In an effort to improve the user experience for Gran Turismo fans, starting today Polyphony Digital is delivering a new updateto Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. This update brings a number of performance and functionality enhancements, as well as the beginning for rolling out a host of exciting licensed automotive and motorsport programming within Gran Turismo TV.

Gameplay enhancements include improvements in the penalty judgment system, as well as improved physics during collisions between cars in online races. Handling physics has also been improved across all vehicles when using S1-S3 and R1-R3 tire types, and the calculation rules for performance points have also been updated to provide even better vehicle performance and tuning options. Additionally, players will also be able to select N1-S2 tires tires for time trial races in Arcade mode, where previously only S2 tires were allowed.

Enhancements to the user interface and user experience include improvements to the rankings interface and a new option to display the top lap times for all courses. New options have also been added to network settings that give control of expansion data and advanced download options. In addition, a new look for the My Page top menu has been added.

Improvements have been made in the download transfer speeds for online updates and download content, including Gran Turismo TV programming. This will speed up downloads of Gran Turismo TV content, which has now been expanded to feature a robust lineup of pay-per-view licensed programming. Users will be able to enjoy worldwide content such as the BBC's TopGear from the UK, and content from Japan such as Best Motoring, Super GT touring and D1 Grand Prix drifting races, as well as the unique video magazine Video Option. Other improvements to the Gran Turismo TV service include new fast-forward, rewind, and chapter skip playback controls, the ability to download programming in the background, the ability to pause and resume downloads, and the ability to have eight simultaneous background downloads running at once.

Purchashing licensed programming will grant users a license to view the programming an unlimited number of times during the viewing period. Purchased content is viewable by the user until the viewing period expires. As an added bonus paid content will be available at a special introductory price of $0.99 during the first two weeks of August. Visit the Gran Turismo TV page for information about content currently available on Gran Turismo TV.

Stay tuned for news about additional game updates in the future.