Which company published the original 1997 Gran Turismo?

The company that published the original 1997 Gran Turismo was Sony Computer Entertainment.

Sony Computer Entertainment released Gran Turismo for the original PlayStation, first in Japan on December 23, 1997. The company was both the platform holder and the game’s publisher, while development was handled by Sony’s internal Polys Entertainment group.

The partnership was important because Gran Turismo began as an ambitious side project. Sony initially rejected Kazunori Yamauchi’s proposal for a realistic driving simulator, but the success of the team’s Motor Toon Grand Prix games helped persuade the company to support it. Sony then published the finished game as a major PlayStation release.

A frequent source of confusion is the distinction between publisher and developer. Polys Entertainment developed the original title, while Sony Computer Entertainment published it. Polys Entertainment was later reorganized as Polyphony Digital, the studio now associated with the franchise. Sony’s publishing role also explains why Gran Turismo became closely identified with PlayStation and helped showcase the console’s graphics, physics and DualShock controller features.