According to emails I’ve received from retail employees around the world (and this Signature Edition unboxing video from GAME), shipments of Gran Turismo 5 are already being delivered in preparation for Wednesday’s big launch. There’s even widespread reports that one store in France – which I won’t name – has informed its customers they’ll be able to pick up their copy today (Friday), but we’ll have to wait and see if that pans out… For now, check out this batch of more than 750 copies of GT5 delivered to a store in Canada. Thanks to Anthony for the pictures!

Video game retailer GAME.co.uk has received shipment of the Gran Turismo 5 Signature Edition, and shares this “unboxing” video to reveal what’s inside. Owning the Signature Edition of the game, of course, grants you access to the GT5 SLS AMG Challenge, where you can compete in-game to win your own real-world SLS AMG. The SE is still in stock and available for pre-order at GAME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7NIynajnEk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v3aCp899F8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREGCHLhh5c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q32V6ysLcZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQdLrVE0UA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipuiRogHJ3I

Before any of you “Down Under” line up at your local game stores on November 24th, take note: Gran Turismo 5 won’t actually be released in Australia or New Zealand until November 25th, according to each country’s respective PlayStation websites. Of course, taking time zones into consideration, we’ll all be getting our hands on the game at roughly the same time – just be glad this rumor was wrong!  Thanks to all who sent this in (…and yes, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to post this video again)!

Via Twitter, GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi confirms that GT5’s release date is “about to be announced” (translation via Karooo in our forums). This matches up perfectly with private information that I was provided with earlier this week, and would make sense given Sony’s already set to ramp-up marketing efforts next week.  Expect more updates within the next 24 hours…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVabq0WeVs

The videos have all been removed from YouTube – sorry, folks!