PES vs FIFA as release dates collide

UPDATE: Konami has told MCV that the UK release date for PES 2011 looks currently like being October 8th, the week after FIFA 11. An equally bold move – but for completely different reasons.

ORIGINAL: According to a report on Spong, Konami has announced a September 30th UK and European release date for Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.

Of course, the fascinating thing about this date is that it means the game will arrive at retail just one day before EA’s FIFA 11 makes its debut.

Add to that the fact that September 30th is a Thursday – not a traditional release day for games in the UK – and all signs point to a very deliberate strategy from Konami to try and recapture some of the ground lost to rival FIFA in recent years.

Last year EA told MCV that FIFA 10 was outselling rival PES 2010 by a ratio of 4-1. Indeed, Konami itself has been open about its dissatisfaction concerning the quality of recent instalments in the once great PES franchise.

The developer hopes that big changes in this year’s version will once again close both the quality and sales gap between the pair

MCV has contacted Konami for clarification.