Gran Turismo 5 dated?

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Il Finaciero James Armstrong, Sony’s chief executive in southern Europe, has revealed that Gran Turismo 5 will be released in Christmas 2009 release date in Europe.

The news, translated by Gran Turismo fansite GTPlanet, would suggest a late summer 2009 release in Japan, with the US and Europe seeing the game hit retail in the weeks leading up to the festive season in the same year.

According to Il Finaciero: For next year, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment for southern Europe said that they are developing a new game thriller, in which the player may be designing their own history, and the new version of Gran Turismo, which will arrive at Christmas.”

The next addition to the benchmark driving simulator is already eagerly awaited by fans and retailers alike, as the series, which has long been a key exclusive for the Sony consoles, consistently courts high sales and critical acclaim. Sony is yet to officially announce any release date.