Gran Turismo 6 launching on PS3 because of existing install base, says Sony exec

Gran Turismo 6 is debuting on PlayStation 3 and not PlayStation 4 because of the current console's install base, said Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO Jim Ryan on the European PlayStation Blog.

"On PS3 we have an install base of 70 million units," said Ryan, referring to Sony's most recent worldwide sales numbers for the six-and-a-half-year-old console. "On PS4 on launch day we'll have an install base of zero units."

Ryan added, "There'll be plenty of games to help drive PS4," including Evolution Studios' simulation racing title, Driveclub. He also pointed out that each previous PlayStation console has had two Gran Turismo titles in its library — Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2 on PlayStation, and Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec and Gran Turismo 4 on PlayStation 2 — and noted that there were significant differences even between the titles on the same platform.

"We're absolutely confident when [Gran Turismo 6] comes, you'll see a big step change up from [Gran Turismo 5] too," said Ryan. "There's still a lot of potential on PS3 that a developer like Polyphony [Digital] can really exploit."

Sony announced last week that it plans to release Gran Turismo 6 exclusively on PS3 this holiday season. According to Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo creator and the CEO of Polyphony Digital, the studio is planning a PS4 version for release sometime in the future.