Might be FIFA’s time to strike
For the past 10 years, there was only one place for an officially-licensed video game recreation of the famed UEFA Champions League tournament: Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer. That’s set to change in some capacity.
UEFA announced today its 10-year partnership with Konami is coming to an end. When the real-life Champions League concludes in May, the long-running agreement granting PES exclusive rights to the Champions League will also end. Konami senior brand director Jonas Lygaard commented “We will shift our focus into other areas. We will continue to explore alternative ways UEFA and Konami can continue to work together, as our relationship remains strong.”
There are two key players in the soccer video game market: PES and FIFA. It’d be reasonable to infer that EA Sports might very well swoop (or has already swooped) on the Champions League license. An alternative possibility is that it could be featured in both series this year.
Whichever way you look at it, PES lost one of its most substantial advantages over FIFA. And FIFA fans have to be thrilled about what that means for FIFA 19.
Konami to end partnership with UEFA [UEFA]
