Sony repackages Gran Turismo HD as demo

Sony and Polyphony Digital have scrapped plans for a boxed version of Gran Turismo HD for PS3 and now plan to release a GT demo on the PlayStation Store for a limited time instead.

Due out on 24th December, and currently only for Japan, Gran Turismo HD Concept will consist of ten cars and two layouts of a single track according to translations of the announcement and a message from designer Kazunori Yamauchi.

Polyphony now intends to throw all its weight behind Gran Turismo 5 when this is done, although there's the possibility of more "Concept" releases between now and the fifth proper Gran Turismo title's release, which is expected in 2008.

The Gran Turismo series has had a rocky path to retail recently, with Gran Turismo 4 on the PS2 dropping its promised online features, and a proposed version of the series for the PSP suffering from long delays.