Konami has announced that Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 will launch on September 20th throughout the United States and September 21st in European territories.
The aforementioned release dates applies to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC versions of the football title. The versions for the PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii and 3DS will receive solid launch schedules at a later date.
PES 2013‘s launch is due one week before Electronic Art’s FIFA 13, consequently resulting in the first time the PES series is releasing before the FIFA franchise in 9 years. The last Pro Evolution Soccer title to launch before FIFA was the PlayStation 2’s Pro Evolution Soccer 3, which released all the way back during October, 2003.
Konami also detailed the pre-order incentives for the title:
[Konami] is offering a pre-order incentive in the form of a limited UEFA Champions League steelbook edition. The specially-packaged version celebrates Konamis exclusive agreement to feature the UEFA Champions League in the PES series, and includes special DLC code to redeem the Historic UEFA Champions League Match Balls used in the competition and other official elements.
The UK will also offer a second, Manchester United-themed steelbook edition for pre-orders, boasting the club’s livery on its cover.
It’s likely that Konami is trying to preempt some of the annual sales that the seemingly untouchable FIFA franchise rakes in each year. It’s a smart move, and only time will tell if it pays off.
