The first Gran Turismo game was released in 1997. Developed for the original PlayStation, it was created by Polys Entertainment under producer and designer Kazunori Yamauchi.
The Japanese version launched on 23 December 1997. Releases in other regions followed in 1998, which can cause confusion when people remember the North American or European launch rather than the game's original release. Its title refers to the Italian term for grand touring, a category of long-distance performance driving.
Gran Turismo took about five years to develop and was designed to deliver a more realistic driving experience than many earlier console racers. It included licensed cars, tuning, racing licences, and separate Arcade and Simulation modes. The game became a major commercial success, eventually shipping 10.85 million copies worldwide and establishing one of PlayStation's most influential racing franchises.