Online-enabled GT5 Prologue here by year end

Though racing fans will have to wait until 2008 for the fully-fledged release of Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 5 on PS3, Sony has confirmed that taster package Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be released on PS3 before the end of the year.

The platform holder has also revealed that the game will be available both via download and on Blu-Ray disc – a tactic it has also employed for Warhawk, which is due to arrive on the PlayStation Store this week and at retail early next month.

GT5 Prologue will boast 40 cars, including manufacturers such as Nissan, Lotus, Mitsubishi and Ferrari. Three tracks will also be available, including a London City course – all of which can be raced in reverse and boast a number of alternative routes.

And for the first time the series is also heading online, allowing up to 16 players to race simultaneously. GT5 Prologue will also feature online leaderboards, individual My Garage homepages, an online dealership and a Gran Turismo TV channel that will boast a range of motor racing content.

Technically, the game will run both in 1080p – the highest spec high definition mode currently available – and at 60fps, though Sony does add that replays will only run at 30fps.