Sony Europe comments on GT5 delay

By Tom Bramwell Published 13 January, 2010

"Only applicable for Japanese market."

Sony Europe has said that Gran Turismo 5's latest delay is "only applicable for the Japanese market", although the platform holder also declined to estimate when the game will be released.

"This information on the GT release is only applicable for the Japanese market," the company said in a statement to Eurogamer. "SCEE will announce the launch date for this game in the PAL territories in due course."

Sony Japan had announced a March 2010 release date for Gran Turismo 5 at the Tokyo Game Show last year, while SCEE had been a little more cautious, declining to confirm a date for the much-anticipated Polyphony Digital racer.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (89) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • JahB #1 2 years ago

    it's only for the Japanese market, since it's somewhat hard to delay a game in the US/europe that doesn't have a release date.

  • matrim83 #2 2 years ago

    ^^ Pretty much. The release date was only announced for the Japanese market so the delay can only be for the Japanese market.

    Poor case of stating the obvious.

  • Teamallstar #3 2 years ago

    Obviously it doesn't affect europe as they haven't announced it here yet!

  • sesskie #4 2 years ago

    What a sutpid thing to say. "ITs not late outside fo japan since we never gave a release date, lolz!" Moron, better to ahve not said anything. Fans are pretty pissed off as it is.

    I ebt the game will see a worldwide xmas release date, they will sit on it until then. Greedy bastards.

  • Milk #5 2 years ago

    It was good to see a few more tracks and cars @ CES. I'm also guessing that we will get to see SPA when the time trial moves to the next stage . . .

  • tachometer #6 2 years ago

    Seriously tempted to ditch my PS3 now and get the excellent and real Forza 3 on the great XBOX360

  • AhSoul #7 2 years ago

    Gave up waiting and got Forza 3 and a MS wheel for the Xbox. Loving it so far. Surely all these delays are just costing them sales?

  • lavalant #8 2 years ago

    It's probably gamers feedback from the demo causing the delay.

  • Toothball #9 2 years ago

    @tachometer

    That's certainly worth considering. Forza 3 is a very engaging driving experience if you like messing with cars or even just want to race.

  • awb83 #10 2 years ago

    this is getting bloody stupid now

  • anonim1979 #11 2 years ago

    Demo was VERY sh1ttty - poor graphics and not even fluid 60fps... so they are fixing engine.

    Forza 4 will be ready before USA/EU GT5 launch.
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 10:02

  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #12 2 years ago

    @sesskie #4

    erm, how can they be greedy bastards if they are sitting on it holding off til xmas release. they aint EARNING from it if its not released!

  • bad09 #13 2 years ago

    The wait is just the start.

  • Bealsy #14 2 years ago

    Yeah, as per above comments, you can't delay something that doesn't have a release date. As per my comment in the previous article, just pin "GT5 delayed" at the top, then when it finally comes out, EG can remove it.

    If it gets renamed Gran Turismo Forver then you know they're in trouble....

  • rotmm #15 2 years ago

    @Beasly, "If it gets renamed Gran Turismo Forver then you know they're in trouble...."

    [link url=http://imgur.com/ZnQAr.jpg
    ]http://imgur.com/ZnQAr.jpg
    [/link]


    *Stolen from a poster at Kotaku

  • monkie_king #16 2 years ago

    Xmas 2010 confirmed!

  • cianchristopher #17 2 years ago

    It's hilarious watching Sony fall flat on its face this generation! Who woulda thunk it?

    Jesus.... flat on its fucking face!

  • altitude2k #18 2 years ago

    @cianchristopher

    I think Sony have stepped up a gear in the last 12 months or so, but considering GT5 is one of, if not THE single biggest release of the PS3 this news has undone a lot of the hard work Naughty Dog have done. If I were a Sony exec, I'd be highly embarassed.
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 10:18

  • jambo74 #19 2 years ago

    Lost interest in GT5 a long time ago.

  • JahB #20 2 years ago

    @cianchristopher

    you must be very, very young if you think selling 25 million consoles is a faceplant. if you wanna know about consoles that fell flat on their face, try reading up on the jaguar.

  • cianchristopher #21 2 years ago

    Oh sure, they have improved in the past 12 months (Uncharted 2 is one of the best games ever made, IMO) - but c'mon!

    It's like they just keep trying to find ways to shoot themselves in the foot! I've never seen such inept leadership and management at Sony before - what the hell happened to them this gen?

  • cianchristopher #22 2 years ago

    @JahB

    So, the PS3 is a success then, is it?

    C'mon man, it's a fucking colossal failure - coming off the back of the PS2. A failure of ginormous proportions...

  • MontyBrewster #23 2 years ago

    Realease dates according to wiki:

    Dec 2004 - Gran turismo 4 (Japan)
    May 2005 - Forza
    May 2007 - Forza 2
    Oct 2009 - Forza 3

    Just release the game already.

  • schnide #24 2 years ago

    Monty - nicely done, that's a whole dose of perspective for Polphony right there.

  • Quint2020 #25 2 years ago

    This is living!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #26 2 years ago

    Is GT5 the new Duke Nukem Forever?
    Will it ever see light of day?

  • Hindle #27 2 years ago

    PD always take ages to release games guys. Alan Wake has had equal long development time but i guess you never take the piss out of that. Is it because its a Sony game or something.

  • cianchristopher #28 2 years ago

    @Hindle

    That's patently untrue!

    The first GT came out in 97, the second in 99, the third in 2001, the fourth in 2004 and now it's 2010 with no sign of the fifth...

    So I think you can safely say - the standards have gone to shit over in Polyphony Digital...

  • homerramone #29 2 years ago

    Perhaps Polophny should concentrate on making the damn not pissing about make the dash and such for the latest skyline !

  • Widge #30 2 years ago

    No sign? The people playing at CES were playing on some fairy dust version then.

  • Hindle #31 2 years ago

    How have they cianchristopher, they are taking thier time to make a game that will be as good as it can be. Would you rather GT 5 came out 2 years ago a buggy mess or this year when its perfect. The best thing is Forza will have probally 6 months head start but GT will still outsell on day one

  • cianchristopher #32 2 years ago

    No sign of the fifth being released, Widge!

    And this is a fucking joke! You know it and I know it!

  • chessboxer #33 2 years ago

    I wonder if this will get released before Alan Wake...

  • Hindle #34 2 years ago

    Youre a fanboy Cianchristopher simple as that.

  • cianchristopher #35 2 years ago

    If GT5 came out 2 years ago (2008) and was a buggy mess then they'd have to be some shitty developers, wouldn't they?

    I mean, GT4 came out in 2004, if after 4 years the sequel was a buggy mess then they'd have had to fuck up everything! Lose all the original code or something and start again from scratch....

    Excuses, excuses...

  • NotSoSlim #36 2 years ago

    @widge

    Exactly. Then you have idiots stating a 200mb dl is the latest build.

    Taking way too long to release tho

  • cianchristopher #37 2 years ago

    A fanboy of what?

    Yes, I'm a fanboy of games that are actually released, if that's what you mean...

  • Hindle #38 2 years ago

    Pd are perfectionists they always take ages to make thier games. PD are the best racing developers in the world its as simple as that.

  • Hindle #39 2 years ago

    Pd are taking the max amount of time to make sure thier game lives up to the hype how does that make Sony a failure god some people are just stupid

  • cianchristopher #40 2 years ago

    Actually Hindle, I just showed that they don't always take ages to make their games (look up a couple of posts)...

    Again, I say - excuses, excuses...

  • Hindle #41 2 years ago

    There was 4 years between Gt 3 and 4 so id say quite a long time. Dont buy Gt then man its as simple as that, how have the standards gone to shit when they want to make a perfect game doesnt make sense

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #42 2 years ago

    I wondered how long it would take for a tit-for-tat comment about Alan Wake to appear. Alan Wake is clearly taking longer than it should have done, no question, but I can see distinct differences in the type of game and why one would have better reasons for a delay than the other.

    Alan Wake wouldn't have had much reusable code to work with and is a story based game so I imagine that lots of the delays are with plot, puzzles, pacing, voice acting etc etc.

    GT5 however would have used 'some' GT4 code I'm sure. Also, if its anything like Forza all the car models are subbed out to India. Once the framework is in place it shouldn't be that hard to add the content.

    Personally I think this down to the difficulties in PS3 development trying to get it to graphically meet the specs that people were promised of the console before it launched. They seem to have almost managed it, but its taken a lot of work and trying to then fit in decent AI, physics, body damage and head tracking(?) as well has given them quite the task. EDIT: At the time they probably imagined they could get away with the usual AI and no body damage. That's what happens when you rest of your laurels and some decent competition comes along. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 11:41

  • Bealsy #43 2 years ago

    Hindle - PD make the best car models. I would give you a spade but you seem to be digging a nice enough hole as it is.

    [rant]
    It's late. It's taken too long. Nobody is really that bothered about whatever little crappy addition they're doing to it now. The core of the game is ready, over 1000 cars are ready, tracks are ready. Just they're insistent on putting everything ever into the game. Which is nice, but time wastingly pointless. Forza III doesnt have everything in it, but its still a bloody ace racing game. If they spent less time acurately modelling how raindrops roll off the car bonnet it would be out already.
    [/rant]

  • Widge #44 2 years ago

    Release it when they want I say. Its not like I'm sitting on the net F5-ing until it comes out. You'd think there was nothing else to play in this world.

  • Hindle #45 2 years ago

    Again perfectionists guys, anyways watch how it outsells Forzas total sales on its first day of purchase and thats all that counts really.

  • Murton #46 2 years ago

    Cian: Polyphony have been working with Nissan building cars and onboard computers during the gap between finishing GT4 and starting GT5, truth is we don't know when development began but we do know that Alan Wake was first shown at E3 in 2005 and GT5 in 2006, so it's quite likely that Alan Wake has been in production at least as long as GT5 if not longer.

    It's also "patently untrue" to say that standard have gone to hell at Polyphony Digital as you can pretty much guarantee that GT5 will blow every game of this generation out of the water on build quality and content. Too many developers now take the "that will do" approach to build quality and then release with gamebreaking bugs or shoddy performance (Failout 3) or cut content out to sell on later as DLC (Assassins Creed 2). When GT5 is finally released it will finally be proven that you can take proper time and care over a game and still be successful, even when making a sim in the racing game genre which has gone almost completely arcade as of late.

  • cianchristopher #47 2 years ago

    Hindle, I would love for GT5 to be the "perfect game" that you speak of...

    But, what I've seen doesn't fill me with confidence. The AI is still rudimentary. The lopsidedness of having "full damage" for 170 cars and "some damage" for the rest is silly (either do it right or don't do it at all). GT5:p was a major disappointment. Having the game in production for 6 years (for an iterative sequel, not an new IP) is extremely worrying.

    I just don't see it as the "perfect game"...

  • Hindle #48 2 years ago

    Exactly Widge it will be done when its done.

  • Hindle #49 2 years ago

    Thank you Murton couldnt have said it better myself.

  • 00.00.01 #50 2 years ago

    5 years of work on a title that exists of 30% unchanged tracks since 1997...Don't know who's all DL'd the GT5 trial from the PSN store recently but it looks like crap.
    Seriously disappointed with the graphics. And if it's postponed in Japan (for whatever reason, I think there's too many titles being released in Q1) it means we won't be getting this untillQ4 2010 or even Q1 2011. Don't get me wrong, I've been a hardcore fan of the GT-series but this is beyond a joke. How can SCE agree with the PD-timeframe?

  • oupe #51 2 years ago

    Again perfectionists guys, anyways watch how it outsells Forzas total sales on its first day of purchase and thats all that counts really.

    I really hope for PD that they sell 2.2 million copies on launch day :/

    But... no.

  • Hindle #52 2 years ago

    oef

    So you think Forza will outsell Gt 5?

  • metalmike25 #53 2 years ago

    Who cares when it comes out, read some books or something while you wait if it bothers you so much. I never understand why some people get so angry about such trivial things. I'd understand if you were a shareholder at Sony or something but for anyone to get upset at about how long it's taking is kind of sad

  • frugtkompot #54 2 years ago

    I don't care too much for GT5, but holy smokes it must have cost Sony a ton of money with such a long development process.

  • betahoven #55 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • And_Boy #56 2 years ago

    Why delayed AGAIN? Wasn't OFFICIAL release date delayed only now? It is smart financial move from SONY due too many great games in Q1.

    By the way: "The game had been due for release in Japan in March, but that would now be pushed back a month, the company confirmed in a press release."
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 12:32

  • VandelayIndustries #57 2 years ago

    You need only to look at the feature list of GT5 to see why it's taking so long. It makes Forza 3 look incredibly vanilla in comparison.

  • FutureDave #58 2 years ago

    So are they just avoiding an already crowded release schedule?

  • CrunchinJelly #59 2 years ago

    I heard they delayed the game so they could fix the awful looking trees.

    Is it true?

  • Bealsy #60 2 years ago

    VandelayIndustries - Make Forza III look Vanilla? Just for you here is some reality, in the form of bullet points.

    * AI will be the same as ever.
    * Graphics won't be much better than Forza (albeit with a better lighting model) as real shots from Digital Foundry prove, not this upscaled bullshit Sony feed us.
    * Tracks will be roughly on par with Forza
    * Online will be SHIT compared to Forza. It's simply not even worth comparing. Storefront, lag free racing, purchasable car tunes, setups, photos, video replays, in depth leaderboards, car designs, paint logos, etc etc etc etc.
    * It has 1000+ cars. Very nice, but I can guarantee you that there will be 32 Skylines and Supras that look no different and behave no differently, every single variation of every 911, Gallardo, Ford Focus, BMW 3 series etc that are just plain boring.
    * Damage won't rock your world the way you want it to - only rally cars are fully deformable? Correct me if I'm wrong.
    * Weather effects - very nice but not a must have, although great fun for wet weather racing
    * Night time racing - again, very nice, but turn your brightness down on your tv and you have pretty much the same thing on Forza :-P

  • El-Dev #61 2 years ago

    "I heard they delayed the game so they could fix the awful looking trees."

    Must be why Forza got released on time then, they didn't care about shit looking trees and rightly so. I suppose though if you spend a lot of time looking at the trees in racing games you probably shouldn't be playing them.

  • glaeken #62 2 years ago

    Yeah apparently they are not happy with the deciduous tree's. Evergreen's are looking fine.

  • Deckard1 #63 2 years ago

    The games gonna be seriously outdated by the time it comes out. Seriously who's gonna want to play this when we're all driving about in hover cars.

  • fredtheshred #64 2 years ago

    I think Sony should stop making empty promises and just release the game when they know its ready

  • Drpwnage #65 2 years ago

    Delayed while they add another 50 minutely detailed variations of the Honda Civic to hit that 1000 car selection milestone!

  • jefranklin18 #66 2 years ago

    The wait for GT5 is now ridiculous. I have a PS3 only and I have had GT in every incarnation from GT2, so it's not as if I am slagging for the sake of it, but PD have well and truly shafted Sony with this fiasco. Everyone is criticising Sony but from what I hear, they have a contract with PD that prevents them (Sony) from forcing PD's hand (probably a hang over from the PS1 days, when Sony were trying to maximise the number of titles for it).

  • thedaveeyres #67 2 years ago

    They're still negotiating for the rights to have Duke Nukem as an unlockable driver, hence the delay.

  • M_of_the_sys #68 2 years ago

    Well we have cianchristopher here getting all worked up about a Sony game. All we need now is MESSIAH/donnie and this comments section is complete.

  • VandelayIndustries #69 2 years ago

    Bealsy:

    I have Forza 3 and I like it, but my point was directed at those who were moaning about the time taken to get GT5 out to us. This isn't merely an update.

    Personally I'm looking forward to the night racing and weather features as it will add some much needed variety, as will the different racing disciplines and tracks specific to them. And then you have head tracking and damage systems too, all of this takes time and I'd rather they take their time and do it properly instead of rushing it out on the final straight to appease the belligerent fans.

  • Boomerang #70 2 years ago

    "..you can pretty much guarantee that GT5 will blow every game of this generation out of the water on build quality and content."

    And you base this on what exactly?

  • Dizzy #71 2 years ago

    They are adding waggle wand stuff to the muliplayer. Other players can stand next to the road and wave at cars.
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 14:08

  • FladgeMangle #72 2 years ago

    I lost interest in this series with GT3. I can't imagine a PS3 version will change my mind, no matter how pretty it will no-doubt be.

    When I heard the dinner-jazz soundtrack on the demo videos I almost lost the will to live. Gran Turismo used to be ground breaking - the first racing RPG no less - now it's just one soulless and tiresome remake after another. Maybe if they'd spent the last three years on crash physics and realistic damage it would have elevated it onto a whole new arena. Sadly this seems not to be the case.

    I'm not saying it should be a Burnout-style crash simulator, I'm just saying that the actual cause/effect element of driving a car at speed has always been missing from the series and it looks like PD have completely failed to give a hoot with this latest version.

    To paraphrase - Real driving simulator my arse.

  • JahB #73 2 years ago

    @Fladge Mangle

    so true. i wish they'd focus on fun gameplay again, instead of that soulless car porn that was GT4. i still have some hopes for 5, but they're getting lower and lower with every delay...

  • Murton #74 2 years ago

    Boomerang: I base that comment on PD's previous form and what we've seen this gen. With a few notable exceptions build quality this generation has been of stark contrast to the PS2 and original Xbox era. This is most likely because both consoles now support patching allowing developers to get away with things this generation that they would never have been able to dream of last gen.

    Again I expect to be marked down the same as everyone else who has spoken sense or defended GT/PD but I for one am confident that this will be THE racing game of this generation. Build quality, content and enjoyability, those are the main factors in a good game and GT will have all three, I'm certain of that.

  • And_Boy #75 2 years ago

    It would be fail to have GOW3 and GT5 coming in the same week in Japan lol. GT5 would sell more then GOW3, and thats hardly clever selling.
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/10 @ 16:05

  • freakzilla #76 2 years ago

    What have you done sony? This has the potential to hurt GT more than any competition its ever had.

  • Verminox #77 2 years ago

    "what relevance does a sim racer have to do with a hack and slash and JRPG?"
    GT5 and GOW3 are both exclusives so they wouldn't be release in the same month


    Worldwide release?
    Edited by 2 at 13/01/10 @ 16:46

  • ronuds #78 2 years ago

    Is this that much of a surprise? Look at the latest feature list and then ask yourself how many of those features we've seen actually working...a month or two prior to the game's original release date. It was never going to happen.

    They should just release the game and then put those features in a patch or something. Night racing and weather isn't really a make-or-break feature for any racer.

  • JahB #79 2 years ago

    @ronuds

    they already did, it's called GT5:prologue

  • coolbritannia #80 2 years ago

    I feel petty and like I'm letting myself down here, especially as a 30 year old I should know better, but this is a classic example of why the 360 is hammering the PS3. If the relative snorefest of Forza 2 can be so improved upon in just 2 years, why can't polyphony follow suit?

  • Numbat #81 2 years ago

    When Forza 3 was announced last year,I'm sure whatever-his-face behind the game claimed GT5 was already complete and ready to release, and Sony gave an Autumn release date for it.

    It seems to me that this was all untrue, and a case of Sony lying in an attempt to prevent people fed up with waiting buying a 360 and Forza. Seems another case of Sony being dishonest and trying to fool us.

  • Verminox #82 2 years ago

    @Numbat - The only release date given by PD or Sony was for March in Japan.

  • des #83 2 years ago

    Nice,Duke will appreciate the company of Grand Delay.

  • El-Dev #84 2 years ago

    At least I'll be able to buy Splinter Cell in March to amuse myself with...

  • monkfishjoe #85 2 years ago

    I think Sony and PD shot themselves in the foot with that early 'faked' (pre-rendered) trailer that they tried to pass off as engine-driven graphics...

    I suppose that the problem with a game like this, that has been in development for so long is that they going to have to be constantly updating old code to keep it up with the new releases. Yes, it's going to look beautiful and be a solid game, but the original design was thought of 6 years or so ago and think how much driving games have come since then.

    Shame.

  • Ryze #86 2 years ago

    Pololyphony

  • SavageEvil #87 2 years ago

    So what?!? No other territory had a release date to speak of, what are you guys griping about? If you can't deal with the wait, play the other games that will be out, considering none of you here griping live in Japan...bitching is pointless.

    I own Forza 3, it's fun but the drive train swaps have ruined this game along with that ignorant matchmaking. AWD is king in Forza 3, only cars that can beat those are Prototypes. I wish there were more old school cars in Forza, nothing wrong with have options, variety is the spice of life my friends.

  • man.the.king #88 2 years ago

    @cianchristopher

    "The first GT came out in 97, the second in 99, the third in 2001, the fourth in 2004 and now it's 2010 with no sign of the fifth...
    So I think you can safely say - the standards have gone to shit over in Polyphony Digital.."

    Going by that logic (and that last statement of yours), I guess you could say Remedy who are developing the 360 exclusive Alan Wake have standards to match that of PD?

    But yeah, ON-TOPIC, this delay has gone on long enough now. PD should learn when to say "Okay, this is good enough".

  • Beano #89 2 years ago

    "Only applicable for Japanese market."

    Ok, but surely translating the little text the game have to english can't take more than a few weeks?

    It not a epic RPG with massive amounts of text or speech after all...