Gran Turismo 5 Launching March 2010 In Japan, And That’s Official

NUMEROUS LAUNCH DATES for Gran Turismo 5 - rumoured, promised and proposed - have come and gone, but publisher Polyphony Digital announced at the Tokyo Game Show this week that a March 2010 launch in Japan is the real deal.

The March launch date puts the game six months out from the release of the handheld Sony PSP version. A US release for GT5 is likely to come a month after the Japanese launch, followed by European and Australian dates.

Oddly, online retail giant Amazon last week posted a product page for the game - the fifth instalment in the long-running Gran Turismo franchise - listing a December 29 release date.

Amazon has yet to update the GT5 product page, but given Sony and Polyphony's official announcement this week, an update will likely occur when the US time zones roll around to Monday.

Diehard GT enthusiasts may still have the wood over fans of its competitors when Gran Turismo 5 finally launches: Sony has confirmed that over 1000 different cars will be available, eclipsing the already generous 400 or so on offer in Forza Motorsport 3.