In the world of virtual football, two brands rule the roost – EA's FIFA and Konami's PES. Each year, these two long-standing rivals battle it out for soccer supremacy, but there's one battleground where this contest hasn't yet played out, and that's on the Switch.
EA has supported Nintendo's console with FIFA 18, FIFA 19 and the upcoming FIFA 20 (although it's worth noting that the latter is going to a "legacy edition" rather than a full-blown update), but Konami has yet to bring PES to the hybrid platform.
It doesn't look like that's happening any time soon, either. PES brand manager, Lennart Bonzein, has been speaking to Real Sport, and offered the following statement when quizzed about the chances of a Switch version:
I can’t really talk about the Switch, all I can say is that I love the Switch. I think it’s an amazing console and I really enjoy playing on it. As a company, Konami is aware of the Switch – we released Bomberman last year, we are releasing Contra on the Switch. For PES right now, just the current factors that the game is coming out on the three platforms – PS4, Xbox One and PC means there is no Switch version planned right now.
It's one of those odd situations where a company heaps praise on a console but then admits that it doesn't plan to bring one of its most famous properties to it. Sure, there's an argument that sports titles don't sell to the Nintendo audience, but surely a series as popular as PES would sell enough on the machine to make development worthwhile – especially as it is rumoured that Konami will be shifting from Fox Engine to Unreal Engine in the near future?
Would you pay good money for PES on your Switch? Let us know with a comment.
[source gonintendo.com, via realsport101.com]
Comments 58
Nice to hear that other people know that the Switch exists. Thought I was going mad for a minute.
Get the investors on the case
Shame, as it would be a day 1 for me. I’m trying to convince a lot of my friends to buy a switch, but their reaction always is: ‘does it have PES?’
Too bad...
We rather get Suikoden series up to 5 on Switch please. Oh and Castlevania Symphony of the NIghts... the other games you can keep them. LMAO
If they wanted to do this, it would have happened a long time ago. It’s a shame for people who like sports games, to be limited to just a few on Switch. I would buy some if they didn’t try to nickel and dime the player so much.
@Alucard83 Yeah if this was them saying, no more Castlevania on the Switch I’d be upset. Still a chance to see that one in a 2nd Anniversary Collection. Hopefully next year... or with Konami, maybe never. Who knows.
In reality I would really enjoy something from metal gear saga, but I know we will have nothing about it😢
I would definitely like to have PES on the Switch. Always preferred that to Fifa anyways, so it's the only serious football/soccer game that I still play.
Konami was Aware with Switch ?!
Just give us DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION A20 for Nintendo Switch !!
I would buy it in a heartbeat.... I'm a PES player but I sold my PS4 Pro and only own a Switch. So I'm unable to play the game. I also believe that the engine of PES is way better for a Switch version than Fifa is.
Slight graphic downgrade yeah, but not like EA's Fifa on the Switch.
That’s too bad. I really love PES.
Ok, it will be Fifa ‘18 till the end on Switch.
I would take a chance and make it, and if you don't get results, don't make it anymore.
I'll be content with Sociable Soccer whenever it arrives, provided it turns out to be the spiritual successor to Sensible Soccer we all hope it will be.
Good. Now give Castlevania Collection Vol 2 with the GBA and DS games
Let's all hate Konami now. Clearly they are evil. They won't bring games but legacy ports.
Come on Konami how can you not see the opportunity here.
Still then again where are all your other franchises that would find an audience on the switch
“We released bomberman last year” you mean 2 years ago? At launch?
@Spanjard
Likely got ot confused with the release of the same game on ps4 and xbox1 last year
Port a decent PES over to Switch could rob Fifa of it's position on Switch.
Maybe not Europe, but Japan would buy it.
This is great! My two biggest takeaways:
1. Konami, a major video game company, is aware of the Switch, a major video game console. Good to have that confirmed.
2. Because there is no Switch version of PES, that means there is no Switch version of PES. (Seriously, that last sentence is just pure gold!)
Bring metal gear solid games to Switch instead
These idiots are treating Switch like they did Wii, if I was a share holder I’d be pissed.
But if PES had a full version was on switch it would destroy FIFA, they obviously don't like money
Yeah, sure, PES, whatever.
When is the next Goemon game is what I'm curious about.
This is just another case of a big publisher who can’t be arsed like EA can’t be bothered to make the game engine for the switch but I’m glad they are aware of the switch’s existence
Because Konami is Konami, and Konami is the worst.
All I want that I don't have on the switch is an NHL game, doesn't have to be EA or 2K, just any hockey game... and Super Blood Hockey doesn't count for me.
"all I can say is that I love the Switch"
No, shut up. If you love the Switch, release games on it. If you don't then don't. But have enough decency not to LIE to our face!
Wish they would just release pro evo 6 with online play.
I like how EVERY time a company tries to justify why they're snubbing the platform. they talk about how much they love it, or how much their kids use it.
It's the "I love my black friends!" of the video game world.
Well, that's OK. The Castlevania and Contra collections are the only good things to come out of them in recent years anyway, and we got those.
@Bunkerneath it really wouldn't. Sales would hit Xbox one levels of PES. The says of PES being a huge hit are long gone and yes that also includes Japan.
Wow, you exist!
mmmmm Konomi, I did used to love those arcade machines.
The Switch seriously needs a good Football sim like PES to be ported. I may get FIFA 20 but I am not a an EA sports fan or FIFA fan. Their titles have been poorly executed for the most part.
@dew12333 I love Konami myself
@Zidentia
And Nintendo Switch really really needs Dance Dance Revolution A20 from Konami. 😉
I would buy this in a heartbeat. And I'm not a soccer fan. I've played some on PS4 a few years ago, and it was impressive. It reminds me of NBA 2K in terms of gameplay. Polished and deep but still user friendly.
Shame really. Since FIFA became obsessed with looking like a TV Broadcast of football rather than playing like football (then gave up on the Switch) PES has regained its supremacy. There’s a gap in the Switch market.
No concern here. The "world's game" holds no interest for me and Konami's Switch support has been otherwise steady. In this case, Konami gets a "pass" from me. Although I wonder why the MGS games aren't on Switch yet?
My first reaction was "what is pes?". Then my reaction was wtf? Admittedly my entire knowledge of pes is from wikipedia, but it seems like this game head been released on a sh*t ton of consoles and mobile devices. So why no switch love? To be clear, I don't care but it seems strange.
I don’t care whether or not Konami release PES on the Switch, but I’ve got to say it’s sad to see how Konami have ended up. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, the Konami name meant quality game, and they published alot of games in completely different genres. Now it seems like PES and MGS is all there is left, with the occasional Hudson port.
If that switch from Fox to Unreal is true, that might be why they're holding out. Not much point porting over an engine to Switch if you won't be using it in the future (though Konami missed a trick by not having ports of PES and MGSV back in 2017 when they were still sort of committed to it).
Rather have a Silent Hill collection.
I just want some Metal Gear, Konami. A lot of the work has been done, as MGS2, MGS3, and MGRR have already been ported to the Nvidia Shield. Sounds like it would be a relatively simple thing to bring them to the eShop and count the money. I'd love a collection that included Twin Snakes, but I'm not hopeful.
Hopefully they realized that if not the same game on Switch - like EA did with FIFA - there is no point in releasing it.
Focusing on making a break-out version on the platform they already on should be the plan.
Right now, come September 27 their product is irrelevant. More hardware is not changing that.
As long as Konami doesnt port the Fox Engine to Switch, a PES port will never happen.
I would buy pes for the swiych on day 1!
Pes on switch would take over my life. Master league on the go is an irresistible thought.
I’d definitely grab PES. Looks like I’ll be waiting for Sociable Soccer, but don’t have high hopes of it turning out particularly well, as the development has been plagued by problems. To be fair, I don’t so much want a spiritual successor to Sensible Soccer as much as I want actual Sensible Soccer - that would get all my monies...
Considering how much hatred there is out there for EA's soccer game, this seems like a massive oversight. They would sell a crap ton and a half copies, hopefully in the future.
@Alucard83 Waaaaaay too many good Konami games to agree with your opinion. You my friend get a downvote.
@sixrings huh?
@Savlep99 I was excited when I saw that blood hockey game on the eshop...until I viewed the trailer. I dont think I was even able to finish watching it before I turned it off,lol
My copy of International Superstar Soccer 64 just arrived, kind of a weird coincidence
Would definitely buy PES on Switch. Love Master League with the default players
Make it happen already... This was a downer to hear, had thought that the 2020 legacy news would make them want to swoop in and show how it's done. Too small team? No possibility to outsource or too worried about quality then?
@whanvee I did the exact same thing, it's a shame that the sport has been severely underrepresented on nintendo platforms since the gamecube days.
Been a PES fan since 2001. I'd buy it
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