Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in Gear for April Launch

Grand Turismo 5 Prologue will race onto shelves and the PlayStation Network on April 17.

Sony Computer Entertainment America has dated Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, a limited release of the full Gran Turismo 5 title to be unveiled in the future. Distributed on April 17, Grant Turismo 5 Prologue will be purchasable for $39.99 as either a Playstation Network download or a Blu-Ray disc featuring an added development featurette titled "Beyond the Apex."

This next evolution of Sony's top racing franchise introduces its fans to technologies unseen in the series until its Playstation 3 debut. A new Playstation Network channel, Gran Turismo TV, will play motorsport programming provided by the game's car manufacturers and sponsors. An improved in-car cockpit cam puts players in a unique perspective, with human animations and individualized dashboards for each vehicle.

Jeff Reese, Director of Software Marketing at SCEA, stated, "Ten years following the introduction of Gran Turismo on PS one, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue delivers the most realistic and technologically advanced racing experience on any platform. With 1080p graphics, revolutionary online features like Gran Turismo TV and the new in-cockpit racing view, the world's best-selling racing franchise will once again set the standard for racing games."