PES Set To Lose The Official Champions League Licence

Terrible news I'm afraid PES fans as Konami announce that their ten year partnership with UEFA and the Champions League is over. This very saddening news was reported by Eurogamer earlier today and as a massive PES fan, this comes as a huge blow. The deal comes to an end after the Champion League final in Kiev on the 26th of May. 

You see, PES has lost everything to Fifa over the years. Fifa has the rights to every major league in world football. Those classic players, Maradona, Pele and Cruyff, that were once a staple of just about every team I ever assembled in Master League, are now contained inside Fifa's FUT mode and are no longer to be found in PES.

Of course, we still don't know if EA will pick up the licence but I'd imagine it'll only be a matter of time before it's announced as part of Fifa 19. Probably as paid for DLC too knowing EA. Maybe EA will announce it come E3.

PES has always been fighting a losing battle to Fifa on the licencing front, but it has always been the better game on the pitch and that's why I love it so much. Not having the official teams, stadiums or competitions didn't bother me too much as the game was a joy to play and head and shoulders above the sterile and on rails football that Fifa offers year after year.

But saying all that, it was still brilliant to be able to play the Champions League and hear that famous Champions League anthem. Even though its only a computer game, that music stirs strange emotions in me. As a Liverpool fan, that anthem and that competition means everything to me and as a huge PES fan, losing it is a blow.

Jonas Lygaard, the Director of brand development at Konami had the following to say regarding the news.

"The UEFA Champions League licence has given us a platform to create unique experiences and provide football fans from all over the world with an opportunity to enjoy this competition first-hand. This year, however, we will shift our focus into other areas. We will continue to explore alternative ways UEFA and Konami can continue to work together, as our relationship remains strong."

What do you think PES fans, are you as sickened by this news as I am. Please feel free to leave any football related thoughts you have in the comments below.

Image from gamehype.co.uk