eFootball

eFootball is Konami’s free-to-play football simulation series and the successor to Pro Evolution Soccer, commonly abbreviated as PES. Konami announced the rebranding in July 2021, ending the previous practice of selling a numbered premium PES game each year. Built with Unreal Engine, eFootball launched on September 30, 2021, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Konami positioned it as an evolving platform rather than an annual boxed release, with gameplay, teams, modes, and seasonal data delivered through updates. The change also made the core product downloadable without an upfront purchase, while optional content used monetization. The initial version, numbered 0.9.0, became notorious for its poor condition. Players reported distorted player faces, awkward animations, collision problems, limited modes, and inconsistent ball behavior. Shortly after release, it received overwhelmingly negative user reviews on Steam and was widely cited among the platform’s worst-rated launches. Konami publicly apologized, acknowledged that the game had not met expectations, and promised corrections. A major update originally planned for November 2021 was postponed, and version 1.0.0 eventually arrived on April 14, 2022. It revised defending, passing, shooting, dribbling, and team-building systems, marking Konami’s attempt to move the project beyond its troubled public debut. One of eFootball’s central modes is Dream Team, introduced as the replacement for PES’s myClub. Players sign footballers and managers, develop squads, choose tactical playstyles, and compete in events or online divisions. Cards include standard players and special editions tied to weekly performances, campaigns, clubs, or historic seasons. The game uses virtual currencies including GP and eFootball Coins, with Coins available through play, promotions, or purchases depending on the campaign and region. Its competitive structure has also supported the eFootball Championship, including club-linked competitions and an Open tournament accessible through in-game qualifying. These systems make squad construction a persistent activity. eFootball retains several partnerships long associated with Konami’s football games. Licensed partner clubs have included FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Japanese teams, although agreements and availability change over time. Unlike fully licensed rivals, the series also uses fictional club names and uniforms where Konami lacks rights. The mobile edition arrived in June 2022 as an update that replaced eFootball PES 2021 on iOS and Android, allowing existing users to transition into the renamed platform. Konami subsequently adopted year-based branding, moving through eFootball 2023, 2024, and 2025 via updates instead of separate annual purchases.