The sports game genre has been dominated by the trend of annual releases for years. For soccer fans, there's been a FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer title every fall. However, Konami announced this week that the PES franchise would be rebranded as eFootball and transition to free-to-play across consoles, PC and mobile.
The FIFA and PES rivalry is the greatest feud in sports games history, with the two sides battling for the top spot of the soccer market for around two decades now. FIFA began in 1993 with FIFA International Soccer on the Sega Genesis, with Konami launching Pro Evolution Soccer in 2001 for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. The rivalry was fierce through the '00s until FIFA broke away with the runaway success of Ultimate Team. PES has been struggling to find a way to overcome its adversary for years, and this new direction could be the key to success they've been searching for.
Konami's eFootball is a departure from what gamers have come to expect from its sports titles but is taking inspiration from the wider gaming ecosystem in carving a new path. From the details that came with the reveal, eFootball will launch this August as a free-to-play title with a roadmap of gradually releasing content to expand and develop the game over the next several months. With games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone finding great success in a similar setup, eFootball could do just as well.
Konami revealed a roadmap that lays out plans for eFootball until the end of the calendar year, launching with a simple exhibition mode featuring nine clubs from around Europe and South America and then gradually releasing new modes moving forwards. Some of these modes will be optional paid DLC, with the thinking being that players can cater their eFootball experience to their own personal tastes. eFootball will also feature a Battlepass-esque progression system to keep players engaged and offering rewards for their continued support. Another exciting development for the new title is the focus given to crossplay. Konami's roadmap aims for a fully functioning crossplay between players on Xbox, PlayStation and PC in the fall, as well as integrating mobile players into the mix in the winter.
What could prove to be a serious thorn in FIFA's side are Konami's long-term plans. Where gamers have had to pay full price for the newest yearly installment of their preferred soccer series, eFootball's free-to-play transition will look to avoid that entirely. eFootball will receive a free update every year instead of for the new soccer season. With a dedication to free updates and the structure of optional DLC, eFootball could strike a chord with gamers not wanting to break the bank to get their soccer fix for years to come.
However, eFootball still has a few hurdles before it takes the crown as the premier soccer title on the market. For one, the limitations on eFootball's licenses isolates a vast number of gamers looking to play as their favorite teams. In previous titles, while actual players have been included in the PES series, only official partnered clubs have had their logos, names and kits included in the base game. As such, PES gained an unfortunate reputation as a second-rate game, as FIFA's partnerships gave it access to teams from around the world. The eFootball reveal details the beginning nine clubs for launch, but there are no details at this time as to whether other teams will gradually be included or if their system of teams with fake names will continue.
FIFA isn't resting on its laurels, either. Proudly showing off their new HyperMotion technology, FIFA 22 has a lot of momentum heading into its October 1 release date, as well as a loyal fanbase that comes back year after year. eFootball will really need to impress in order to turn the tide of soccer supremacy. The free-to-play model does have the potential to get the game in a lot more hands, especially many that would not have given the game a chance had it been a paid release. With Konami committed to the free-to-play model, eFootball could prove to be a slow-burn rather than an instant takeover, gradually coaxing players away towards their brand of soccer. For now, fans will just have to wait and see if this new direction pays off.