The roadmap also confirms that Online Leagues, a Team Building Mode and a Match Pass system are all also on the cards. This will then be followed by console-to-PC cross play by late Autumn, and full cross play by Winter.

The new game also promises eventual Cross Play compatibility to allow players on any platform to take on each other, starting with cross-generation play at launch. It certainly sounds like a direct response to EA’s recent announcement of ‘HyperMotion’ technology in their own FIFA 22. Realistic player movements are promised thanks to Konami’s new ‘Motion Matching’ technology, which involves a huge range of new animations including reactions to things like ball speed added to every player. We’re also promised “cutting edge graphics” and “incomparable immersion” on the new-gen consoles. It’ll be free-to-play on consoles and PC including the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Instead, it feels like one that is still very much not ready to have been released.Konami has announced its long-running football series will drop the PES branding entirely and be free-to-play with eFootball launching this Autumn on consoles and PC.Īs per the announcement, the game has been completely rebuilt on the Unreal Engine with a ‘revamped animation system and game controls’. Yes, at least eFootball does now have a fully-fledged mode to take it past the point of being a demo, but it’s still lacking so much more than you’d expect from a 1.0 version of a game. It’s perhaps unfair to bash Konami too much at this stage, as these systems certainly don’t seem as predatory as FIFA’s, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

There’s only so long Konami can afford to give out free currency to compensate the playerbase for ongoing server and patch fixes, after all. Granted, from only a few hours playing and no money spent I’ve already assembled a competitive team, but the ominous spectre of microtransactions still looms large over eFootball, with special player cards available in random chance packs that cost roughly $1/£0.79 each. While there’s an obvious need for a free-to-play game to generate revenue somehow, it’s always disappointing to see this done via the ‘pay-to-win’ route. Season 1 – the snappily titled: New Gameplay Approach, Team Building and Licenses – is currently live, alongside special players available in loot boxes, such as Pep Guardiola or Guti. This is done within Seasons, two-month-long events that challenge you to get promoted as high as you can through 10 online divisions, earning greater rewards the higher you climb along the way. One mode that has entered the fray with Update 1.0 is Dream Team, eFootball’s take on FIFA Ultimate Team in which you use both currency earned in-game and real money to build your ultimate squad of players and climb the online rankings. It really is disappointing that none of this is available, especially when considering it’s been six months since release, and over two years since development began on eFootball 2022. That’s a PES fan-favourite career mode where many (including me) have historically found their enjoyment – and it would’ve been welcome here even if that would mean playing the anaemic AI endlessly.

There’s no edit mode where you can change players and teams (a staple option in past eFootball/Pro Evolution Soccers).

You can play against a friend offline, but are limited to only nine licensed teams to pick from.

There are still no online lobbies in which you can choose to play against a friend.

For a 1.0 release there’s still a baffling lack of ways to play available, with a long list of omissions that you’d expect as minimum: Your options in where to do this are limited, though, as are most of eFootball’s modes.

Playing online adds to the excitement, providing welcome spontaneity to proceedings.

One moment you’ll be jinking past a defender and curling one in the top corner, the next you’ll be trying to dribble only to find your player has a turning circle more at home in Euro Truck Simulator. In fact, the only real consistency with eFootball’s gameplay is its inconsistency. Some passes will be laser-focused and threaded through the eye of a needle, while others slowly roll along the floor begrudgingly towards a teammate – without feeling clear about what caused the difference. If you do get a shot away, though, there’s a decent chance of it going in as goalkeepers seem more balanced now, no longer reacting like Daredevil hearing a brick smash through a window.įrom time to time there are flowing moves to marvel at, but they happen all too rarely, with satisfying passing coming at a premium. Although these do occasionally result in a spectacular goal, you are far more likely to get the ball pinched from your toes as your player takes half a century to wind his leg up. “Stunning kicks” are a new quirk that allow you to hold down the right trigger and apply extra power to passes and shots.

Efootball pes 2022