Sony has announced 'My First Gran Turismo,' a free-to-play introduction to the Gran Turismo racing simulator series, available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 from December 6. The game aims to teach players of all ages the basics of virtual driving, including cornering, braking, and acceleration, with 18 cars available for use. The PS5 version also supports PlayStation VR2 for an immersive experience. This initiative is likely intended to encourage players to eventually purchase full-priced titles like Gran Turismo 7.
Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown, the first series entry in 13 years, finds a middle ground between Gran Turismo and Need for Speed by blending arcade-style street racing with a deep respect for cars. The game encourages players to form a connection with a few cars, upgrading them to meet race requirements rather than amassing a large collection. This approach aims to make victories more rewarding and offers a refreshing take compared to recent racing games. The game releases for PS5 on September 12, 2024.
Sony showcased its collaboration with Honda, Sony Honda Mobility, by demonstrating the remote driving of its AFEELA electric vehicle prototype using a PlayStation 5 controller. The joint venture aims to launch the AFEELA model by 2025, focusing on a "premium entertainment experience" and eventually releasing fully self-driving vehicles. Sony also announced a partnership with Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital to create new value by sharing vehicle information and integrating the AFEELA Prototype 2024 into the game later this year.
This weekend offers a variety of movies to watch at home, including Taylor Swift's Eras Tour on Netflix, the long-awaited sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the drama Blue Jean on Hulu, the comedy thriller The Retirement Plan on Hulu, and Greta Gerwig's comedy Barbie on Max. Other options include The Family Plan on Apple TV Plus, Jules on Paramount Plus, Dark Harvest on MGM Plus, and various films available for rent such as Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Priscilla, In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50, The Smell of Money, and Fast Charlie.
A Reddit user discovered previously undocumented cheat codes in the 14-year-old Gran Turismo game on the PlayStation Portable (PSP). The codes allow players to unlock all cars and receive 99 million credits. The cheats were found while disassembling the game's scripts using a mod tool developed by another fan. The discovery highlights the potential existence of undiscovered secrets and Easter eggs in video games.
Sony's racing movie "Gran Turismo" emerged as the winner at the weekend box office, surpassing Warner Bros.' "Barbie" with $17.4 million in North American theaters compared to "Barbie's" $15.1 million. The results were initially neck-and-neck, but Monday's actuals provided a clear winner. "Gran Turismo" included earnings from pre-shows and preview screenings, while "Barbie" benefited from National Cinema Day promotions. The weekend box office results highlight the importance of considering the specific rules and circumstances surrounding each film's performance.
National Cinema Day saw 8.5 million admissions and an estimated $34 million in box office revenue, with Barbie and Gran Turismo leading the way. Both films experienced a surge in Sunday box office numbers due to the celebratory day, with Barbie beating Gran Turismo in admissions. Gran Turismo received positive reviews and is expected to perform well. Barbie is on track to become Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film ever.
"Barbie" and "Gran Turismo" are both claiming victory at the box office, with Warner Bros. claiming that "Barbie" won the weekend for the fifth time with $15.1 million, while Sony claims that "Gran Turismo" topped the charts with $17.4 million. The discrepancy arises from the inclusion of preview screenings and special pre-show screenings in the opening figures. Without the preview screenings, "Gran Turismo" would have opened in second place with $13.4 million. Regardless of the outcome, "Barbie" remains a highly successful film, having earned $1.34 billion, while "Gran Turismo" still has a long way to go to turn a profit, with $53.8 million in global earnings against a production and marketing cost of $60 million.
Gran Turismo takes first place at the weekend box office with $17.3 million in ticket sales, narrowly beating out Barbie's $17.1 million. Gran Turismo's global total now stands at $53.8 million, while Barbie's global total has reached $1.34 billion. Blue Beetle, Oppenheimer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem round out the top five.
The movie "Gran Turismo" is based on a true story, with some liberties taken. It revolves around the Nissan GT Academy, a contest sponsored by Nissan and Sony in 2008 to see if a skilled video gamer could race a sports car. Jann Mardenborough, a former video game ace turned professional race car driver, won the third incarnation of the GT Academy in 2011. The film also highlights Mardenborough's third-place finish at Le Mans in 2013 and a near-fatal crash in Germany in 2015. The movie features real-life details and includes actors such as Archie Madekwe and Geri Halliwell.
"Gran Turismo" narrowly beats "Barbie" at the box office, earning $17.3 million in its debut weekend compared to Barbie's $17.1 million. Despite this victory, Barbie remains the summer's box office darling with a total gross of $1.3 billion. "Gran Turismo" is a high-octane film about a working-class gamer who becomes a racing champion, starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou. Overseas, "Gran Turismo" earned $36.5 million, while Barbie added another $17.1 million domestically and $745.5 million internationally. Other films in the top 5 include "Blue Beetle," "Oppenheimer," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."
Gran Turismo narrowly edges out Barbie at the weekend box office, earning $17.3 million in its debut compared to Barbie's $17.1 million in its sixth week. Blue Beetle falls to third place, followed by Oppenheimer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Other newcomers, Retribution and The Hill, have relatively small rollouts and underwhelming performances. Notable mentions include a re-release of Jurassic Park and the impressive per-screen average of Bottoms in a limited theater release.
"Barbie" has become the highest grossing film in Warner Bros. history, surpassing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" with a worldwide gross of $1.34 billion. The film is expected to become the top film of the year at the global box office, potentially surpassing "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is nearing the $800 million mark at the worldwide box office. "Gran Turismo" claimed the top spot at the domestic box office, but may be overtaken by "Barbie." "Meg 2: The Trench" has earned $352.5 million globally, with a significant boost from the Chinese market. "Blue Beetle," another Warner Bros. release, has earned $81.8 million globally, falling short of expectations.
National Cinema Day boosted the box office over the weekend, with Sunday being the highest-grossing day. Gran Turismo and Barbie were neck and neck in their debut, with Gran Turismo earning an estimated $17.3 million and Barbie earning $17.1 million. Oppenheimer saw the mildest decline among films in its sixth frame, dropping only 16%. Blue Beetle fell 49% in its second weekend, while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem declined 29% in its fourth frame. Strays dropped 43% in its second weekend.
Sony's auto racing movie, Gran Turismo, directed by Neill Blomkamp and starring Orlando Bloom and David Harbour, is projected to open in first place at the box office with $16.5 million, including $3.9 million from previous sneak previews. This puts it ahead of Warner Bros.' Barbie, which is expected to earn $15.7 million in its sixth weekend. Gran Turismo's strong sneak preview numbers have boosted its opening weekend performance. Other films in the mix include DC's Blue Beetle, Universal's Oppenheimer, and indie releases Retribution, The Hill, and Golda.
