Sony delays launch of new PS3 game, “Gran Turismo 5”
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sony Corp. has delayed the launch of much awaited Japanese game “Gran Turismo 5”, the newest installment of the blockbuster racing game series that costs more than $60 million to develop, citing production-related matters.
"Gran Turismo 5", designed for Sony's PlayStation 3 game console, was due to be launched in March 2010. A new launch date has not been decided yet.
Sony, locked in a three-way battle with Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co. Ltd. in the global video game industry, has sold out more than 53 million copies of "Gran Turismo" titles since it began in 1997. as per the reports, the new game in the series will include Nascar racing cars in an attempt to attract more American gamers.
A spokeswoman at Sony's game unit said that the company has not changed its game hardware and software sales targets for the year ending on March 31 despite the delay in the launch .
She also revealed that Sony aims to sell 13 million PS3 consoles and a total of 240 million units of software titles for the PS3, PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable handheld gear.
From the moment that the PlayStation3 was launched in Japan in 2006, demonstrations of “Gran Turismo 5” have left hardcore gamers around the world wanting for a new installment.
The new timetable may involve a launch of the game in Japan this summer, followed by the release in Europe and the United States.