Konami

Konami has confirmed rumours that it would be launching a free-to-play version of its football franchise Pro Evolution Soccer, announcing that an "entry level" version of the game will be available next month.

The free version will be available on PlayStation 4 and PS3 from 8 December. It's barebones compared to the full game, offering only seven clubs -- Bayern Munich, Juventus, AS Roma, Brazil and France among them. There's no word of an Xbox One or Xbox 360 release yet, despite the full priced version of the game launching on Microsoft's consoles back in September.


There will also be a training section and MyClub, Konami's build-your-own-team mode. This is also set to be the core of the free-to-play release, with new players available for recruitment either through points earned by winning matches, or with "MyClub coins", according to the publisher. Expect microtransactions to be in place to sell these.

Rumours that a free launch would be forthcoming began when a listing for "Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 Free To Play" appeared on the website for the Australian Classifications board.

Following the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Pro Evolution Soccer -- Winning Eleven in Japan -- is arguably Konami's last major console title. The company has reportedly quit the console business to embrace mobile gaming. The introduction of a free-to-play Pro Evo could be another step in that direction.

Further evidence of Konami taking a step back from "traditional" video games include the now-infamous disagreement with lauded developer Hideo Kojima (which has included stripping his name from MGSV's packaging, cancelling his planned horror game Silent Hills, and closing the Los Angeles arm of Kojima Productions), prioritising its Japanese businesses in health clubs and arcade parlours, and funnelling its classic IP into pachinko games.