With the 2014 FIFA World Cup entering in its final matches, Konami today unveiled the first details about Pro Evolution Soccer 2015. Owners of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles will be particularly pleased to hear that Pro Evo Soccer 2015 will be shipping for both next-gen systems.
The specific Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 release date has not been announced. The game will ship this year, though, as Konami stated that it will release “during the autumn/winter period of 2014.” It’ll also appear on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Pre-orders are now available
There is currently no Nintendo Wii or Wii U version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 in the works.
PES 2015 is centered on the mantra “the pitch is ours.” As such, Konami has completely reworked a number of key elements to ensure every pass, shot or off-the-ball run is balanced within Pro Evo Soccer 2015 on-field action. Three areas in particular have been finessed: the “Excitement of Goals,” the “Final Pass” and “One-on-One.”
A new shooting system allows a variety of unrestricted shooting styles with precise control over the direction and power of all strikes. Countering enhanced attacking options, goal keepers intuitively close angles and are capable of an incredible number of ways to react to any situation, including altering center of gravity.
Likewise, passing options available to players when delivering a final pass have been expanded, allowing for little knock-ons or searing low passes that use new physics routines to ensure the ball behaves realistically across every situation, providing unique and differing outcomes decided by user actions.
The final key element that has been totally reworked centers around the degree of close control on offer. Positioning is vital, but the ability to dribble into space and beat your marker is now hugely improved and opens up Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 as the definitive on-field experience.
The game engine now features Full Pitch AI that is constantly adjusted covering everything that develops on the field, resulting in players making runs, finding space and marking opponents even when off-screen.
A new “Closest Control” system lets gamers take on defenders using each player’s inherent dribbling skills, as opposed to relying on “trick” moves. New skills include jinking runs, responsive sprints and incorporating a much wider range of pace – from walking to sprinting. In terms of overall defense, users now have complete control over when to close down, tackle or hold up play. Successful defending is based entirely on the decisions the user makes.
The PS4 and Xbox One versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 mark the first full implementation of Kojima Productions’ FOX Engine within the PES franchise. All graphical in-game features, from players to crowd to stadium, now benefit from a single source of real-time lighting.
PES 2015 also boasts more than 1,000 players that both look and play like their real-life counterparts, with custom animations and playing styles across the entire roster. They run like they should, play the way they do in real life and react emotionally as they would to fouls, goals or referee decisions. And the coolest part? Their frame of mind will actually affect how they play.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 also has updated crowd animations on the next-gen consoles, with the ebb and flow of a match met with context-sensitive crowd effects and movements.
The PES ID system will make a return in Pro Evo Soccer 2015. Teams will be set up to play as they do in real-life, while their star players will work within this framework, but will be instantly recognizable via their runs and playing styles. The world’s greatest teams will not only move and find space like they would in real life, they will also defend or attack like them automatically.
Across all platforms, Pro Evo Soccer 2015 includes a host of other new features. myClub is an extensive Master League Online overhaul that allows players and managers to be added using accumulated GP or via micro-transactions within club dealings. Agents now used to meet player requirement criteria, while unhappy players can upset the balance of a side to detrimental effect. This extends to offline play.
Live Updates, meanwhile, provide weekly data updates that constantly adjust transfers and team line-ups in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian leagues. Player data is also updated based on current performances every week, so if a player is on a goal-scoring streak, his stats will be boosted accordingly in the update. This will be applied to all online modes and will be optional within single-player mode. The player parameter system for PES has been completely rebuilt, working with key community sites across the globe to create the most realistic player stats database.
Adaptable Match Environments: When an opponent prefers to play a passing game, players can tell the groundsman not to cut the grass so short. Or they can have it watered to speed up their team’s passing play. Players can tailor any part of their stadiums to suit their current needs.