Japanese publisher Konami has made some substantial changes to the long-running football franchise Pro Evolution Soccer by making the move to globally rebrand as eFootball. eFootball is set to launch this autumn as a free-to-play, download-only game that will expand over time, available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. It has also been announced that there will be an Android and iOS version, and the game will allow for cross-play on all platforms.
Although an initial roadmap of content and feature updates has been unveiled, much remains unclear at this early stage about the multitude of changes to the traditional Pro Evolution Soccer formula. It appears that eFootball will function similarly to other free-to-play games with in-game purchases and advertising, and all versions will function the same across different consoles. It aims to take a "platform" approach with regular updates, and so players can expect roster updates, new kits, and visual and gameplay upgrades annually.
The roadmap shows that the game will initially launch with nine clubs to play as in local exhibition matches, with other modes arriving later as DLCs. The winter will see the release of mobile controller support, full cross-play, and the launch of professional and amateur eSports tournaments. The popular Option Files will also still be available, with support added post-launch. The game will seemingly also include Battle Pass-like unlocks called Match Passes, but no mentions have yet been made of things like MyClub or Master League.
Konami has built the game on an Unreal Engine base to enable improvements to all areas of the game and have created a new "motion matching" system, similar to the new HyperMotion feature in FIFA 22, designed to make player animations more realistic. This will potentially bode well for the franchise, as Unreal Engine's development speed is one of the fastest among game engines, and its scalability makes it perfect for mobile and next-gen platforms.
The changes to this long-running franchise hold a lot of promise for eFootball, especially with the likes of Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique helping developers by modelling their movements and sharing insights. PES has struggled over the last decade, and if this series is to survive in any capacity, this new identity and fresh approach might be exactly what it needs. Fans of Pro Evolution Soccer should stay tuned in for announcements next month, as Konami says it will announce more about eFootball's gameplay and online modes in late August.
eFootball is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.