Next-Gen FIFA and Pro Evo Only on 360

Bad news for Sony as Microsoft turns a this-or-that question into a this-or-nothing one.

It's no secret that EA's FIFA series is popular in Europe, especially in the UK, where last year's iteration is still one of the top-selling games. Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is gaining in popularity too, and it now challenges EA's game for football supremacy. Which makes it all the more impressive that Microsoft has thrown down the glove to Sony by making sure that the only next-generation console you're going to be seeing either of the new games in these series is the Xbox 360.

The announcements came today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. First Konami revealed that Pro Evolution Soccer 6, which is still coming to PlayStation 2, PSP, PC and DS, would only be coming to Xbox 360.

The next-gen version made its public debut at the show, under the watchful eye of series producer Shingo "Seabass" Takatsuka. Konami confirmed to Kikizo that the deal covers Europe and other PAL regions only.

Next came the bombshell that Sony's new console would miss out on the biggest of them all. EA's latest football game, FIFA 07, will only be available on the Xbox 360.

The deal says the game is Microsoft's for a year, which means the status quo will probably be restored in 2007. Plus, if you're not interested in the Xbox 360, the game is still coming to every other platform.

Before you completely write off the Xbox 360, though, here's the game's producer, Andrew Wilson, with his pitch on why next-gen is the way to go:

"This engine is the most sophisticated sports technology we've ever produced - it gives us the ability to transform football as it is played today but more importantly, it is a dynamic technology that promises to deliver new innovations for years to come."

Spare a thought for Sony, then, as its PlayStation 3 sits this one on the bench. Next year, perhaps.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games