Microsoft Defense Force

"Oh hai GT5. Lets be friends"

What to think about Gran Turismo. Granted, it’s a realistic racer… and a good quality one. We ain’t going to knock that. But, looking a little deeper… it clearly gives an insight into just what the hell is going on over at Sony Worldwide Studios. The game has been in the making for around 4 years now… and has cost a whopping $60 Million to make. The monstrosity of a game, featuring over 1000 cars and 20 different locations, was slotted for a March release date in Japan. On the 13th of January 2010 – the release date went TBC. TBC? To Be Confirmed?! Not even a date to work to? After $60 Million and 4 years? As a Forza fan, I am truly feeling for the PlayStation fans right now. Just how realistic are they making this game? Turn 10′s development cost of Forza 3, which is as realistic and detailed as GT5, reportedly cost around $20 Million and took around 3 years to make – which begs the question, what the hell are PolyPhony Digital doing?

Sony are not in a position right now to be pissing away cash, especially after numerous job cuts and “corporate restructuring”, SCE Worldwide Studios most certainly need to get their act together. Their lackluster PlayStation 3 isn’t turning out to be the dream console everyone thought it was going to be with a shaky 1st party studio foundation like PolyPhony Digital slapping TBC on a high profile release. For all we know it could be another year before it gets a release date.

Kotaku have recently written an article called “What to do with PolyPhony Digital“. It’s a damn good read and provides a good inside to just what Sony are having to weigh out here. If I was being made to wait this long for a next-gen realistic racer, go buy Forza 3.