Developed by Polyphony Digital • Directed by Kazunori Yamauchi • Platform: PlayStation 3 • Genre: Racing Simuluator • Published by Sony Computer Entertainment
"(...) Our biggest challenge and achievement always lay in transcending the video game set-up by involving the car and motorsport industry." – Kazunori Yamauchi
15 years of Gran Turismo. What began in 1997 as an ambitious but unproven racing game has evolved into one of the most popular and enduring franchises in the world, growing out of its original game constraints to have a lasting impact on the auto industry and the lives of aspiring racing drivers. It's been 3 years since GT5 was released, and the sequel arrives pointing in a new direction for Polyphony Digital as it seeks to build a platform in which to expand and explore towards the future of Gran Turismo.
With none of the infamous delays that plagued the development of Gran Turismo 4 and 5, GT6 is set for worldwide release in early December.
- Japan and Asia: December 5th 2013
- Worldwide Release: December 6th 2013
The 15th Anniversary Edition is limited to pre-orders at Gamestop (USA), GAME (UK) and EBGames (Australia). In Japan, the 15th Anniversary Edition includes a physical, updated version of the Beyond the Apex book. There is a wealth of pre-order bonus offers in place, each particular to a retailer and varying by territory. GTPlanet has put together a comprehensive guide to help you understand the different versions available.
In addition to retail disc-based copies, Gran Turismo 6 will also be released as a digital download from the PlayStation Store. The downloadable version weights in at 15GB, requiring 30GB of free hard drive space for the installation.
The disc based versions of the game will install data to the hard drive for faster loading. Like in GT5, most of the installation will happen as you play, automatically.
"We’ve really pushed the limits of the PS3 as far as it can go." – Kazunori Yamauchi.
Polyphony has gone on record to state that the main goals for GT6 were the refinement of the user experience and the establishment of a platform for future expansion. On top of it, GT6 features a new rendering engine with improved HDR range, adaptive tesselation for better LOD transitions; an updated driving simulation engine emcopassing new tire, suspension and aerodynamic simulations; streamlined user interface; revamped singleplayer and online modes, and more. More details will be added as we approach release and features are discovered.
New Driving Dynamics
Polyphony has entered into collaboration with KW and Yokohama in order to gather accurate data on suspension and tire behavior, leading to revamping of the driving model. Tires take into account its structure and transient characteristics, suspensions utilise actual vehicle analysis, and aerodynamics incorporates vehicle shapes and changes in vehicle orientation.
Supported Steering Wheels
- Guillemot Thrustmaster T500 RS
- Logitech Driving Force GT
- GT Force Pro
- G27 Racing Wheel
- G25 Racing Wheel
- GT Force RX
- GT Force
- Driving Force
"The game should capture the car itself, its movement, handling, environment and landscape, as accurately as possible. That takes a lot of concise and careful observation." – Kazunori Yamauchi
Gran Turismo 6 brings the largest number of automobiles in the franchise to date, with the number hovering around 1200 confirmed cars. More than 120 high quality (Premium) cars were added, and many of the lower quality legacy cars were revised. Polyphony has stated that plans to release a continuous stream of new cars via DLC, although no details are yet available on release dates or pricing.
Click here for the complete car list (gran-turismo.com)
Car Dealerships & Featured Cars
All available cars are displayed under their respective manufacturers. There are no longer distinctions made between Premium and Standard cars as in the previous version of Gran Turismo, but Standard equivalent cars will only have simplified cockpit views. Up to now, it's unclear how many Standard cars were made into Premium ones, or simply improved upon. Featured cars are recommendations based on your Career progression, online events or category.
Garage
Organizing and managing the cars you own in your Garage is now much more straightforward. You can also try out your cars on Free Runs and change racing gear directly from this location. You can also store cars you don’t normally use in a Stockyard, and transfer to your Garage when required.
"Aerodynamics is for those who cannot manufacture good engines" – Enzo Ferrari
GT6 expands on the previous iteration's maintenance and tuning aspects. You can purchase a variety of parts including tires, suspension and brake kits, transmission, clutch and flywheels, exhausts, superchargers, nitrous and others using in-game credits and you can also tune engines and car bodies. Yes, you can buy brake kits now. Finally.
External modifications include aerodynamic parts and over 82 types (with 188 variations) of wheels, with more parts will to be added in future updates.
The new Pit Service screen serves as a hub for maintenance and upkeep of your cars. Car wash, oil change, body reinforcement, body maintenance, and engine maintenance are all performed here.
Racing gear is no longer only acquired through special events, but can be purchased using in-game credits. There are 34 types of helmets (with 952 colour variations) and 28 types of racing suits (with 852 colour variations) as well as special racing gear sets modelled on racing gear of real life drivers.
Expanding on the previous partnerships between Polyphony Digital and automakers (Citroen by GT, RedBull X2010), comes Vision Gran Turism
ver 20 of the world leading companies in the automotive industry have designed special cars for Gran Turismo, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Over the course of approximately 1 year, cars from each company will be provided one by one in the game. 
"I am an artist. The track is my canvas, the car is my brush." – Graham Hill
GT6 comes with 37 unique locations, and a total of 100 race course layouts. New additions like world-renowed Bathrust and Silverstone and joined by new original courses such as Matterhorn and Gran Turismo Arena. Many locations feature variable time of the day, variable weather, or both.
PD has created an environmental simulation based on the longitude/latitude position of the track is performed for real life tracks. For example, the Le Mans 24 hour race in the game will actually simulate the rise/setting hours of the sun and night-time constellations in the sky from the event in 2013.
The complete course list, as of the release date:
The Course Maker will make a return in a future update. This time, users will be able to use GPS tracking to record their favorite real-world drives and import them into Gran Turismo, where it will be rendered as a race course. Details are scarce at the moment about the true capabilities of the Course Maker, check back when more information is released.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." – Mario Andretti
This is the main scenario mode of this game, where you begin from the entry level and gradually acquire higher level licenses. With a new system that allows you to progress by gathering a pre-requisite number of stars, progress in the game can be matched to your skill. Many types of events have been made available: later in the game there are particular events where the weather conditions change continuosly. There are also events that recreate the feeling of endurance races in a much shorter period of time. Winning events will award in-game credits that can be used to purchase cars and parts.
Polyphony has paid particular attention to the flow and speed of the user interface, to help players maintain a sense of momentum when navigating through the different events and options.
Coffee Break
Making a return from Gran Turismo4: Prologue, these are mini-games appear between events in the Career Mode. There are many challenges that can be tried over and over again, such as a cone knockdown event inside a stadium, and eco-challenges where you compete for how far you can drive on just 1 litre of petrol.
Special Events
These Events are unlocked as you progress through the game. For example, you will receive invitations to the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed, and you can look forward to even more events to be added in future updates.
Photograph your favourite cars with a realistic SLR camera in new locations such as Ronda, the Valencia City of Arts and Sciences, Gemasolar in Spain, and Siracusa in Italy. It is now possible to simultaneously place 2 cars in locations to photograph. The UI was also revamped, and new photo filters added.
"By being a racing driver you are under risk all the time. By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, we are competing to win." – Ayrton Senna
The online experience in GT6 was improved based on player feedback. Races can support up to 16 players, and the lobby makes a return giving a wide range of customization and control over the race settings.
Community
Players can create their own clubs, communicate with one another in the forums and organise race events for their members. It is possible to select from a private racing club, and a public racing club that is open to everyone
Open Lobby
It is possible to create an open room for up to 16 players to enjoy online racing. You can either create your own room or join an existing room. Now it is also possible to set up multiple races in sequence.
Quick Match
This mode is for those who want to get in and race online right away. Matching is performed according to preset regulations, and the race will start when there are enough participants.
Seasonal Events
These are official races, Time Trials, and Drift Trial events that will be distributed online for limited periods of time. In-game credits are awarded according to the results of the race.
Partnertship with the Ayrton Senna Institute
Content featuring Ayrton Senna will be released in the future, as the result of a partnership Polyphony Digital and the Ayrton Senna Institute. No specific details about the content, cars or tracks have been released yet. What we know is that Kaz has expressed an interest in depicting Senna's early career, from his beginnings in kart racing throughout his Formula 1 break with Toleman and subsequent drive at Lotus.
Planned DLC
At this point it's not clear if these features will be released in a single update, or separately. Polyphony has stated that it plans to keep updating the game over the next few years and it has built it to be modular.
- B-Spec Mode - The B spec mode is a mode where you give precision instructions to your driver as a race director. This time, this mode will be seamless with the single player career. No more A-Spec/B-Spec separate careers.
- Course Maker - Will let users create tracks based on GPS coordinates logged via a mobile device.
- Data Logger - This feature allows you to analyse your saved replay data to show Speed, Engine RPM, Throttle Input, Gear Position, Steering Angle, etc. in a graphical format.
- GPS Visualiser - This is a feature that allows you to import Controller Area Network (CAN), used to regulate automobile systems, and GPS coordinate data from a real life car into Gran Turismo 6, and visualise the data as a replay in the game. The feature is planned to be compatible with the Toyota Motor Corporation’s CAN-Gateway ECU.
- Mobile Devices - GT apps for major mobile devices are expected to be released around the same time as the Course Maker update.
Soundtrack
GT6 soundtrack includes more than 100 songs, and users have the ability to enable/disable specific songs, or assign them to Race/Replay, Menu or Slideshow individually.
Additionally, users can create a playlist with their own music files on the PS3's XMB and select it as Race/Replay or Menu soundtrack.
Update Notes
1.00 - Release version.
FAQ
- TBD
