I hear from GTPlanet that Sony should announce the new release date by the end of this month. There's also speculation they want to tune it more to spur sales of 3D accessories and TVs...
Go over to GTPlanet for more details
A couple posts I grabbed:
GTPlanet Post
Fans are still feeling the sting from Gran Turismo 5’s postponed November release date, but hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out the game’s new date according to this tweet by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe:
Yes, the GT5 European has also been delayed, we are sorry to say. We expect to confirm a new release date before the end of the month.
Of course, considering the “holiday season” was mentioned as a release target in their original announcement, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise but hopefully will help calm the fears of concerned fans.
GTPlanet Post 2
Eurogamer has some interesting comments from financial and industry analysts on what the delay means for Sony and the PlayStation brand this fall during the critical Christmas sales season.
Capital Research’s Jesse Divnich: ”I don’t believe a GT5 delay impacts Sony’s current momentum. GT5 is such an anticipated title that delays are unlikely to impact consumer’s purchase intent. Whether released a week later or the last week of December, sales will be astronomical.”
Wedbush Securities’ Michael Pachter: “Without knowing the date, it’s impossible to say,” he said. “If it’s a week, no impact. If after Need for Speed, they could lose some momentum.”
M2 Research’s Billy Pidgeon: ”Another delay on Gran Turismo is disappointing, especially to the most enthusiastic fans of the franchise. Still, there have been so many delays that another one is not surprising. Obviously, there’s not much time left in the holiday season so Yamauchi and Polyphony have got to go gold within two months.
I wouldn’t revise PS3 uptake estimates on this news as it is still possible GT5 is released in Q4 2010 or Q1 2011 and is likely to spur new and upgrade console sales. Sony has set the visuals bar pretty high with Gran Turismo,” he offered, “so it is crucial that the graphics (as seen on HDTV and in stereoscopic 3D with camera-based head tracking) impress the critics and the fans. Gran Turismo 5’s timely release is perhaps even more crucial to Sony’s 3D TV division than it is to PS3. In-store demos of GT5 may be the best case Sony can make to consumers for 3D TV.”
Sounds a little like the delays are more to sell Sony products... I hope that's not totally the case, per se. I want the best product possible, but you gotta' draw the line somewhere...