Sony Corp <6758.T> shipped more than 5.5 million copies of Gran Turismo 5, the latest version of its motor-racing game franchise, in its first 12 days on sale, the firm said on Friday.

The company had twice delayed the launch of the much-anticipated PlayStation 3 game, blaming production difficulties, but eventually brought it to the market in late November.

Shipments of the new edition bring the total number of units of the franchise sold since the game was first launched in 1997 to 60 million, the company said in a news release, making it the company's best-selling game.

Sony