Gran Turismo Video Game Series
The highly popular series of car racing simulations, designed exclusively for PlayStation-branded consoles (both desktop and portable). The series ranks among the most important brands in Sony Computer Entertainment's publishing portfolio.
The creator of the series Gran Turismo is Kazunori Yamauchi, founder of the Polyphony Digital studio. He began working on the series with a group of friends in 1992, and the project took five years to complete. Released in 1997, the game became one of the most popular titles in the history of the PlayStation console (PS One). Over the following years, the series lived to see six more major installments (Gran Turismo 2, Gran Turismo 3: A-spec, up to Gran Turismo 7) and numerous spin-offs (including. Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva i Gran Turismo Sport). The latest installment, GT7, allows players to race both on tracks and public roads. It is also the first installment in the series to be released for Sony's ninth-generation console. It is estimated that by 2018, sales of games in the series Gran Turismo exceeded the ceiling of 80 million copies, with the largest percentage being Gran Turismo 3: A-spec, released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2 and sold around 15 million units.
Productions in the series Gran Turismo are characterized primarily by outstanding visuals. Players have the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of hundreds of meticulously reproduced models of racing cars, cars or sports cars of various brands. Fidelity to detail is not limited to the shape of the bodies, but also includes the driving characteristics, which, combined with an advanced physics engine, enhances the impression of driving real vehicles. In the course of play, the game takes into account many factors that affect the behavior of vehicles, including its speed, weight, aerodynamics, the prevailing weather conditions or the type of surface on which we are driving.
The emphasis on realism and simulation qualities is also evidenced in Polyphony Digital studio's brand promotion activities. Together with SCE, the company periodically organizes the Nissan GT Academy competition, which allows the best virtual drivers to undergo real racing driver training, as well as get a chance to compete in a professional 24-hour track race.
Gran Turismo Series Evolution
2022
Gran Turismo 7
2017
Gran Turismo Sport
2013
Gran Turismo 6
2010
Gran Turismo 5
2009
Gran Turismo (PSP)
2008
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
2006
Gran Turismo HD Concept
2005
Gran Turismo 4
2004
Gran Turismo 4: Prologue
2002
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva
2001
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Gran Turismo 7
Racing
March 4, 2022
The seventh major installment in the popular car racing series from Polyphony Digitial. Gran Turismo 7 brings back a full-fledged singleplayer career mode along with licenses. We can drive hundreds of different cars on real-world and fictional tracks, playing alone or competing with other people.
Gran Turismo Sport
Racing
October 17, 2017
A spin-off to a popular racing game series developed for Sony’s consoles and the first one in the franchise that was tailor-made for PlayStation 4. Developed by Polyphony Digital in cooperation with the FIA organization, Gran Turismo Sport focuses on the titular motor sports, having the player compete for the most prestigious cups and titles just like real race drivers do. The gameplay mechanics corresponds with previous games in the series, letting you climb up the ladder of a professional driving career and drive a whole range of licensed sport cars, dedicated racing or concept cars. The competition has a different form here, as individual players represent their home countries or favorite car manufacturers. The game features more realistic driving model, as well as noticeably better graphics. It also supports the PlayStation VR headset.
Gran Turismo 6
Racing
December 6, 2013
Another installment in the popular Gran Turismo racing series. It is an extensive racing simulator developed by Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital. The creators aimed to increase the level of realism in this installment, diversifying the experience through the addition of new game modes as well. The game features over 1200 faithfully recreated car models representing different classes. Gran Turismo 6 features racing tracks from the previous installment (including DLCs) and seven new ones - among them the famous Silverstone Circuit in Great Britain. The creators introduced several significant changes to the driving physics, which allowed them to recreate car aerodynamics and both the work of wheels and suspension more faithfully.
Gran Turismo 5
Racing
November 24, 2010
The fifth installment in the PlayStation racing game series by Polyphony Digital. Gran Turismo 5 has all the crucial features of its predecessors plus a realistic but a very user-friendly driving system and cutting-edge graphics, worthy of the newest generation of Sony consoles. The game's most important element is still the complex career mode, in which you, as the driver, unlock the more difficult challenges, new cars, and special features of the game by achieving victories and climbing up the success ladder. Gran Turismo 5 features over 1000 licensed cars, divided into two categories—the cars known from the previous parts of the franchise, and new vehicles. You can also customize your car by applying visual and engine tune-ups, and drive it on 70 tracks located all over the world, such as Nürburgring and the Monza Circuit.
Gran Turismo (PSP)
Racing
October 1, 2009
A pocket edition of the popular PlayStation racing game series, developed since 1997 by Polyphony Digital. At first, Gran Turismo Mobile was supposed to be a remake of the fourth installment, but eventually the game was slightly changed by adding new gameplay elements and extra vehicles. The new elements include i.e. previously unavailable Ferrari and Lamborghini cars and the legendary F1 racing cars. Apart from the tracks known from the original game, this version also features some brand new ones. Just like in the other titles in the franchise, you can play GT Mobile in one of the two modes—the realistic and complex career mode and the entertaining but quite challenging arcade mode. You can also extensively upgrade and modify your car and its components. The game is complemented by a multiplayer mode, allowing for races involving up to 4 players on local network.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Racing
March 26, 2008
Another racing game by Polyphony Digital and a foretaste of Gran Turismo 5, developed for the next generation of game consoles. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue features selected elements of the fifth installment of the series, focusing primarily on the multiplayer mode. In this game, you can drive about 40 different cars, which will also be available in the final version, although some of them can only be used by the AI opponents. Unfortunately, Gran Turismo 5 doesn't feature the car upgrade and modification options, and number of racing tracks in the game amounts only to four. What's important, however, is the fact that a saved GT5 Prologue game can be used in Gran Turismo 5, giving you a head start.
Gran Turismo HD Concept
Racing
December 24, 2006
A free spin-off to the popular Gran Turismo series, which was intended to serve as an introduction for the planned – but eventually cancelled – Gran Turismo HD. The title also acts a kind of bridge between the new and old generation of Sony consoles, as it is based on Gran Turismo 4 released on PlayStation 2, but was created with tools designed for another major installment of the series, intended for PlayStation 3. Gran Turismo HD Concept, developed by Polyphony Digital, offers 10 authentic car models, including one by Ferrari - the maker's debut in the franchise. Apart from the cars' standard versions, during gameplay you can unlock their customizable special editions. The production offers only one track – The Eiger Nordwand – on which you can compete in two modes: Time Trial and Drift Trial. This is the first game in the series to offer multiplayer rankings of players.
Gran Turismo 4
Racing
February 22, 2005
The fourth installment of the best-selling racing series for the PlayStation consoles. With Gran Turismo 4, Polyphony Digital went above and beyond, included an astonishing number of 500+ models of cars made by 80 most important car manufacturers of the world. Each car was recreated in the smallest detail and can be significantly customized, both visually and mechanically. There were 100 racing tracks prepared especially for the game – some circuits are completely new, the rest are the updated tracks from the previous parts of the franchise. The backbone of the game is the simulation mode in which you gradually expand your garage, which can accommodate up to 1000 cars, with the money you earn. The game features a number of novelties, like the upgraded 1080i graphics and Photo Mode for making pictures during races and putting them in a special virtual album.
Gran Turismo 4: Prologue
Racing
January 6, 2004
Developed by Polyphony Digital studio, a racing game that serves as an introduction to the fourth major installment of the Gran Turismo series. Characteristically for the series, the game consists in obtaining racing licenses. The game features 40 challenges, such as time trial, assessing proper breaking distance, and overtaking competitors. With obtaining new licenses, you get new cars (there are 50 of them) that then can be test-driven in the arcade mode. The game features only five tracks. The biggest asset of Gran Turismo 4: Prologue are the visuals that serve only as a taste of what the next, full-length installment offers.
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva
Racing
July 17, 2002
A spin-off to the Gran Turismo series, essentially a narrowed-down version of Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, focusing on car models exhibited at motor shows in Tokyo, Seoul, and Geneva. The game offers around 100 highly-detailed cars. Competition takes place on the circuits borrowed from the third installment, albeit with an inclusion of a new track in Tokyo – R246 – known primarily from the previous parts of the Autumn Ring series. Gran Turismo Concept introduces some changes in gameplay – this time you can only obtain licenses and drive in a slightly revamped arcade mode. The game drops the options of buying and tuning cars – new models are unlocked with new licenses. The game was released in three different versions: 2001 Tokyo, 2002 Tokyo-Seuol, and 2002 Tokyo-Geneva. They are set apart by contents and difficulty level.
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Racing
July 9, 2001
The third installment in a series of popular racing games developed by Polyphony Digital since 1997, originally for the PlayStation console. The titular mode constitutes the main part of the game - the player participates in subsequent racing challenges, earning adequate licenses and money, which can be spent on new cars and parts for them. The game offers over a hundred licensed car models belonging to the world's most famous brands. Each of the available cars can be customized to a substantial degree, for dozens of parts can be replaced and the player is allowed to experiment with different car settings. Racing takes place on asphalt tracks (majority of them appeared in the previous installments) and completely new gravel sections. As usual, the game does not lack realism in terms of the driving physics. Additionally, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec offers new, incredibly detailed visuals, which constitutes a major improvement since the release of the installments for Sony's previous-generation consoles.
Gran Turismo 2
Racing
December 23, 1999
Continuation of a very warmly acclaimed racing game, focusing on a realistic representation of vehicle behaviour on the track. Gran Turismo 2 does not make drastic changes to the way cars behave on the track. Instead, the developers focused on a significant expansion of the content, increasing the pool of available vehicles to more than six hundred and twenty-seven tracks.
Gran Turismo
Racing
May 8, 1998
A racing game that puts a lot of emphasis on realistic recreation of the behavior of cars while driving. The production offers almost 150 cars of such brands as Honda, Mazda, Subaru or Mitsubishi. The main mode of play is Gran Turismo Mode, in which subsequent wins are rewarded with credits for which the player can buy new cars and tuning parts. In order to gain access to the next eleven track competition, you first need to obtain specific licenses by performing a number of challenges.
Gran Turismo Series News
What Improvements Can We Expect in Games from PS5 Pro? Devs Confirm New Features, Experts Verify Some of the Info
Game developers outlined on Sony's blog what improvements they will bring to their titles with the PlayStation 5 Pro.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
September 26, 2024
Gran Turismo 7 Fans Waited 11 Years for Update That Gave Them Beloved Car
Gran Turismo 7's March update is just as (in)abundant in content as the previous two, but it was met with a much better reception from players. That's thanks to the Toyota GT-One, whose return fans have been looking forward to for years.
video games
Christopher Mysiak
March 28, 2024
After Long Wait, Gran Turismo 7 Gets 3 New Cars. You Can Get One in Early Access for €5200
Unfortunately, Gran Turismo 7 quickly got out of breath after the groundbreaking Spec II update. Update 1.42, which we've been waiting almost three months for, contains a mere 3 cars... one of which will remain locked for another month unless we buy the €5,200 watch.
video games
Christopher Mysiak
January 25, 2024
Gran Turismo Sport Pulled From Sale; No Longer Available on PS Store
Gran Turismo Sport is no longer available on PlayStation Store, but the players can still play online for a month.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
January 3, 2024
PS VR 2 Has a Lot to Boast About at Launch; Long List of Games
With today's launch of the PlayStation VR2, Sony has revealed its cards and unveiled a full slate of games we can expect in the near future.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
February 22, 2023
Looks Like Gran Turismo 8 is Entering Production
Although Gran Turismo 7 hit the market less than a year ago, Polyphony Digital is already said to begin work on the next installment of the iconic racing game series.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
February 6, 2023
Gran Turismo 7 Not on PC After All? Series Creator Speaks Out
In a recent interview for Dengeki Online, the GT series producer Kazunori Yamauchi, denied reports that the studio is working on a Gran Turismo 7 port for PC. However, the chances of the series appearing on PC are not zero.
video games
Jakub Tarchala
December 23, 2022
Gran Turismo Remains a Powerhouse; Impressive Sales Results
Despite the fact that gamers were quite critical of its latest installment, the Gran Turismo series is still a powerhouse. Polyphony Digital has reported new sales figures.
video games
Hubert Sledziewski
December 23, 2022
Gran Turismo 7 Devs Consider PC Port
Polyphony Digital's head has admitted that the team is considering porting Gran Turismo 7 to PC.
video games
Adrian Werner
November 27, 2022
Gran Turismo 7 Finally With New Content; Unfortunately, It's Scraps
We've been waiting almost two months for Gran Turismo 7 to get new cars or tracks. It's a shame, though, that in patch 1.13, released today, Polyphony Digital did not spoil the players. There are barely three new cars, and it's impossible to find anything „new” in the added track.
video games
Christopher Mysiak
April 25, 2022