From PES to eFootball

Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) has been a beloved football simulation franchise for decades, known for its realistic gameplay and loyal fanbase. However, the gaming landscape has changed rapidly, pushing Konami—the developer behind PES—to rethink their approach. As a highly regarded Japanese entertainment company, Konami has followed a trend seen among many developers by embracing free-to-play (F2P) models, especially popular across Asia. Given the popularity of F2P games in the region, many players and critics review them online—as reflected in websites that post reviews like the free social games review on vipcode-games.com, which people visit to understand these games better. Konami rebranded the series in 2021 as eFootball, marking an ambitious shift to a free-to-play, cross-platform football experience.

Why the Change? Embracing New Gaming Trends

The pivot from PES to eFootball wasn’t just a name change; it symbolised a shift in how Konami wanted to engage football fans worldwide. The rise of free-to-play models and the increasing demand for cross-play experiences drove this evolution. eFootball aims to offer a more accessible, continually updated platform where players on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and mobile devices can compete against each other—something impossible in the previous PES titles.

Gameplay Revolution

One of the most significant differences between PES and eFootball is the change in game structure. PES traditionally followed an annual release cycle, with a new version launching each year, often resulting in incremental improvements. eFootball abandons this cycle. Instead of forcing players to buy a new game every year, eFootball delivers frequent updates, new content, and gameplay tweaks to keep the experience fresh.

This approach presents both opportunities and challenges. It allows Konami to refine gameplay continuously and respond to community feedback in near real-time. However, the initial launch of eFootball in 2021 was notorious for its rough graphics and bugs, leading to criticism from longtime fans accustomed to the polished PES releases. Since then, Konami has been working hard to improve the game experience through steady updates.

Visual and Technical Innovations

While the original PES games were lauded for their lifelike animations and fluid player movements, eFootball sets its sights on next-generation technology. The switch to Unreal Engine 4—replacing the Fox Engine used in PES—aims to provide richer visuals, more realistic lighting, and improved physics. Although the launch struggled with visuals that appeared downgraded from previous PES titles, ongoing patches are gradually enhancing the graphics fidelity.

Another technical advance is the game’s cross-platform nature. eFootball supports multiplayer matches across different devices, meaning a PS5 player can challenge someone on a smartphone, broadening the player pool and creating a more inclusive community.

Impact on the Football Gaming Community

The transition to eFootball has been met with mixed reactions. Traditional PES fans initially felt alienated by the drastic changes and the early technical issues. However, the free-to-play model lowers entry barriers for new players, making football gaming more accessible globally. The regular updates and seasonal events aim to retain player interest over long periods, potentially building a more active competitive scene than was possible under the old annual format.

Moreover, eFootball’s focus on esports and online competitiveness is clear. By encouraging online play and cross-platform interaction, Konami seeks to position eFootball as a major player in the virtual football esports arena, competing with rivals like FIFA.