better physics modeling than any console racer has yet delivered. And while the rather old engine they base their games on doesn't really deliver fantastic looking tracks, the car models - the exteriors in particular - still look pretty damn good.
    But I guess the GT5 delays can probably mainly be blamed on their desire to include hundreds of different car models - well, assuming around 300 of them aren't Skylines, like in GT4? :p

  • SharkVLion #58 3 years ago

    I suspect there are several things going on here; these are my candidates for why Poly are taking so long.

    Firstly they are making what they consider a sim and not a game; the difference being the handling model and the accuracy of the cars and circuits. I suspect they are placing the emphasis here on the more hardcore side of things for folks with G25's and race seats etc. I'm guessing that the goal is to give people as close as possible a track day experience and to have the leves of immersion as high as is possible; car interiors being an obvious pointer here.

    Secondly; I suspect that Poly are doing a fair bit of work for the car manu's and so perhaps GT5 is taking longer due to this; lets face it if Toyota, Nissan, Honda are asking them for car models and cut down bits of show software, sims, etc and are offereing large amounts of money then I reckon Poly would be the kind of outfit that would jump at this. The GTR's digital dash being one example as well as the thing they did for the Tokyo motor show, I suspect they are negotiating all sorts of stuff like this.

  • rhubarbandcustard #59 3 years ago

    There are only 3 driving games any petrol head needs.

    PC - Race series
    360 - Forza series
    PS3 - Gran Turismo series

    All other driving games are unessential, inconsequential and a waste of money.

    GT5 Prologue with a steering wheel set-up really is quite superb. I can't wait, can't bloody wait, for GT5.

    Bring it on!
    Edited by 1 at 02/12/08 @ 11:16

  • Bitkari #60 3 years ago

    If this were a cheese, the cheese maker would never work in the dairy industry ever again.

    If this were a cheese, it would have gone fetid a long time ago now...

    Good thing there are lots of gamers that love nothing better than to eat up plates of casu marzu...

  • bad09 #61 3 years ago

    "theres a reason why Clarkson used GT rather than forza in top gear."

    I saw that show, he also said he would kill himself if he applied his GT driving skills to a real car if you remember..The real driving simulator, yeah OK ;)

  • Miths #62 3 years ago

    Actually for all the flaws of GT (and there are quite a few in my opinion), I still think the handling model/car physics in GT5P have a better and more "realistic" feel to them than Forza 2. Although, GT5P is admittedly the only one of the two I've tried playing with a wheel (and if Logitech wheels still aren't supported on the 360(?), then a G25 vs. that cheap plastic thing is obviously a rather lopsided battle anyway).

    In any case, neither GT5P (and I imagine eventually the full game as well) nor Forza 2 - wheel or no wheel - are a match for the best PC sims in the realism department (as much as the word "realism" can be used about a computer simulation).

    There's also one thing in Forza 2 I find absolute unforgivable - considering it pretends to be a sim rather than an arcade racer - no interior view. Even several arcade racers have fully modeled cockpits (GRID, Midnight Club: LA, TDU, PGR3+4) - leaving it out in Forza is inexcusable, even if it had meant cutting back on the number of cars (a trade off it would have been nice to see Polyphony make so we wouldn't get a late 2009 - or early 2010 - release date).

  • ronuds #63 3 years ago

    About the time Forza 4 will be shipping then.

  • BadBoyBonner #64 3 years ago

    citizenHUNTER
    01-Dec-08 20:24:25

    How many racing games have Sim Bin made in the last couple of years or so? Don't they feature highly detailed car models and GPS accurate tracks, and plenty of them, as well as many different racing licenses from real events and manufacturers... and it plays incredibly realistically. So, erm.. what the fuck are Polyphony on with the GT5 lark!? Seriously, it's about time they had it out, and I seriously think it's bound to be underwhelming after all this time. But we'll see, I hope it's worth me getting a PS3 for in the end.


    You forgot to add that Sim Bin only have half the number of staff relative to the GT creators.

  • Tetsuo_Shima #65 3 years ago

    "who knows the next Halo game on PS3 might actually look next gen instead on the n64 expansion pack graphics Halo 3 had!"

    Don't insult Perfect Dark