Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is the fifth installment of the word's best-selling racing franchise and an intense precursor to Gran Turismo 5. This latest entry to the racing series that has shipped over 48 million units worldwide*, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue continues to blur the line between driving simulation and reality on PS3, featuring 1080p High Definition** (HD) graphics, advanced vehicle design and precise driving physics. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue releases on Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) to retailers today and will be available via download on PLAYSTATION(R)Store at 12:01 AM EDT on April 17. The BD version will include an exclusive behind-the-scenes HD video feature called "Beyond the Apex," offering an intimate look at the franchise's history. Both versions are available for $39.99 SRP.

In Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, players can drive 70 vehicles from top car manufacturers including Ferrari, Nissan and Ford around six meticulously rendered courses, each with two race routes. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue introduces various revolutionary modes to the series, including support for up to 16 players head-to-head racing offline and online, complete with race events and leaderboards to quell any question of who is the best driver in the "World of GT." Furthermore, all drivers will receive access to Gran Turismo TV, a new in-game online channel that delivers automotive video content directly to a user's PS3. Furthering the authentic driving experience, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue introduces an interior dash view, complete with driver animations and working vehicle gauges rendered in real-time to reflect the car's performance, and Drift Trials, where the player's drifting technique is measured based on drift angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones

"Ten years after the Gran Turismo series debuted on PS one, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue arrives exclusively on PS3 as the most technologically advanced racing simulator on any platform," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "With a great vehicle roster, unprecedented realism, online racing and support for the new DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, this is the Gran Turismo fans have been waiting for."

Extending the franchise's celebration of automotive culture, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will feature an online user homepage called My Page that showcases a world map with real-time weather for major circuits, access to motorsports news and a museum with manufacturer history. Additionally, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will include in-depth car tuning options for automotive enthusiasts, time trials in Arcade Mode, online and offline race events and two-player split screen offline racing. More dynamic and adjustable artificial intelligence and a new physics engine round out some of the other features players can expect. Furthermore, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is compatible with the new DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, which has vibration functionality.

The North American version of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue also features an edgy and exclusive soundtrack that mixes an aesthetic audio blending of indie dance rock, electronica, classic rock and new remixes by some of today's hottest recording artists such as Weezer, The Mars Volta, DJ Shadow and Justice. The soundtrack will provide North American racing fans with a High Definition (HD) audio experience to complement Gran Turismo 5 Prologue's stunning HD visuals.