Production Issues Blamed for Gran Turismo 5 Delay, Yamauchi Issues Apology
As reaction to Gran Turismo 5‘s delay spreads around the web, one very important question remains unanswered: why? A detailed explanation will most likely never be given, but that won’t stop us from speculating. First up, Taku Imasaki (North American GT5 producer) offers a vague look at what’s been happening on the “inside” via an interview with the New York Times:
“We’re really close, but this was an executive decision that was made yesterday. Realistically, we thought we had a good date. We’re not happy over here.”
This somewhat confusing statement wasn’t lost on the Times editor, who didn’t hesitate to add “there was also speculation that Sony might not have sufficient supplies of the game to meet demand in November”. This speculation was later supported by a comment from a Sony Canada spokesperson to Reuters Canada, clearly stating that “production difficulties were to blame for the delay”.
On a similarly positive note, I have been privately informed that review copies of GT5 were only briefly postponed and should still be in reviewer’s hands within the next few weeks. I can also report Sony is targeting a new release window within approximately 8-12 days after November 26th (“Black Friday” in the United States).
Regardless of what’s really going on, Yamauchi has personally apologized to fans via Twitter (translation via Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku):
“Apologies for the delay. It’s because time and labor were spent ironing the kinks out of a complex system. I’m really sorry. Everyone, it’s inexcusable… Wait a little longer.”
We’ll find out exactly how long a “little longer” is very soon.
UPDATE: An associate journalist of GameReactor, Gregor Wildermann, is currently in Tokyo and offers an even more detailed explanation of what happened via communication with Polyphony Digital.
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Newest comments are displayed first.
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October 14th, 2010 at 2:15 pm - #Gran_Turismo
Well… On the bright side for me. It gives me more time to save up to be able to get the cam, PS3, and a TV for it.
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October 14th, 2010 at 2:14 pm - #Voice of Reason
Will GT6 be released before GT5?
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October 14th, 2010 at 11:10 am - #LoneWanderer
At this point, I just hope GT5 is released before Duke Nukem Forever…
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October 14th, 2010 at 11:10 am - #AudioProject
I’m still skeptical. GT5 was “90% done” last fall and set for a winter release…but here I am 12 months and two delays later still waiting for it.
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October 14th, 2010 at 10:28 am - #Umm no
So if it was actually due to not having enough copies to meet the demand by November 2nd/3rd they would have only had to delay it a week or so to deal with that. Should the next release date they give mean anything to us?
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October 14th, 2010 at 10:04 am - #- Ice -
I apologize Kaz’, you’re not completely to blame. Here’s praying that I’m alive & able to enjoy GT5 upon it’s official release. It’s likely that when GT5 releases that I will be a father. Was hoping to be able to enjoy freely before all my attention & dedication would necessarily be turned towards my 1st & newborn child. Here’s hoping u nail that new release.
Dueces…
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October 14th, 2010 at 8:50 am - #R35-Vspec
Relax guys, no need to be disappointed like yesterday. I really feel good .. just look how Kaz replied to us. He’s so polite :D
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October 14th, 2010 at 7:46 am - #Stig Junior
Demo version at least, not in stores, on PSN, that would be reasonable and helpful to wait for the day that never comes!
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October 14th, 2010 at 7:43 am - #wsoul
Well, at least it is within the same month it was suppose to release… But, dammit all, Black Friday week… I remember my last Black Friday almost getting ran over by old people in carts and cars who thought that they WERE Gran Turismo and I was just a roadbump. Hopefully, my trek to GameStop won’t kill me…
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:37 am - #Tim
Sounds like now that the game/Simulator is ready and that this delay is Sony’s fault , so i am not going to blame polyphony this time.
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:29 am - #GT’ireland
at least we got an explaination as to what happend,weve waited this long so another month or so doesnt hurt,fingers crossed its all sorted out..the dissapointment is gone,happy days.
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:28 am - #joel
it seems that kaz missed sending of the game for production by a few days… this happens, but it only puts the game back a week or so. this would have put it alongside black ops. so it seems sony have taken the decision to release it a couple weeks later than black ops and hot pursuit just to maximise sales… just my take.
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:22 am - #GSlooney
Nice to see them behaving responsibly and advising on the Issue. Frustrating as it’s been for a number of us we all know that it will be worth the wait.
Now do I have time to do Prologue again from scratch :)
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:17 am - #sjwk
What it sounds like to me was that PD were 3 days late in delivering, meaning they missed their allocated slot in the DVD pressing plant so now have to wait until the next slot comes up. Hopefully something else was ready for production and moved forward and GT will just take that slot…
Didn’t think it would be adding new features or fixing a bug as (unless it was a bug that prevented installation) that would just be dealt with via updates.-
October 14th, 2010 at 3:36 pm - #~SubZeroRacingTeam~
BluRay, this ain’t LameBox 360.
DVD’s can’t contain 1/5th of GT5′s awesome’ness…It’s ok tho’, I 4give u… (jokes)
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:11 am - #gtone339
All good, though they still have enough time to fix those things they want fixing.
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October 14th, 2010 at 6:00 am - #Dan
I just think it is embarrassing if anything. However, I really don’t mind waiting despite being disappointed by this delay.
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October 14th, 2010 at 5:59 am - #Damien
lol it’d be funny if they just did like Nintendo would do, blame production issues in an attempt to cause riots and increase demand.
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October 14th, 2010 at 5:57 am - #J
I hope I’m wrong, but I think they mentioned “Holiday Season” as the release period (and not “Christmas” specifically) because the game won’t make December…
I’m mentally ready for a 01/11 release.-
October 14th, 2010 at 7:22 am - #Stune
Actually I imagine thats more to do with political correctness gone mad in some countries. Now people are adverse to saying Christmas as it signify a specific religious event whereas ‘holiday season’ doesn’t.
I still think we are on for first or second week of Dec
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October 14th, 2010 at 7:39 am - #J
You have a point there and I hope you’re right.
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October 14th, 2010 at 5:56 am - #soLid
We’re waiting a little longer since the GT PSP came out! Let’s just hope it’s just a month…
GTPlanet on Google+
PD is a software development company. It’s not a BluRay factory. The same way Honda doesn’t produce tires, the car is done, but if you miss your scheduled slot from the wheel company, your car can’t get shipped to the dealer and no driving can be done until the next slot opens.
Now if Toyota, GM, and Mitsubishi are scheduled in, u might have a wait on your hands… Likewise, there are other games and BluRay movies scheduled for release during the month of Nov. thus the Dec. release date.