Key improvements to Pro Evolution Soccer 6 include new player AI with team mates running into space more intelligently, while the physical nature of the sport has also been enhanced with new turns and defensive blocks to learn, alongside closing down unmarked opponents.

The shooting system has also been refined, and players will be able to attempt more snap shots than in previous versions, while volleys and half-volleys have been reworked. It is also now possible to retain control of the ball after performing a sliding tackle, while all-new feints and backwards dribbling are now possible thanks to the improved dribbling controls. Coupled with the series’ famed realism, the result is a more flowing and fluid game with all the movement and pace of the real thing.

Konami’s has also added a raft of new licensed sides to Pro Evolution Soccer 6, and all versions will include the fully-licensed kits and squads for the Czech, French, Australian, English, Italian, Argentinian, Spanish and Swedish national sides. Similarly, the French Ligue 1 Orange has been added to the game, alongside key European sides such as Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, Olympiacos Piraeus, and Manchester United.

Another key addition to the October launch, is Pro Evolution Soccer 6’s first appearance for a Next Generation format. Released alongside the established PlayStation 2 version, the Xbox 360 game features massively improved visuals and audio effects, while the player AI is also noticeably improved as Producer Shingo ‘Seabass’ Takatsuka and his team flex their skills using the 360 system’s advanced capabilities.

“This is the date all football fans have been waiting for,” commented Martin Schneider, European Marketing and PR Director for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “October 26th will see established Pro Evolution Soccer fans looking to get their hands on the latest version, while we are delighted to be bringing the first Next Generation version to Xbox 360 users, and taking the many delights of Pro Evolution Soccer to an all-new audience. The season truly starts here – and Pro Evolution Soccer 6 will once again top the table of the football genre.”