eFootball

{{about|the eFootball series|the PES series|Pro Evolution Soccer|the first game to be branded eFootball|eFootball PES 2020}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = eFootball

| image = eFootball logo.svg

| caption = Logo used since 2021

| italic title = no

| developer = Konami

| publisher = Konami

| series = eFootball

| engine = Unreal Engine 4

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One||Xbox Series X/S|Android|iOS}}

| genre = Sports

| release = {{ubl|Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S|30 September 2021|Android, iOS|2 June 2022|2023 Season|25 August 2022|2024 Season|7 September 2023|2025 Season|12 September 2024}}

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

eFootball is a free-to-play online association football video game developed and published by Konami. It has been completely rebranded from the original Pro Evolution Soccer series (known as Winning Eleven in Japan).{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-pes-2022-free-to-play-renamed-release-date|title=PES Has Been Renamed eFootball, and It's Fully Free-to-Play|first=Joe|last=Skrebels|website=IGN|date=21 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721081523/https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-pes-2022-free-to-play-renamed-release-date|url-status=live}} The game's first year, entitled eFootball 2022, was released on 30 September 2021. It was later changed to the game's second year, eFootball 2023, on 25 August 2022, the game's third year, eFootball 2024 on 7 September 2023 and its simplified title eFootball for the game's fourth year (2025) on 12 September 2024. This game is part of the International Esports Federation's World Championship, the North and Eastern Europa League (NEEC) and the FIFAe World Cup.

Gameplay

Development

On 21 July 2021, Konami released a six-minute video revealing the new game.{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=21 July 2021|title=Pro Evolution Soccer is now simply eFootball — and it's free to play|url=https://www.polygon.com/22587429/pes-efootball-release-date-pc-ps5-xbox-series-x-one-ps4-android-ios|access-date=22 July 2021|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825160855/https://www.polygon.com/22587429/pes-efootball-release-date-pc-ps5-xbox-series-x-one-ps4-android-ios|url-status=live}} The announcement revealed that the Pro Evolution Soccer (Winning Eleven) brand had been dropped.{{Cite magazine|last=Stanton|first=Rich|date=21 July 2021|title=PES is dead, replaced by the F2P 'football platform' eFootball|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/rip-pro-evolution-soccer-too-good-for-this-cruel-world-long-live-efootball/|access-date=22 July 2021|magazine=PC Gamer|language=en-US|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729015941/https://www.pcgamer.com/rip-pro-evolution-soccer-too-good-for-this-cruel-world-long-live-efootball/|url-status=live}}

The game was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 30 September 2021.{{cite tweet |author=eFootball |user=play_eFootball |number=1433356286175940611 |date=2 September 2021 |title=Announcing #eFootball 2022 - the official title for our platform's first season! Launching September 30th on consoles and PC fans can finally experience how we have #SetFootballFree Find out more right here: https://t.co/XGJAKZFGaV https://t.co/HqQRjjHQuv |language=en |access-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902092036/https://twitter.com/play_eFootball/status/1433356286175940611 |archive-date=2 September 2021 |url-status=live}} It was built using Unreal Engine 4 for the first time in the franchise.{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=21 July 2021 |title=How Unreal Engine Helped Turn PES Into eFootball |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-pes-2022-unreal-engine |access-date=4 August 2021 |website=IGN |archive-date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804091006/https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-pes-2022-unreal-engine |url-status=live }}

On 8 October 2021, Konami announced that it would release a new update with fixes for the game's issues on 28 October 2021.{{cite web|title=eFootball Update Coming October 28 With Fixes For The Game's Issues|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/efootball-update-coming-october-28-with-fixes-for-the-games-issues/1100-6496909/|website=GameSpot|date=8 October 2021|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|accessdate=9 October 2021}} The update was delayed and the release postponed to November 2021.{{cite web |title=eFootball Update That Includes Big Fixes Delayed To November |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/efootball-update-that-includes-big-fixes-delayed-to-november/1100-6497352/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206204735/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/efootball-update-that-includes-big-fixes-delayed-to-november/1100-6497352/ |url-status=live }} Konami then launched the update 0.9.1 on 5 November,{{Cite web|url=https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/topic/news/28|title=TOP|access-date=25 November 2021|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105073240/https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/topic/news/28|url-status=unfit}} and announced that the 1.0 update release was delayed until Spring 2022.{{cite web|title=eFootball 2022 hit with worst delay yet – next update not out till spring|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/05/efootball-2022-hit-with-worst-delay-yet-update-not-out-till-spring-15547936/|website=Metro|date=5 November 2021|access-date=5 November 2021|archive-date=28 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828071002/https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/05/efootball-2022-hit-with-worst-delay-yet-update-not-out-till-spring-15547936/|url-status=live}} Version 1.0.0 of eFootball 2022 was finally announced on 6 April 2022, with release date on 14 April 2022.{{cite web|title=Announcements 14/04/2022 v1.0.0 Release Confirmed|url=https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/page/update_announcement_20220406|website=konami|date=6 April 2022|access-date=6 April 2022|archive-date=19 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719073931/https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/page/update_announcement_20220406|url-status=live}}

On 31 May 2022, Konami announced their roadmap for the rest of 2022 up until 2023 for features such as Master League and the number of teams that can be used in offline mode which will all be released as paid content.{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2022-05-31 |title=eFootball Will Not Get Master League Mode Until 2023, Will Be Paid DLC |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-will-not-get-master-league-mode-until-2023-will-be-paid-dlc |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415060941/https://www.ign.com/articles/efootball-will-not-get-master-league-mode-until-2023-will-be-paid-dlc |url-status=live }} However, as of September 2024 of eFootball's latest series release, features such as Master League and Edit Mode have not been released on PC or consoles, and no further announcements have been made by Konami.

Reception

File:EFootball_2022_graphics_example.jpg players (L-R) Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Scott McTominay was widely shared, according to Polygon, as "the most notorious example" of the game's poor graphics.{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=1 October 2021|title=Konami's eFootball is a disaster at launch and Steam's worst-rated game ever|url=https://www.polygon.com/22704246/konami-efootball-pes-launch-glitches-steam|access-date=1 October 2021|website=Polygon|language=en-US|archive-date=1 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001194220/https://www.polygon.com/22704246/konami-efootball-pes-launch-glitches-steam|url-status=live}}]]

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (PC) 25/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/efootball-2022/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=eFootball 2022 reviews for PC|work=Metacritic|access-date=5 October 2021|archive-date=11 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011114402/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/efootball-2022|url-status=live}}
(PS5) 34/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/efootball-2022/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|title=eFootball 2022 reviews for PlayStation 5|work=Metacritic|access-date=21 October 2021|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002191408/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/efootball-2022|url-status=live}}

| GRadar = {{rating|1.5|5}}{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Ben|date=4 October 2021|title=eFootball 2022 review: A disastrous start to the post-PES era|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/efootball-2022-review/|access-date=4 October 2021|website=GamesRadar+|language=en-US|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009232442/https://www.gamesradar.com/efootball-2022-review/|url-status=live}}

| PCGUS = 30/100{{Cite web|last=Iwaniuk|first=Phil|date=13 October 2021|title=eFootball 2022 review: The pitch is ours—but where's the rest?|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/efootball-2022-review/|access-date=13 October 2021|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US|archive-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803133119/https://www.pcgamer.com/efootball-2022-review/|url-status=live}}

}}

At launch, eFootball 2022 was panned by critics and players, who criticized the "atrocious" graphics, lack of content, laggy engine and finicky controls.{{Cite web|last=Winslow|first=Jeremy|title=Konami's eFootball Is Steam's Most-Hated Game Right Now|url=https://kotaku.com/konamis-efootball-is-steams-most-hated-game-right-now-1847777988|url-status=live|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Kotaku|date=30 September 2021 |language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930211648/https://kotaku.com/konamis-efootball-is-steams-most-hated-game-right-now-1847777988 |archive-date=30 September 2021 }} With 92% negative reviews, it became the worst-rated game on Steam a day after launch,{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Graham|date=30 September 2021|title=eFootball 2022 is now the worst rated game on Steam|language=en|work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/efootball-2022-is-now-the-worst-rated-game-on-steam|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=13 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013014908/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/efootball-2022-is-now-the-worst-rated-game-on-steam|url-status=live}} and the lowest-rated game of 2021 on the review aggregator Metacritic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/pictures/worst-video-games-of-2021/10 |title=Metacritic: "The 10 Worst Video Games of 2021" |website=Metacritic |access-date=22 December 2021 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604214959/https://www.metacritic.com/pictures/worst-video-games-of-2021/10 |url-status=dead }} Konami later apologised for the game's many issues and said they would work on improving it.{{cite web|title=Konami Apologizes For eFootball 2022's Many Issues, Including Wonky Face Scans And PS1-Era NPCs|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-apologizes-for-efootball-2022s-many-issues-including-wonky-face-scans-and-ps1-era-npcs/1100-6496742/|website=GameSpot|date=1 October 2021|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|accessdate=9 October 2021|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120042957/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-apologizes-for-efootball-2022s-many-issues-including-wonky-face-scans-and-ps1-era-npcs/1100-6496742/|url-status=live}} A major "1.0" update, that aimed to address many of these issues, was released 14 April 2022 on PC and consoles.{{Cite web |title=Even Konami Agrees With The Criticism About eFootball's Quality |url=https://kotaku.com/efootball-pes-konami-quality-bugs-glitches-major-update-1848761712 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Kotaku |date=7 April 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=22 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122083601/https://kotaku.com/efootball-pes-konami-quality-bugs-glitches-major-update-1848761712 |url-status=live }}

= Versions overview =

Title ! First release ! Version number(s){{Cite web \|title=Info \|url=https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/topic/news/list \|access-date=2024-08-14 \|website=konami.com/efootball \|date=11 July 2024 \|language=en-us \|archive-date=18 April 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418082051/https://www.konami.com/efootball/en/topic/news/list \|url-status=live }} ! scope="col" \| 8th Gen ! scope="col" \| 9th gen ! scope="col" \| PC ! scope="col" \| Handheld
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%; width: 100%;" \|+ Released versions of the game
colspan-"1" \|eFootball (2022 Season) \| September 30, 2021 \| v1.1.4 (July 21, 2022) \| PS4, Xbox One	PS5, Xbox Series X/S	Windows	Android, Apple iOS
colspan="1" \|eFootball (2023 Season) \| August 25, 2022 \| v2.6.0 (June 8, 2023) \| PS4, Xbox One	PS5, Xbox Series X/S	Windows	Android, Apple iOS
colspan="1" \|eFootball (2024 Season) \| September 7, 2023 \| v3.6.2 (July 11, 2024) \| PS4, Xbox One	PS5, Xbox Series X/S	Windows	Android, Apple iOS
colspan="1" \|eFootball (2025 Season) \| September 12, 2024 \| {{Version\|c\|v4.4.0}} (April 17, 2025) \| PS4, Xbox One	PS5, Xbox Series X/S	Windows	Android, Apple iOS
colspan="7" \| {{Version\|l\|show=111111}}