In the comments section of his most recent post on the PlayStation.Blog, SCEA producer Takau Imasaki mentioned that in-game voice chat and a private race setting will be available for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in later updates. Now this news comes in as semi-official as it was not part of the original post, but was made in response to a reader's question. Imasaki wrote, "Private races with buddies and in-game chat are all in the works... but will not be ready from day one. Will keep you posted on the progress!"
We're hoping Mr. Imasaki makes sure that promise is kept. While we won't be seeing these additions by the time Prologue drives its way home with us, we're still anxiously awaiting to hit the GT racing circuit nonetheless. These new features are definitely great, but we can live without them for just a bit longer.
[Via CVG] 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-20-2008 @ 3:48PM
a.j. said...
that's awesome. i bought the JPN version this weekend and i'm totally blown away by it. the online community is actually pretty good so far, people are actually keeping their lines and not wrecking each other. great game.
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3-20-2008 @ 4:02PM
Pete said...
I won't buy it until those features arrive.
Seriously, what online racing game doesn't have voice chat and the ability to race with people on your friends list these days?!
And given the speed at which PD works on their games, are you certain that this will arrive soon? Think about it, GT5:P is a time limited game. After GT5 is released, might as well throw Prologue in the trash. So the clock is ticking. If it takes 4 months to get these features added, that's like 1/4 to 1/3 of the useful life of the product for something that is absolutely standard for all online games.
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3-20-2008 @ 4:04PM
Dan Davis said...
Yeah, good call. I'm not even going to bother with this... I can hold off until the full version comes out (and for what, like $20 more?)
3-20-2008 @ 4:18PM
Popfrogs said...
I'm with you guys. There's no excuse for a lack of voice chat in games these days or lack of a private match mode. Back to the drawing board, I will buy it when you're done.
3-20-2008 @ 7:24PM
Mike Jenkins said...
Yeah really, they should just focus on getting the full game out rather than muck about with this demo.
3-31-2008 @ 3:01PM
jeremy said...
too bad the full version is about a year away.prologue is more than good enough for now.
3-20-2008 @ 4:50PM
sparc said...
I don't see the point of voice chat on a racing game. Private to exclude strangers but you can still play against friends though?
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3-20-2008 @ 8:57PM
RazLeboL said...
I don't see the point on *not* adding voice chat. Playing online games without any communication either by chatting with a keyboard or voice chat really sucks.
3-20-2008 @ 10:50PM
The Sound said...
Now we know how Brawl users feel.
3-20-2008 @ 5:05PM
Zixxer said...
voice chat is a must
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3-20-2008 @ 5:26PM
Robert said...
This just made me decide NOT to buy the game. It is ridiculous in this day and age for a game to lack these absolute fundamental and basic features. I will no longer be purchasing this game, solely because of this information.
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3-20-2008 @ 6:36PM
Cool P said...
haha forget this game. I was totally gonna buy it too. oh well.
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3-20-2008 @ 7:18PM
Wolfman said...
At least there will be less whining kids online.
Please yourselves, but i'll enjoy playing it when it comes out!
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3-20-2008 @ 7:24PM
Andy said...
I didn't realize voice chat meant so much to some people. To me it sounds like you were waiting for the full game already and looking for excuses not to buy prologue. I'm not buying it either, but you reason for not buying it shouldn't be voice chat.
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3-20-2008 @ 7:26PM
Andy said...
Please don't read my last sentence, its a tad dyslexic .
3-20-2008 @ 9:01PM
RazLeboL said...
Who are you to judge people on the reason they are not buying the game.
If so many of them are complaining about it, it should give you a clue that it may be important to some people.. Don't you think?
3-20-2008 @ 9:31PM
Cool P said...
the times.... they are a changin. sure I had a blast with GT4 without chat but that was before I played PGR and forza online with some of my best friends. they can throw in all the online features they want but without a voice and a personality we may as well be playing against the computer. peace!
3-20-2008 @ 10:01PM
a.j. said...
lol...you can all cut your noses off to spite your face. the game (yes I own it) is amazing. 60 FPS, smooth as butter, photo realistic settings and completely lag free online racing already there. and yes, voice will be there too as they are working on it now. go play your Forza lol. and when you go to a friends house and finally see Prologue in action, you'll go buy it. bet.
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3-21-2008 @ 9:28AM
finelicker said...
Holy crap, no VOIP?!?!?. I sorry, but thats just not good enough nowadays. Sure, annoying pre-pubescent teenage boys do make me want to kill someone when they start ranting about each others mothers and how they're so fat they squash their own shadow along with constant loud rap music in the background that makes the mic constantly transmit. But still, I want to be able to smack talk my mates when I out brake them into the final corner to take the win. Is
Can someone please clarify, is there still the ability to race your freinds, even if not privately ?
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3-21-2008 @ 10:02AM
Vcize said...
I'm glad to see the response here is better than the one over on wiifanboy when it was revealed that brawl and mario kart wouldn't support voice chat and people somehow found a way to convince themselves that they should defend that ludicrous decision.
I'll pick this up if and when this patch does indeed arrive. I've heard that hot shots golf lacks voice chat as well, so I'm passing on that one. There is absolutely NO excuse for not having voice chat at this day and age.
If you can't communicate with the people you're playing online with then what the hell is the point? You may as well be playing against some fancily programmed AI.