Blaming production difficulties, Sony has delayed the launch of Gran Turismo 5, the latest version of the top-selling racing game for its PlayStation 3 console. The company now expects the game to hit the market in time for the 2010 holiday shopping season. No new date was given for the release; Sony simply said we'll hear something in the "near future."

The game was originally supposed to hit stores in the United States and Europe on November 2, and arrive in Japan the following day. "We sincerely apologize to GT fans for the delay, however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches," Sony explained.

The announcement is the second delay for the long-anticipated game. While the PS3 is expected to get a boost from casual gamers interested in the Sony Move, offerings like Gran Turismo are needed to keep core fans excited. The delays are certainly building hype, but frustration as well.

Sony has sold more than 56 million copies of Gran Turismo since its initial launch in 1997. Gran Turismo 5 was originally unveiled way back in 2006. The game will also be available in 3D, as the electronics giant previewed 3D images of the latest version at the Tokyo Game Show in September, though those early demos weren't particularly impressive.