Just had this official press release through from Sony. Check it out below….
Remarkable Sales Achieved In Only 10 Years And 4 Months Since The Original Gran Turismo Launched In 1997.
Tokyo, May 9, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that the cumulative worldwide shipment of the Gran Turismo™ franchise, a genre-defining racing and car-life simulator available on PlayStation®, PlayStation®2, and PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment systems, has exceeded 50 million units as of April 30, 2008. This remarkable sales figure was achieved in just 10 years and 4 months since the launch of the first title in the franchise - Gran Turismo, in December 1997.
The Gran Turismo franchise, from the original Gran Turismo to the latest Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, has continued to evolve alongside the PlayStation platforms. With its outstanding game play, beautiful graphics and the true to life driving feel, the franchise is recognized as the world’s number one automotive game title on the PlayStation format, receiving high regard not just from game fans, but also from professional racing drivers and people in the automobile industry.
The seventh installment of the world’s best-selling racing franchise, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue introduces entirely new entertainment modes by taking advantage of the broadband network, such as online head-to head racing for up to 16 players, “GRAN TURISMO-TV”; a new in-game online channel that delivers automotive video contents from around the globe, and downloadable additional contents including new cars and courses, only possible on PS3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has recorded strong sales since the first launch in Japan in December, 2007, followed by North America and Europe in Spring of 2008, with more than 2 million units of cumulative shipment worldwide and contributing to the further expansion of the PS3 platform.
For all Gran Turismo fans around the world, SCEI and the developer of the Gran Turismo series - Polyphony Digital Inc., will continue hereon to vigorously promote development of the Gran Turismo series, which can be expected to evolve even further through the PS3 platform and broadband network environment.
“Initially, “Gran Turismo” was an “alternative” racing game, kind of an outsider in the genre.” said Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer of Gran Turismo. “And we made it thinking that it would be okay as long as it reached out to “the select few who would agree with us”. So this figure, 50 million units - is simply astounding. If you go to a game store and look for a particular package, and pay for it at the cash register, though the time may be very brief, it still takes at least 3 minutes or so. It’s simply mind boggling and hard to believe that this has been repeated 50 million times all around the world in the last 10 years. I would really like to thank all the fans who have supported the Gran Turismo series over the years, for all their passion and love of the game. We’d like to continue making every effort to create cutting edge, high quality games, so that we don’t disappoint anyone’s expectations.
Title Release Dates in Japan
Gran Turismo December 23, 1997
Gran Turismo 2 December 11, 1999
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec April 28, 2001
Gran Turismo Concept 2001 TOKYO January 1, 2002
Gran Turismo 4 Prologue December 4, 2003
Gran Turismo 4 December 28, 2004
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue December 13, 2007
Blimey! 50 million units shipped… does that mean sales, or just how many times one item has been moved from supplier’s warehouse to retail outlet?
Figures like this never take into account returns & re-sales from disappointed punters, either.
Also, how many of these shipped units are still sat in retail stock rooms unsold?
Considering a typical eBay search can turn up many of the titles in the series, and browsing any pre-owned items in a high street store can turn up at least one of the above list, then any sales figures are skewed as a result.
50 million may be 25 million satisfied customers, or 50 million may be half the quantity of interested parties if the original products are re-sold in the pre-owned market.
Why the need for a press release today?
Why didn’t SCEI wait until nearer the release of the full version of “Gran Turismo 5″?
Incidentally, overheard in a GAME store recently…
Customer: Is this “Gran Turismo 5 Prologue” title any good?
Staff: It’s OK… but not a proper game… it’s not finished yet.
Customer: Oh… OK, I’ll not bother then.
I guess the profit on a £49.99 title is much greater than on a £17.99-£24.99 one!
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — May 9, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Because they just passed 50.
That game store must be crap for advice then.
They weren’t saying customers. I’ve owned all GT games but only have prologue right now. Doesn’t mean i didn’t like the others.
Comment by (IRE)Wolfman — May 9, 2008 @ 11:39 am
The sales will boast the Full game enough said.
Playstation is taken over 360 because of the GTAIV and GT5 titles. Well done sony.
Comment by Deaf_Raiders — May 9, 2008 @ 11:45 am
If anybody wishes to add to my summary of the franchise so far, please do so…
[ http://www.1upgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2537 ]
Thanks.
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — May 9, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
@2 [(IRE)Wolfman]
“That game store must be crap for advice then”
Yes, the equivalent of “PC World” sales staff for video games
“I’ve owned all GT games but only have prologue right now. Doesn’t mean i didn’t like the others.”
That’s my point really. You have re-sold, exchanged, traded, etc. the earlier releases so the quantity of “units shipped” means nothing in real terms as the actual “sales” could be many, many times more than this figure.
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — May 9, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
@everyone
*hides 49,999,999 copies of Gran Turismo in his cupboard*
Comment by JohnSketch — May 9, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
*waves the 1 copy JS hasn’t got! Yay me!*
Seriously, congrats to the team behind the GT series. However you put it, it’s still a serious milestone.
Comment by MuggleMind — May 9, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
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Pingback by Gran Turismo™ series shipment exceeds 50 million units worldwide | GameBlews PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PSP, DS News — May 9, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
I have every game in the series ,well done to SCEI and Polyphony Digital Inc for making the best driving Sim, and well done to pass the 50mil mark.
Comment by Mostyn — May 9, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
@mugglemind
*Yoink!*
Comment by JohnSketch — May 9, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
So the PSP is still the only Playstation without a Gran Turismo. Please bring GT1 or 2 as a download in the PSN Store.
Comment by Andreas — May 10, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
FYI:
The “Gran Turismo” franchise has competition in shifting gear, as Ubisoft’s “Tom Clancy” series tops 55 million units sold…
[ http://www.1upgamers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2595&postcount=2 ]
===
…Ubisoft’s best-selling franchises, as of May 2008, follow:
Rayman: 22 million units sold
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: 20 million units sold
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: 19 million units sold
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: 16 million units sold
Driver: 14 million units sold
Petz: 13 million units sold
Prince of Persia: 11 million units sold
The Settlers: 7 million units sold
Assassin’s Creed: 6 million units sold
Brothers in Arms: 5 million units sold
Imagine: 4 million units sold
Far Cry: 4 million units sold
Red Steel: 1 million units sold
===
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — May 29, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
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