Gran Turismo 5: Prologue contains a small sample of Gran Turismo 5 but was released as a stand-alone game, a tradition started with Gran Turismo 4: Prologue and is made available at a lower price than regular PS3 games. The game is based on the Gran Turismo 4 engine with many minor tweaks and changes. It features over 60 representations of real cars, five tracks, and three series of events. The game also includes improved support for Logitech Driving Force steering controllers and a wider variety of options. For the first time in the series, Ferraris are included, and the game features visible car damage. The driving physics have been improved, making the game more realistic than Gran Turismo 4 . The game includes more music genres, such as lounge, jazz-funk, indie, and electronica.
The base version of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue can be upgraded through digital downloads, adding new modes and videos. The game received several updates, including a major update in March 2008 with new features, cars, circuits, and events. These updates are free to download.
PAL regions received the 2.0 version of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue , while North American regions received the 2.10 version by default.