Leipzig GC: Microsoft corners football

360 News | New PES and FIFA exclusive to 360 for next 12 months.

Much like Nintendo's showing, Microsoft's Leipzig GC conference was little more than an orgy of self-serving statistics and self-congratulation. However, the odd drop of interesting news did emerge from the exercise. For instance, it turns out that the Xbox 360 has something of a monopoly on next-gen Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA.

Of course, we already knew that a PS3 or Wii version of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 was highly unlikely, given that Konami hasn't announced anything other than current-gen and Xbox 360 versions. In an interview with Eurogamer this morning however, FIFA 07 producer Hugues Ricour confirmed that PS3 owners would also have to wait another year for their dose of EA-branded footy (a Wii version was not even mentioned). Understandably, Microsoft was keen to allude to this news in its GC conference, with European Xbox boss Chris Lewis noting that, "Xbox 360 is the home of next-gen football. Xbox 360 owns football."

What does this mean? Well, both the Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA games are pretty huge sellers in Europe and Asia, and with the new football season now well underway in every European nation, it's quite a coup for Microsoft and its next-gen platform.