GT Academy-themed GT5™ special edition includes updates and new content

A new, special edition of Gran Turismo®5, the 'real driving simulator', will hit the shelves from 26th September, 2012. The GT5™: Academy Edition will celebrate the success of Sony Computer Entertainment's innovative partnership with Nissan, GT Academy.

The special edition will provide buyers with a re-mastered version of GT5 including all functionality updates as well as a host of downloadable content (DLC) that has been released for the game since its high-profile launch in November 2010. The new content, previously available to purchase from PlayStation®Store, includes new cars, tracks, paints and racing gear and is valued at over €26 if purchased separately. Included are: Complete Pack DLC (Car Pack 1; Course Pack 1; Special Paint Pack; Racing Gear Pack); Car Pack 2 DLC; Car Pack 3 DLC; Speed Test Pack DLC. Also included is a special bonus car, the Nissan GT-R driven recently at the Nürburgring 24H race by Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

GT Academy itself has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2008. Created by Nissan and PlayStation® to discover real racing talent from the virtual world of Gran Turismo, GT Academy now boasts three European alumni racing in top-flight international competition for Nissan. The online qualification for the 2012 GT Academy saw more than 830,000 people from across Europe taking part.

"GT Academy has captured the imagination of many Gran Turismo fans," commented Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of the Gran Turismo series and president of Polyphony Digital Inc. "It is exciting to watch what Lucas Ordóñez, Jordan Tresson, Jann Mardenborough and Bryan Heitkotter in the USA, are achieving in their new racing careers with Nissan. People can now see that it is possible to make the switch from being a fast gamer to become a real racing driver. We wanted to mark the tremendous success of GT Academy with the very latest version of GT5."

GT5: Academy Edition will be available from 26th September, 2012 and will be priced at €29.99/£19.99 or local currency equivalents.