Gran Turismo (series)

You can drive many kinds of cars in this game.

Some cars are old and some are new. You can even pick fast racing cars.

Winning races gives you prize money. You use that money to buy more cars. You can also make your cars better. This helps you win harder races.

The cars move like real cars do. They feel heavy when you drive them. This makes the racing feel very real.

Some people play with friends online. Others race by themselves to win trophies. It is a very famous game series.

Many people love to play and race.

It is a great way to enjoy cars.

Gran Turismo is a famous series of racing video games.

It is made for PlayStation systems. The games try to act like real life. They show how cars look and move. Most cars in the game are real models. You can drive everyday cars or fast racing cars.

You can even change parts to make them faster.

Driving in these games feels very real. The cars follow the rules of physics. This means they feel heavy as they turn. You must learn real driving skills to win. Some players use a wheel to drive. This helps the game feel even more like a real car.

You start with small amounts of money. You use this to buy cars from shops. Winning races gives you more prize money. You can use it to build a big garage. Some games let you race with friends online. The series is very big. Over 100 million people have bought these games. Some players even became real racers through the GT Academy.

Gran Turismo is a famous series of racing video games.

These games are made for PlayStation systems. They are known as simulators because they try to act like real life. Most of the cars are licensed reproductions of real automobiles. This means they are exact copies of cars you might see on the street. You can drive everyday cars, exotic sports cars, or even purpose-built racing cars. The series is very successful and has sold over 100 million units worldwide. It is the highest selling game franchise for the PlayStation brand.

Driving in these games requires real skill. The physics are based on how real cars move in the world. This includes things like weight transfer and how the suspension responds. You might experience understeer or oversteer while you drive. Because it is so realistic, players often use special racing wheels. Some even use specialized controllers that rumble to match the car's movement. If you are a new driver, the game offers various assists to help you. You can also go to a parts store to tune your car. This lets you change how the car performs or how it looks.

The series began with an idea from Kazunori Yamauchi. He worked at Sony Computer Entertainment Japan in 1992. He started with a small team of only five people. Eventually, that team grew to seventeen people. It took five years to finish the first game. At first, Sony rejected his idea for a realistic simulator. Yamauchi kept working on it as a side project. After his other games became successful, Sony finally accepted his pitch. The first game was released in Japan in 1997.

There are many different games in this long series. Gran Turismo 2 came out in 1999 with 650 cars. Gran Turismo 4 was released in 2004 and had 700 cars. Later, Gran Turismo 6 gave players 1,200 different cars to drive. The most recent main game is Gran Turismo 7, which arrived in 2022. These games use many different tracks to race on. Some tracks are fictional, while others are laser scanned replicas of real places. For example, players can race at the Nürburgring.

This series connects the digital world to the real world. Some car makers design virtual concept cars just for these games. Companies like Toyota Gazoo Racing and Mazda are part of the series. The games even helped support real racing classes like LMP1 at Le Mans. There was even a program called GT Academy. It helped players become real-life professional motorsport racers.

Today, it is even recognized as an Olympic Esports sport.

Gran Turismo is a world-famous series of sim racing video games.

Developed by Polyphony Digital, these games are designed for PlayStation systems. They are known as simulators because they aim to emulate the appearance and performance of real vehicles. Most cars in the series are licensed reproductions of actual automobiles. This means they are official, detailed versions of real-world cars. Since its debut in 1997, the franchise has sold over 100 million units worldwide. This makes it the highest-selling video game franchise under the PlayStation brand.

Driving in Gran Turismo requires a deep understanding of real-world physics. The game emulates complex dynamics like weight transfer and suspension response. Players must also manage understeer and oversteer characteristics to stay competitive. These physics are often felt through the rumble features in PlayStation controllers. Some players even use specialized racing wheels designed specifically for sim racing. While the simulation is difficult, various assists are available for less experienced drivers. This allows everyone to enjoy the experience of high-speed driving.

Gameplay typically follows a structured progression through a single-player campaign. Players usually begin with a small amount of in-game money, often 10,000 credits. They use these credits to purchase vehicles from manufacturer shops or used car dealers. As players win races and complete challenges, they earn more prize money. This money can be used to buy faster cars or upgrade existing ones. The game features a license-testing system to guide skill development. These tests ensure players are ready for more difficult racing events.

Vehicles in the series vary greatly in type and era. The roster includes everyday cars, exotic sports cars, and purpose-built racing machines. Players can also choose from classic models or modern vehicles. Most cars can be modified at parts stores to alter performance or appearance. The games feature many tracks, including fictional circuits and laser-scanned replicas of real venues. This level of detail helps create a highly immersive environment for the driver.

The series began with the vision of Kazunori Yamauchi. In 1992, while at Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, he started developing the original game. He began with a small team of only five people. This team eventually grew to seventeen members over five years of development. Sony initially rejected his pitch for a realistic simulator. However, Yamauchi continued working on it as a side project. After his other arcade games succeeded, Sony finally accepted his idea. The first title was released in Japan in 1997.

As technology improved, the complexity of the cars grew significantly. In the first two games, cars were made from only 300 polygons. By the time Gran Turismo 3 and 4 arrived, they used 4,000 polygons. In Gran Turismo 5, "premium cars" reached a massive 500,000 polygons. This increase in detail allowed for much more realistic graphics. The series has seen many different installments, including Gran Turismo 2, which featured 650 cars. Gran Turismo 6 later expanded the roster to 1,200 different vehicles.

Gran Turismo has a unique connection to professional motorsport. The series has provided technical support for the LMP1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It also supported the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Through the GT Academy, players even had the chance to become real-life professional racers. Today, the series is recognized as an Olympic Esports sport with the backing of the FIA. Many car manufacturers, such as Mazda and Toyota Gazoo Racing, partner with the series. Some companies even design virtual concept cars specifically for the game.