Konami has finalised UK dates for PES 2010.

PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are first out of the changing rooms, arriving on October 23rd. Then it’s the turn of the PSP, which follows on November 6th. Finally the Wii game staggers out of the tunnel, blinking in the sunlight on November 20th. We’ve no idea what crazed reasoning dictates such a staggered release schedule, but at least all iterations will be out in time for Xmas.

Whether that means that PES has more of a fighting chance against this year’s FIFA remains to be seen – EA’s behemothic footy franchise arrives on all formats on October 2nd, and a better-than-decent kickabout is all-but guaranteed.

However Konami has tried really hard to right some of the many wrongs with PES 2010 – improved visuals, more precise controls, a more realistic pace and so on. Certainly this year’s game should be able to win back some of the core audience it has lost to FIFA over the last couple of years. Then again FIFA 10 will still kick it all over the park no matter what – don’t even try to deny it.

Anyway, diarise those dates as necessary and, er, let battle commence...