eFootball

Introduction
eFootball, Konami’s free-to-play evolution of the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) franchise, launched in September 2021 on Unreal Engine with high ambition—cross-platform gameplay, modern visuals, and regular seasonal drops. However, the initial release faced severe backlash: outdated graphics, missing modes, sluggish controls, and bugs, earning the worst-ever ratings on Steam and Metacritic . Since then, Konami has committed to fixing and refining the game, responding with ongoing updates and added features. Now, in mid-2025, after multiple seasons and updates, it’s time to reassess eFootball in depth—from its rocky origins to its current state and future potential.

1. The Rocky Rebirth—eFootball 2022 (Sep 2021)

Konami overhauled PES into eFootball 2022 as a free-to-play service. While the new Unreal Engine allowed atmospheric ball physics and realistic kinetics, the launch lacked legacy depth: only nine licensed clubs, missing Master League, outdated features, and “atrocious” visuals .

 Botched Transition

The switch disrupted fan loyalty, with incomplete functionality, empty game modes, and missing features from the PES era.

 Community Revolt

Gamers expressed outrage across Reddit and Steam, sparking Konami’s public apology and roadmap for a major 1.0 update .

2. Rebuilding Commitment—Ongoing Updates (2022–2024)

Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Konami gradually reintroduced core features and licensed teams. The Nov 2023 release of eFootball 2024 brought cross-platform matchmaking, smart-assist, and finesse dribbling.

Incremental Fixes

Konami patched passing delays, tweaked AI, enhanced dribbling, and added licensed kits and stadiums, but a full return of Master League remained absent .

 Mixed Reception

Community reactions varied: praise for ball feel and assist features, but skepticism persisted due to persistent bugs and lack of content .

3. 2025 Season Launch—New Features & Improvements

eFootball 2025 officially launched on September 12, 2024, and by April 17, 2025, Konami released update 4.4.0, adding AI League mode, smart training, cross-play, backup reserve slots, passing enhancements, and a connection-quality indicator .

AI League Mode

Players can now compete against AI teams derived from real user Dream Teams, providing structured offline tournaments .

Training & Squad Management

Smart training streamlines player skill assignment, multi-release cleans squads, and backup slots free roster space .

4. Visual & Gameplay Refinements

Notable graphical enhancements include refined player models (Arsenal, Barça, Bayern, etc.), dynamic weather, time-of-day transitions, and improved visual fidelity—though still behind EA Sports FC .

Finesse Dribble & Smart Assist

L2-based finesse dribble regained user control for close touches, while smart assist aids beginners (disabled in PvP).

Physics Enhancements

The new Pass Search Guide provides realistic statistics-based passing, and shot speed now scales correctly with Finishing ratings .

5. Licensing Gains & Content Expansion

The 2025 edition added 21 officially licensed clubs (e.g. Arsenal, Man Utd, Bayern, Inter, AC Milan, Barça) and leagues including Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Ligue

Licensed Roster

Licensing improvements enhance immersion and help reduce reliance on unlicensed teams and acorn editing.

Event and Campaigns

Updates feature global campaigns: 850 million downloads celebration, Captain Tsubasa collabs (Messi, Neymar cards), and eFootball Championship esports qualifiers

6. Community Feedback: Battle-Worn Opinions

Reddit captures player attitudes:

“Players freeze, passes delayed, goalies on melatonin” .
“Lazy, exhausting cash grab, rigged RNG” .
Community advice pushes for genuine football content, stable servers, and fresh modes. Desire for less P2W and offline match options remains strong .

7. Expert Rating Breakdown

9.  The Road Ahead: What Konami Needs

• Add Legacy Modes: eFootball must reintroduce Master League, Become a Legend, and BAL to satisfy long-term fans.

• Improve Stability: Dedicated server infrastructure & optimized netcode are essential.

• Enhance Events: More offline/co-op modes with meaningful rewards.

• Tweak Monetization: Focus on cosmetic skins and fair packs over pay‑to‑win mechanics

10.  Final Verdict & Future Outlook

Edge-forward features and licensing gains show progress—but eFootball remains a work-in-progress, with significant room to improve in content and technical stability.

🎯 Expert Summary

• Gameplay – improved, but lacks polish.

• Content – licensed but shallow until more modes return.

• Stability & Engagement – foundational features regained, yet performance and server issues linger.

• Monetization – freely accessible with potential, but current model risks player burnout.

Conclusion
eFootball’s journey from a disastrous 2022 launch to its 2025 incarnation reflects both resilience and regret. Konami has rebuilt core gameplay, rebuilt licensing, and patched AI and drift controls—yet player trust remains fractured. Without strategic improvements in content, mode variety, and microtransaction fairness, eFootball risks fading behind competitors like EA Sports FC and emerging titles. However, the foundation is now set: if Konami listens and delivers depth and stability, the franchise might yet revive its legacy as a top-tier football simulator.