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Pro Evolution Soccer Franchise Signs Deal With Barcelona
Konami has announced a partnership with Barcelona FC, perhaps the most famous soccer team in the world. The three-year deal allows Konami to exclusively recreate the team's Camp Nou stadium, among other benefits.
The franchise will also take advantage of the "premium partnership" through 3D photo-scans of stars like Messi and Neymar Jr., special Barca promotions in myClub mode (including Barca agents if you pre-order the title), and classic kits. Konami also gives the company access to the teams' players as well as a match-day presence within the stadium in real life, but it does not prevent titles like rival FIFA from using Barca's kit and players in its title.
EA Sports has inked similar club-based deals such as this. Earlier this year the team announced a partnership with Italian side Juventus.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 comes out on September 13 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.
[Source: Official Konami Blog]
Our Take
Although this isn't a major exclusive deal, it's a good move that gives the PES series an in-game presentation boost around Barcelona – and prevents EA from striking a similar kind of deal. Given that I doubt we'll see things like one of the soccer franchises sign up the Premier League exclusively, for example, these are the kinds of deals we're going to see more and more of.
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