PES 2021--This Year's Smaller, Cheaper Entry In The Soccer Series Has Been Detailed And Dated

This year's entry in the PES soccer series, eFootball PES 2021, won't be a full-blooded update--it will be a season update instead, with fewer changes than usual and the same basic gameplay as 2020. Now Konami has revealed more details about what we can expect from this year's entry, including the price and release date.

eFootball PES 2021 Season Update, as the game is officially called, will release on September 15 for PS4, PC, and Xbox One. It will cost $30 for the standard edition, or $35 for a Partner Club edition, which will include exclusive content for whichever club you pick--FC Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, FC Bayern or Arsenal FC. You can also get a 20% "loyalty" discount on these Partner Club editions by pre-ordering through PES 2020.

Despite the name it will be (slightly) more than just a season update. Along with all the data for players and club rosters (available via a day one patch), the game will also host UEFA Euro 2020 content--which came to PES 2020 in a reduced form after COVID-19 saw the tournament delayed. This will include the 44 UEFA teams, an offline tournament mode, and Wembley stadium.

The iconic moment series, which joined PES 2020 in an update, will also be available at launch. This mode lets you relive classic moments from soccer history. How it will differ from the previous game's version remains to be seen, but hopefully it will feature new moments.

Other than that, though, don't expect a big change in gameplay. PES 2022 is being planned as a bigger game, one that will leave behind the Fox Engine that the series is using currently. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of PES, which will hopefully lead to some further celebration in-game.

PES 2020 players can also expect a "Veteran's Bonus" in the new game, depending on how much you achieved in the original. Further details are available on the PES website, and you have until the game's launch to qualify for them.

FIFA 21, meanwhile, will be getting a more traditional, cross-generation release this year (except on Switch). Here's our pre-order guide for the game.