What subtitle has Gran Turismo used since the first game, according to Polyphony Digital?

The subtitle Gran Turismo has used since the first game, according to Polyphony Digital, is “The Real Driving Simulator.”

The phrase summarizes the series’ central design goal: to reproduce the feel and behavior of real cars rather than present purely arcade-style racing. Gran Turismo emphasizes vehicle handling, braking, weight transfer, suspension response, tuning and licensed automobiles, all within a structured racing campaign.

The original Gran Turismo debuted in Japan for the PlayStation on December 23, 1997. Its realism distinguished it from many contemporary racing games, which generally favored exaggerated handling and immediate arcade action. Players earned licenses, bought cars, won prize money and upgraded vehicles, giving the simulation a progression system as well as a racing focus.

The wording is sometimes confused with a game title or with marketing phrases used for individual releases. It is best understood as the franchise’s long-running subtitle or slogan. Polyphony Digital was formed from the team behind the first game, and later entries continued to reinforce the same identity through increasingly detailed physics, graphics, car models and online competition.