The online racing mode in Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue offers a multitude of races and events for players of all skill levels and cars of all classes. Up to 16 people can compete in a single race, meaning there's always someone new to challenge. In order to keep the online experience an optimal one for everyone, the game automatically evaluates the quality and speed of the players’ connections and matches them with an appropriate number of opponents, up to 16-player races for the strongest connections, while still maintaining optimal networking performance for everyone in each race.

There are several ways players can optimize their network environment to squeeze the best performance out of their connections, just like tweaking engine settings for maximum horsepower output. Below are hints and tips for maximizing the performance of your online connection for the best online racing experience. You can also visit our official forums to chat with other users for network equipment-specific questions and tweaks.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue auto-detects your network connection configuration, displayed in the game by assigning it a “NAT Type,” and matches you up with other players to give you the best online race experience possible for your connection quality.

1. Wired connection from a modem (NAT Type 1)
   When playing Gran Turismo 5 Prologue online, the best way to connect your PLAYSTATION®3 system to the internet is to plug it directly into your broadband modem.
   
   

   We know that gamers are on the cutting edge and may have multiple devices connected to the internet at once through routers or other devices, so in case a direct connection isn’t an option, here are a few other setup options available to you and tweaks you can use to maximize the online performance of the game.

2. Wired connection through a router (NAT Type 2)
   Connecting your PLAYSTATION®3 system to a router with an Ethernet cable is another way to take your game online if a direct connection to the modem is not possible.
   
   If this applies to you, opening UDP Port 3658 on your router/modem with UPnP enabled can help make for a more stable online racing experience. Your router instruction manual or manufacturer will be able to assist you with opening ports or "Port Forwarding."
    
3. Wireless connection (NAT Type 2)
   If you want to take advantage of the PLAYSTATION®3 system’s wireless networking for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, just configure your router to have UDP Port 3658 open on your wireless router/modem with UPnP enabled for a more stable online racing experience. Your router instruction manual or manufacturer will be able to assist you with opening ports or "Port Forwarding.”
   
   
4. Wired or Wireless Connection through a router (NAT Type 3)
   If the game displays your NAT Type as NAT Type 3, there are some settings you can tweak to improve online performance and your connection quality with other players in the game.
   
   In the Options menu for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, change the UPnP settings to see if you can acquire a better connection. You can select Mode 1 or Mode 2.
   
   If adjusting UPnP doesn’t provide enough of a boost, then you may need to open the network ports listed below to achieve better online connectivity. Your router instruction manual or manufacturer will be able to assist you with opening ports or "Port Forwarding.”

If you still have questions about going online with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, visit the official forums to chat with other users for network equipment-specific questions and tweaks.