Gran Turismo 5 (グランツーリスモ 5, Guran Tsūrisumo Faibu; often called GT5) is a 2010 racing video game created by Polyphony Digital and released by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the fifth main game and the tenth overall in the Gran Turismo series. The game was released on November 24, 2010, in Europe and North America, and on November 25, 2010, in Japan and Australasia. It came after a version called the Prologue and was the first main game in the series to be released for the PlayStation 3.

The game introduced online racing for the first time in the series, allowing up to 16 players to race together. It includes a system that shows how cars get damaged, with different types of damage depending on the vehicle. The game features over 1,000 cars, 29 locations, 77 tracks, and a tool to create custom tracks. It also added changing weather and time of day effects, which had not been used in the series before. The game used official partnerships with racing organizations like the World Rally Championship, NASCAR, and Super GT for the first time.

Gran Turismo 5 received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success. It became the second best-selling PlayStation 3 game, the best-selling PlayStation 3 exclusive game, and the third best-selling game in the series. It sold almost 12 million copies worldwide. The game won several awards and inspired some players to become real-life professional racers through the GT Academy competition.

Gameplay

Gran Turismo 5 is the first game in the series to include a damage model, with different types of damage depending on the car. The game also has weather effects that appear on some tracks. Players can choose to use 3D effects or play karting. New visual features include moving skid marks, dust, and the ability for drivers to use their headlights. A course editor allows players to create new tracks by using tools that randomly generate parts based on choices like the number of turns, time of day, and track length. Players can choose from different themes that affect the track's design, length, and highest point.

The physics in Gran Turismo 5 are more realistic than in Gran Turismo 4. Cars no longer turn instantly but must first load the outside wheel. Effects like instability during braking have a greater impact.

Gran Turismo 5 is the first game in the series to show both mechanical and visible damage, using a system that changes car models based on speed and impact angle. Players can now overturn cars for the first time. Cars are divided into "premium" and "standard" types. Premium cars have more details, including a full cockpit view, while standard cars have fewer details. Standard cars could not use aftermarket wheels at first, but this changed with an update. Earlier games, like Gran Turismo 2, had only mechanical damage.

Players can drive in 31 different locations and 81 track layouts. Examples include Dunsfold Aerodrome in the UK, which is used in the TV show Top Gear, and tracks like Tokyo Route 246. Real-life circuits like Nürburgring and Suzuka return, as do fictional tracks like Trial Mountain. New real-life tracks include Indianapolis Motor Speedway and city circuits in Rome and Madrid. A full list of tracks was released by the game’s developers.

Downloadable content includes tracks like Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Kart Space I/II. Later updates added tracks like Special Stage Route X and Twin Ring Motegi.

Gran Turismo 5 includes 1,089 cars. This is the first game to feature cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bugatti. New models like the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Lexus LFA are included. McLaren appears for the first time with cars like the F1 and MP4-12C. Formula One cars like the Ferrari F2007 are also included. Hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius are part of the game. Some classic cars, like the Triumph Spitfire, and unusual vehicles, like the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen, are also included.

Cars are divided into premium and standard categories. Premium cars have more detailed 3D models, higher-quality textures, working headlights, and detailed damage. They also have functional windshield wipers on rainy or snowy tracks. Standard cars have simpler models and basic damage. After an update, standard cars have simpler interior views. Open-topped cars have working steering wheels and gauges. About 25% of all cars are premium.

Updates added new cars, such as the #71 Nissan GT-R driven by the game’s creator and NASCAR cars. Later downloadable content included new touring cars, the Red Bull X2010 prototype, and cars like the Lamborghini Aventador and Nissan Leaf. Free DLCs added the Scion FR-S and Chevrolet Corvette C7 Prototype. Updates continued to add new vehicles, including the Honda Weider HSV-010, Subaru BRZ, and Nissan GT-R N24.

Development

The game was first shown at E3 2005 and was called Vision Gran Turismo. This was not Gran Turismo 5 but Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation 2, with more cars and computer-generated images. The PlayStation 3 was not released until November 11, 2006, and no Gran Turismo game was included in its initial lineup. Information about the game was shared over the next three years, but the public did not see a complete version of Gran Turismo 5 until later.

At Sony’s E3 2009 Press Conference, a trailer for Gran Turismo 5 was shown. It included racing series like Super GT, NASCAR, and WRC, but no release date was given. Yamauchi said, “We could release the game anytime, but it depends on timing and decisions made by Sony.” He explained that choosing a release date was difficult because it required agreement from multiple groups at Sony. Yamauchi noted that releasing the game in March would have been too early, as the final version would not have included all desired features. Sony Computer Entertainment had control over release dates, which may have contributed to delays. Gran Turismo 5 was shown more in 2010, including a new trailer, a release date for North and Latin America, playable demos, and private press conferences. Two collector’s editions were released: one with extra content and another with additional items like books about car racing.

Gran Turismo 5 took over five years to complete and cost about $60 million. Polyphony Digital released four other games during this time. The first game in the series also took five years. Yamauchi said developing for the PlayStation 3 was difficult because the Cell processor’s design made programming complex and time-consuming. Some people believe this difficulty contributed to the game’s delays.

All downloadable content was removed from sale on April 30, 2014. Online servers were shut down on May 30, 2014. Sony announced a final online event for Gran Turismo 5 on April 29, 2014, which began on April 30 and ended with the server shutdown. Players who participated received five cars in Gran Turismo 6.

The GT5 Time Trial Demo was released on December 17, 2009, on the PlayStation Network. It was only playable if the user was logged into the PlayStation Network. The demo was part of the 2010 GT Academy, where top drivers could test their skills in real racing. It showed improvements in graphics and physics compared to the previous game, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The demo featured the Nissan 370Z and the Indianapolis GP circuit, which was new to the series. While praised for its graphics, the demo was criticized for a stiff camera and unclear representation of the final game. It is no longer playable after the 2010 GT Academy ended.

In 2010, the GT Academy returned for a third year, this time for U.S. drivers. The competition had three phases, with the winner trained as a professional racer. A reality TV show on SPEED followed the competition. The first round tested driving skills in Gran Turismo 5 with Nissan cars, and winners received free digital content. The top 32 drivers advanced to a live finals, but the second round was canceled due to cheating. Sony and Polyphony Digital later confirmed that European players could join the GT Academy starting March 4, 2011.

At E3 2010, a new trailer for Gran Turismo 5 was shown, including a release date. The trailer used a song by Japanese composer Daiki Kasho, which had no official title. Polyphony Digital held a competition for fans to name the song. The winner, “50UL 0N D!SPLAY” (a stylized version of “Soul On Display”), was chosen by Yamauchi from 5,444 entries and was added to the game’s credits.

Kazunori Yamauchi said Gran Turismo 5 would support compatibility with the PlayStation Portable. Players could transfer their cars from the PSP version to Gran Turismo 5.

In 2009, media reported that the game might use the PlayStation Eye for head tracking, allowing players to move their heads naturally and adjust the 3D cockpit view. However, no official confirmation was given.

In January 2010, Sony and Toyota announced a GPS device that could record real-life driving data and create a “ghost” lap in the game. This feature was available for real-world tracks, but details about which tracks supported it were not shared.

The game supports up to six different views on six or more PlayStation 3 consoles. These views include left and right perspectives, a server view, and a front view. Updates to the game improved multiplayer features, such as car restrictions, performance ratings, and handicaps like ballast or engine limits. Some users noticed changes in physics after updates, though these were not officially documented. Other updates added events, an online car dealership, and adjustments to rewards.

The final update (v2.16) was released on May 31, 2014, disabling all online features. A later patch (v2.17) removed the online requirement for downloadable content after servers closed.

In October 2011, an update called Spec 2.0 added 11 new NASCAR vehicles and a downloadable opening movie.

Marketing

The marketing campaign for Gran Turismo 5 began on November 18, 2010, with a television commercial that included an imaginary character named Kevin Butler. This commercial was part of Sony Computer Entertainment's "It Only Does Everything" advertising campaign for video games in North America. In the commercial, Butler is shown as the "VP of Add More Awesome," explaining how he improved Gran Turismo 5 by adding features that were once considered impossible.

At the October 2010 Australian International Motor Show, Toyota organized a 24-hour PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo 5 endurance race. This event was inspired by the 24 Hours Nürburgring race. A total of 48 drivers were divided into two teams and competed in virtual versions of the Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept for a full day and night.

On November 14, 2010, Sony announced a partnership with the Swiss watchmaker Tissot to create an official countdown timer for the release of Gran Turismo 5. To promote this partnership, Tissot gave away one customized GT5 edition Tissot PRS 516 watch each day until the game's launch. In February 2011, a real version of the Citroën GT, designed by Polyphony Digital for Gran Turismo 4, was displayed floating near the Rialto Bridge in Venice, recreating a location from the game.

Release

After promising that Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) would be released in 2010 after missing its initial March 2010 Japanese release date, Sony announced at E3 2010 that GT5 would officially launch in North and Latin America on November 2, 2010, in Europe and Japan on November 3, 2010, and in Australia on November 4, 2010. However, it was later revealed that the game would not meet its November release date and would instead be released later in the "holiday season." Sony producer Taku Imasaki explained that the delay was because the game’s creator, Kazunori Yamauchi, and his team at Polyphony Digital wanted to ensure they created the best possible racing experience. Sony spokesman Makiko Noda added that the delay was due to production challenges. Later, Sony stated the game would be released "before Christmas" in 2010.

The actual reason for the delay was related to production. GT5 missed its production window by three days. Kazunori Yamauchi publicly apologized via his Twitter account and explained that, because the game was so complex, many details needed to be finalized. He wrote, "Wait a little longer." Later, a Blu-ray forum moderator claimed the delay was because Sony chose to release the game using the newer 3.50 SDK firmware standard (to help prevent piracy) instead of the originally planned 3.41 version. At the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show on November 2, 2010, Yamauchi confirmed to automotive blog Jalopnik that GT5 had entered final production for release.

After weeks of speculation, it was officially announced that GT5 would be released on November 24, 2010, for Asia, North America, and Europe, and on November 25, 2010, for Japan and Australia.

Alongside the standard edition of the game, there are nine other versions of the game available in specific countries or regions. All special edition versions are sold in limited quantities and include a copy of the game.

• The Collector’s Edition is available in North America, Europe, and Asia. The North American version includes a retail copy of the game, a custom etched keychain, a 1:43 scale model of a Nissan GT-R with an exclusive design, a 300-page APEX book with driving tips and car information, an e-voucher for five unique "Chrome Line" edition cars, and a Certificate of Authenticity. The European version includes a retail copy of the game, a 300-page APEX book, an e-voucher for five "Chrome Line" edition cars, an exclusive GT5 dynamic theme, and a Certificate of Authenticity.
• The Signature Edition is available only in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It includes a retail copy of the game, a steel case in 'Obsidian Black' (a color used by Mercedes-Benz), a coffee table book about cars and locations in GT5, a 300-page APEX book, a Gran Turismo-branded wallet with a competition entry card for a chance to win a real Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG car, a USB pen drive with an exclusive GT5 theme, a custom etched keychain, a 1:43 scale model of a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in an exclusive design, an e-voucher for six "Stealth" edition cars, and an e-voucher for five "Chrome Line" edition cars.
• The Japanese and Asian Racing Pack includes a retail copy of the game, a 300-page APEX book, and a 'Titanium Blue' PlayStation 3 console with a matching DualShock 3 controller. The console has a 160GB hard drive.
• A European bundle includes a retail copy of the game, a 300-page APEX book, an e-voucher for five "Chrome Line" edition cars, an exclusive GT5 dynamic theme, a Certificate of Authenticity, a 'Charcoal Black' PlayStation 3 console, and a matching DualShock 3 controller. The console has a 320GB hard drive.
• The Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition was released on January 17, 2012. It includes the original game, the Spec 2.0 update, vouchers for DLC released in 2011, and alternative box art featuring a silver version of the Le Mans Red Mercedes SLS AMG. The inside cover includes images of the Red Bull X2011 Race Car (a DLC car).
• The Gran Turismo 5: Academy Edition was released on September 26, 2012. It includes all updates and new content since the game’s launch, plus vouchers for all DLC except the Twin Ring Motegi Pack, Honda Weider HSV-010 (SUPER GT) '11, Corvette C7 Test Prototype '12, 2014 Corvette Stingray Final Prototype, Scion FR-S '12, Subaru BRZ S '12, and the free "Family Upgrades" for the Track Pack and Racing Car Pack.

Reception

Gran Turismo 5 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.

The driving physics of GT5 were highly praised. Car and Driver stated that "its physics model is extremely realistic. The behavior of the cars is very faithful to their real-life counterparts, so they respond correctly to poor driving and when you miss critical braking and turn-in points." Destructoid commented that "Turning and braking feel incredibly natural. You get a real sense of how slamming on the brakes throws the car's weight forward. Handling actually feels like car handling, and not something that feels distant or controlled through a game controller." IGN declared that "its handling model proudly restores Gran Turismo to the top of the driving games."

The number of cars, tracks, and features was praised. GamePro called it "an amazingly deep racing game that offers a huge number of racing challenges, cars, tracks, and features." Destructoid stated that "the numbers Sony and Polyphony Digital have shared don't even begin to cover how vast the game is. The game's GT Mode has so many menus and sub-menus that it took me a full workday to completely go through them all, and that's not even counting a separate arcade mode, a track maker, a video collection, and much more. It's every bit of the racing world all in one place, on one disc. The word 'comprehensive' doesn't even feel big enough." The inclusion of a track generator, karts, licensed World Rally Championship and NASCAR vehicles was also received positively, as was the new dynamic time and weather effects.

The addition of online racing was positively received. The online races were credited for being smooth without any noticeable lag and for not showing any drop in quality, as well as for providing fun racing. GamePro concluded that "the superb online mode gives the game incredible longevity."

The graphics received positive reviews, with reviewers praising the lighting effects as well as the interior and exterior details of premium cars. CGMagazine claimed that the detail of the game's tracks combined with weather effects add up to "some breathtaking driving experiences with sunset on the horizon and dirt being kicked up around your car, or raindrops hitting the windshield in cockpit view with uncanny realism." Destructoid commented positively on the lightning, weather, and particle effects, stating that "watching snow blow onto and over the windshield was so lovely that it was almost distracting. The way a nighttime fog soaks up headlights looked impossibly realistic. Streetlights shine on a glossy, wet road, and later, raindrops streak by as you hit 200 mph. In the desert, dust kicks up in a rally race. High beams catch the dust, with the tops of the surrounding trees barely lit by the setting sun." The detail of standard cars was criticized for lacking fully detailed cockpit views, looking like up-scaled versions from Gran Turismo 4, and not matching the level of detail found in the premium models. GT5 has been criticized for frame-rate drops and screen tearing. These problems are most noticeable when many cars are on screen with rain or smoke visible.

The newly included damage feature received criticism for having limited effect on car performance (however, a later update added the ability to "turn on" full damage and tire/fuel depletion). The AI was also criticized for still making CPU-drivers brake unexpectedly and not being aware of the player's car on the track, just as in previous games in the series. IGN called it "the series' now trademark zombie A.I."

The game's sound was praised. Arnold Katayev, reviewer of PSX Extreme, stated that "Gran Turismo 5 actually sounds fantastic. Having sampled a number of cars in the game that I either own, drive frequently, or have driven numerous times before, I've verified how they all sound. My 350Z sounded pitch perfect as you start it up upon selecting it. Same goes for my 370Z, it sounds spot on. Even a bunch of the standard cars sounded good, and sound even better with a few exhaust mods." TweakTown said that "some cars just sounding flat when you feel they shouldn't, and others just sending a shiver up your spine as you hit redline." Gamingreality awarded the sound 9/10, stating that "the sounds are clear, crisp, and distinct. The engine sounds are great and make you feel like the car is actually near you. The engine sounds on premium cars change when you make adjustments to it just like in real life."

During the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Gran Turismo 5 for "Racing Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack."

In the UK, the chains Gamestation and Game opened around 100 stores at midnight on the day of release, so that customers could buy the game ahead of their normal 9 a.m. EB Games and JB Hi-Fi in Australia did the same thing. The game was the multi-format number one for the week, despite only having been on sale for 2 days.

In Japan, Gran Turismo 5 debuted in the software chart at number one, and this helped PS3 console sales more than double for the week ending November 28, 2010.

As of March 2013, Gran Turismo 5 sold over 10 million units. For 13 days, 423,000 copies of the game were sold per day. Gran Turismo 5 was the best-selling video game for the PlayStation 3 until 2013 when it was beaten by Grand Theft Auto V. The Gran Turismo series as a whole has now totalled more than 65 million units sold worldwide and remains the highest-selling PlayStation-exclusive franchise of all time. According to Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 5 sold 6.37 million units between its launch in November and the end of 2010. As of September 2012, Sony shipped 9.19 million units of Gran Turismo 5. Despite a late release in 2010, Gran Turismo 5 managed to become the 7th best-selling PlayStation 3 title in the US, making the game the 2nd best-selling exclusive of the year. Gran Turismo 5 also became the best-selling PlayStation 3 exclusive in Europe, including the UK.

Sales have exceeded 10 million units (of

Celebrity appearances

Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup champion, is a mentor in the game. He helps players learn slipstreaming, a driving technique used in racing. Sébastien Loeb, a nine-time rally world champion, and Sebastian Vettel, a four-time F1 world champion, also appear in similar roles. They guide players through challenges and offer advice. Other cars in the game are named after rally driver Tommi Mäkinen, drivers Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, and personalities Shuichi Shigeno and Jay Leno. Voiceovers in the game were recorded by Justin Bell, Tony Jardine, and Robert Reid. One of the game's testers, listed in the credits, was Takashi Ohi, a driver for Tomei Sports/Porsche Racing.

On September 5, 2011, Martin Brundle and Jonathan Legard provided commentary during a race. David Coulthard drove a real Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG on the Top Gear test track. Six Gran Turismo players raced on a console at Mercedes-Benz World. Coulthard won the race, finishing half a second ahead of Jason Birt. Reggie Yates, Pollyanna Woodward, and Mike Bushell also participated but did not qualify for the leaderboard. Coulthard’s lap was later made available for players to download and race against.

In partnership with Alpinestars, a downloadable pack released in October 2011 includes replica helmets and overalls worn by drivers such as Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Petter Solberg, Mikko Hirvonen, and The Stig.

In January 2013, Johnny Herbert mentored six players in a primetime ITV4 reality series. The goal was to help them compete as real drivers in the Dubai 24 Hour race. In other European countries, heats were mentored by drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Sébastien Buemi.