Sony has announced that it is delaying the release of Gran Turismo 5 – but only in Japan. The game was originally scheduled to be released there in March, and now moves back to the familiar territory of not having a release date at all.

The company has told Eurogamer that the delay is only applicable to Japan, but that’s more likely because the game has never had a European or North American release date since it was first announced.

Sony appears to be sticking to its word that Gran Turismo 5 will finally arrive this year, today supplying the game’s boxart for all to see. Like a lot of people, they’re betting that the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will be the most significant car of this year and have decided that a partial wireframe image of it is the best way to sell their game.

There are also a bunch of new images of the vehicle in-game to view today:

Full boxart image after the jump.

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After what can only be described as a mammoth development race, the PSP version of Gran Turismo has finally made it to the Weigh Bridge. The game is available now on both UMD and digitally from the PlayStation Store and features hundreds of cars alongside a ton of tracks. But is sheer quantity enough to justify the five year wait for this title?

Gamespot (75%) – “While it lacks a number of the features that the series was built on, Gran Turismo still has a lot to offer anyone who’s ever had a poster of a car up on his wall or dreamed of taking a supercar for a test drive. Gran Turismo is a game that’s likely to keep you coming back for more time and time again.”

EDGE Magazine (70%) - “Gran Turismo PSP offers little more coherency between events than the single race option that has always been present in the series. Far from being liberating, this bespoke arrangement feels like an anaemic reproduction of the Gran Turismo experience”

Eurogamer (70%) – “You could argue that you’re getting all the content you could possibly want and are then invited to explore it without restriction, and it’s certainly possible to enjoy the game like this. But…relying on players to make their own fun is either lazy or foolhardy. Coupled with archaic AI and the isolating absence of PlayStation Network support, this makes for a game that feels unfocused and regressive, despite its considerable technical and mechanical accomplishments.”

All of the reviews that I have read so far mention the game’s lack of a career mode negatively. Several also state that the four car limit that exists in every race is far too restrictive. If you can put up with that while on your travels then it looks like you will be rewarded with a faithful reproduction of the series as well as some of the best visuals ever delivered on a handheld.

Following the E3 announcement of Gran Turismo’s launch on PSP later this year, Sony Japan have unleashed further images of the game in action. There isn’t a lot to see, although the selection of manufacturers is quite diverse – something which should uphold the marketing claims of 800 different models of car. The game is scheduled for release in October.

Aside from the two Gran Turismo announcements, Sony also revealed one further racing title at E3. Modnation Racers is a cartoon-style kart racer with impressive track editing tools and online multiplayer modes.

The game is being promoted alongside Sony’s platform game LittleBigPlanet and it bears many similarities to that title. Players can create their own character and skin their own vehicles, but most significantly they can create their own tracks and share them online with others. The demonstration given on stage was particularly impressive – the team created an alpine figure of 8 circuit complete wtih a variety of trackside objects and environmental features in a little over five minutes. The landscaping tools are reminiscent of those in SimCity with the ability to raise and lower water and land positions.

There are a variety of racing options, including single player, two player split screen and online multiplayer for up to 10 people. The game is scheduled for release on disc (not PlayStation Network) in 2010. The first screenshots and the E3 gameplay demonstration appear below:

In a surprise move Sony today released the first trailer for Gran Turismo 5. The pre-rendered video – described as a “concept movie” on the game’s website – includes confirmation that the game will feature licensed content from both the FIA World Rally Championship and NASCAR. Car damage is also briefly shown but players will have to wait a while to race as a release window has not yet been announced.

It seems like forever since Gran Turismo 4 was announced for PSP release back when the machine first showed its face in 2004. Five years later the company is finally ready to release the game, which is now titled Gran Turismo PSP. The game features over 800 models of car and more than 30 different tracks which have a combined total of around 60 different layouts. Action is presented at 60fps and the normal career (known as “challenge” in this one) and arcade modes make a return.

In a first for the series, players will be able to share and trade cars that they own in the game. Unfortunately there doesn’t appear to be online play, so this will have to take place within the ad-hoc mode. The title will be one of the first to be part of Sony’s decision to distribute all future PSP titles digitally as well as on UMD when it arrives on October 1st (North America). First screenshots:

E3 2009 trailer:

Sony has revealed that the first downloadable content for WipEout HD will be playable at this year’s E3 Expo in Los Angeles. The “Fury Expansion Pack” adds eight new tracks, thirteen new ships and three new game mode. The first of these is Eliminator, which appears to be a simple last man standing contest. It isn’t a race and players have to do all they can to destroy the other ships while evading the attacks of others. Zone Battle is a new take on the original Zone type, with other competing players leaving hazards on the track as they try to progress. Lastly, Detonator is relatively simple and tasks the player with destroying objects on the track across fourteen levels.

No price has yet been revealed, although it is said that the content will be available this summer. The first screenshots are below:

WipEout HD Fury Expansion Pack [PlayStation.Blog EU]

Evolution Studios has revealed the next two major downloadable expansions for Motorstorm: Pacific Rift. The first is called “Speed” and includes three new tracks, three new variants on the old tracks and four new vehicles. Adrenaline is the name of the second and it contains another three tracks, five more variants, four new vehicles and six new characters.

The first pack includes new trophies and rewards but there’s no word on pricing for either expansion just yet.

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift Third Game Update: Speed and Adrenaline Rush [PlayStation.Blog US]

Sony has announced a new wave of PS3 Greatest Hits titles to launch in North America and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is among them. From June 16th players will be able to get the game for $29.99, complete with a new Greatest Hits boxart and red disc case.

NEW PS3 Greatest Hits [PlayStation.Blog US]