Japanese publisher Konami has just confirmed the next instalment in the much loved Pro Evolution Soccer series. PES 2009 will be released this autumn on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, PS2, and PSP.

The announcement blurb included the usual list of promises such as improved graphics, enhanced controls, new moves, and "key online elements". If the screens accompanying the press release are anything to go by, then PES 2009 certainly looks set to deliver on the visual improvements at the very least.

"The announcement of a new PES game is always a highlight for Konami, but PES 2009 looks set to reaffirm the series' utter superiority," commented Jon Murphy, PES Project Leader for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. "We are committed to extending the realism of the new game with a wealth of key gameplay additions, and will produce a football title that truly embodies all the skill and pace that is good about the modern game."

According to recent reports from Famitsu, one of this year's Japanese versions of PES (J League Winning Eleven Club Championship 2008) seems to be sporting a rather fetching interpretation of the 'Be a Pro' mode that FIFA introduced last year. It'll certainly be interesting to see whether this mode will be included in PES 2009 as further details are revealed.

Although Konami has not confirmed Wii and DS versions of PES 2009 at this stage, it's more than likely that the game will return to Nintendo's consoles at some point during the upcoming football season. PES 2008 was a huge success on the Wii, winning critical acclaim for its innovative controls and commercial success followed closely behind.