Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the release date for FIFA 12, with the next iteration of the world’s most popular football game taking to the virtual field on 27 September in the US and 30 September globally.

The company stated that EA SPORTS has developed its Player Impact Engine (PIE) for the PC version of FIFA 12, previously found only on the HD console editions. The PIE physics engine replicates the manner in which real football players compete over and interact with the ball.

The addition of PIE to the PC version means that for the first time ever, gamers playing FIFA 12 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, as well as the PC will experience an identical game engine and feature set at launch.

Besides the new physics engine FIFA 12 will also sport improved dribbling mechanics (Precision Dribbling) that the developer says will allow for “better control in tight spaces, more time to make decisions on attack, and more control over the pace of the game.”

Also new is a re-designed defending mechanism (Tactical Defending), which will make the positioning of your defenders, as well as your ball intercepting skills as important as tackling the player with the ball.

EA said that the AI-controlled opposition players now employ Pro Player Intelligence, enabling them to “behave and make decisions based on their own skills and tendencies, and gives them the aptitude to understand the strengths and weaknesses of teammates in every situation.”

“This is the moment all PC gamers have been waiting for, as they are finally going to fully experience the award-winning FIFA gameplay on their preferred platform,” said Kaz Makita, executive producer of FIFA 12.

“PC fans are going to enjoy the highest quality gameplay, deepest game modes and truest graphics ever developed for the platform, including our new live service EA SPORTS Football Club.”

FIFA 12 will be released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo Wii, PC, PlayStation 2, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.