PES 2022 is arriving this year!
So, we're bringing you all the latest news of Konami's next football sim as the fans' excitement builds.
Latest - Pes 2022 could be called eFootball 2022
For a while now, Pro Evolution Soccer has been known as "eFootball PES".
click to enlarge
+ 5This could change next year as various trademark applications reveal that Konami have applied the name "E FOOTBALL" as a well as new logo for the series.
The name was changed when it made the jump from Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 to eFootball PES 2020, in late 2019.
Some fans have spotted new trademark applications in Argentina and Brazil that hint at the name going full "e Football", including a new logo
Release Date
It's hard to predict when PES 2022 could arrive, with Konami jumping around Pro Evo's release date in recent years.
PES 2019 arrived as early as 28 August, but we think, as football returns to normality - PES 2022 is likely to arrive on Tuesday, 7 September.
For everything we know about PES 2021's Release Date, head here.
Trailer
We have known for a while that Konami was focusing their efforts on PES 2022 for the Next Gen consoles.
Konami has even teased us with footage using the Unreal engine set to revamp the game which you can see above.
Platforms
We know for sure that PES 2022 will be available on Next Gen consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
It is expected that the game will also be released on PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Despite Konami and Nintendo both being Japan-based, we are yet to see the series make the jump in Nintendo Switch.
Licences
An exciting feature for PES fans is the new licences each year - especially after Konami secured Juventus for PES 2020.
Since then, the title has secured exclusive rights for Roma - and has partner deals with plenty of other clubs, including Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Could we see anyone new for PES 2022, however?
It's very tricky to say at this stage, especially with the complications of league licencing deals that EA has with the Premier League and Bundesliga.
If we had to stick our neck out, perhaps another French club alongside Monaco like Lyon could be a sensible shout - with the Groupama Stadium easily imaginable on a PES title.
First licence announced!
We weren't expecting an announcement so early, but Napoli has become the first club to sign-on for PES 2022, in a licence agreement that will become exclusive from the 2022/23 season (PES 2023).
Napoli becomes the fourth Italian club after Juventus, Roma and Lazio to become a partner club, with an agreement also in place with the Italian Football Federation.
Konami has also secured the naming rights for Napoli's training centre, which will feature a brand new gaming area for players and guests.
PES 2021 Licensed Clubs
Here's a selection of the licensed clubs that were on PES 2021:
- Juventus (Exclusive)
- AS Roma (Exclusive)
- Barcelona (Camp Nou Exclusive)
- Bayern Munich (Allianz Arena Exclusive)
- Arsenal
- Manchester United
- AS Monaco
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Schalke
- Lazio
click to enlarge + 5- Rangers
- Zenit St Petersburg
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Corinthians
- Flamengo
- SC Internacional
- Santos
- Sao Paulo
- Boca Juniors
- River Plate
PES 2021 Licensed Leagues & Tournaments
Check out some of the tournaments that were available last year:
- UEFA EURO 2020
- Italian Serie A (Excluding AC Milan & Inter Milan)
- Italian Serie B (Excluding Brescia)
- French Ligue 1
- French Ligue 2
- Portuguese Liga NOS (Excluding CD Nacional)
- Turkish Super Lig
- Russian Premier Liga (Exclusive)
- Dutch Eredivisie
- Belgian Pro League
- Danish Superliga
- Scottish Premiership
- Swiss Super League
- Brazilian Brasilierao Assai 2020 (Excluding Palmeiras)
- Chinese Super League
- AFC Champions League
Two new partner clubs
It looks as if two new parter clubs will arrive for PES 2021, both coming from Italy.
click to enlarge + 5In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Konami General Manager Manorito Hosoda suggested that two new Italian clubs want to join their esports series.
This could be anyone from Napoli, to Atalanta to Udinese - and we've looked at the main contenders here.
Mobile
The handheld version of PES is usually released a month or so after the full game, and it’s free!
click to enlarge + 5This means you can play the game on the go and never miss a thing.
Master League
One of the game modes that can truly compete with FIFA. Master League is right up there with Career Mode and can offer a more detailed and personal feel than the FIFA equivalent.
With an extra year of development, Master League could blow Career Mode out of the water later this year.
It's famous for its story themed development, and the ability to pick a footballing legend as your manager avatar.
myClub
This is a bit of a tricky point for PES, with the game struggling to compete with the dominance of FIFA Ultimate Team.
click to enlarge + 5It's hard to see what Konami do to wrestle something back in this space - with perhaps utilising their range of international licences the way to go.
Unreal Engine
With the current version of Pro Evo essentially 18 months old at this point, the community are itching for PES 2022, which will bring Unreal Engine.
The above example, which as appeared on the WEPES Reddit, shows some glitches as players come together - something that should be addressed with Unreal Engine.
For everything we know about PES 2022 on Unreal Engine head here.