10 Things We Know About PES 2018

There was a time when PES whipped FIFA annually. Deemed a closer simulation to actual football than EA's licensed beast, Konami's game was one fans could tinker with. Being honest, you'd bloody have to, considering most of the teams have fictional names and kits.

Yes, the same licensing issues will be prevalent in PES 2018, but just hold on a second. Games are worth more than that, surely? There are things PES can offer that FIFA, with all that title's scripted drama and perfect digital recreations of Jose Mourinho, simply cannot. Besides, Konami have just revealed a big chunk of info about their latest release that should get mouths watering.

The battle rages on between FIFA's 'play with the all the big teams in their real stadiums' approach and the more in-depth tactical feel of PES. You may just find PES 2018 to be very tempting when it lands later this year...

10. Barcelona Stars Stack Up On The Cover

Konami have had a 'premium partnership' with Barcelona for several years now, and that continues in a big way in 2018. After EA Sports made a lot of noise about Cristiano Ronaldo being their cover star for FIFA 18, PES has hit back by announcing no less than 5 Barca players will grace the new game's box.

Luis Suarez, Andreas Iniesta, Neymar, Rafinha and (naturally) Lionel Messi are the ones featured. It looks like Konami are trying to battle FIFA by stuffing as many big-name players as they can on the cover art. This isn't really a new thing for the franchise though. PES usually has more than one player on the front.

If your knowledge of football only extended to a casual appreciation for who guys like Messi are, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was an official Barcelona game. There's another reason for that which goes beyond mere box art. Konami have the rights to something bigger.