Konami’s eFootball 2022 kicks off in September – here’s what to expect
The free-to-play soccer sim is coming to consoles and PC
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Konami’s free-to-playeFootball 2022is hitting digital storefronts on Thursday, September 30 – which means the game will be out one day before EA’sFIFA 22, which releases on October 1.
eFootball 2022 is a reenvisioned and rebranded sequel to the long-running Pro Evolution Soccer series, or PES as it’s commonly known. It promises to shake up the game’s formula thanks to its free-to-play model and new graphics engine.
The move to afree-to-playmodel should do away with the traditional, annual releases of the past due to its ever-evolving nature, but it also means the game will be in a more barebones state at launch.
On September 30, the official teams that will be available are:
eFootball 2020’s lineup of teams will obviously be dwarfed by the hundreds available in FIFA 22 then, but Konami has said that more teams will be added over time, all of which will be free.
When it comes to official stadia, things aren’t much better. You’ll have six arenas to choose from:
eFootball 2022 will be available to download onPS4,PS5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X|S, mobile, and PC. Cross-platform play is due to arrive in Autumn (September to November), which means no matter which platform you play eFootball 2022 on, you’ll be able to face off against other players. Mobile players will also receive controller support and the ability to play against console and PC players via an update sometime in Winter (December to March).
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Popular modes such as Master League will arrive as premium content (that’s mean you’ll have to pay) and the game will implement a Battle Pass-like system known as Match Pass in the future.
Analysis: A bold new strategy
While there’s no guarantee that eFootball 2022’s new free-to-play approach will pay off, it’s a move that many will feel is the right one for Konami’s soccer sim. It’s hard to see how Konami could continue to compete against FIFA 22 by offering paid annual releases, even though many believe that PES has always played a better game of football on the pitch.
By going free-to-play, Konami can at least hope that more players give the game a go and discover that fact for themselves. And, if they can get the free-to-play model right, it could become a thriving community, with players checking back regularly to discover new content and gameplay improvements.
However, there is always a risk when it comes to free-to-play games. The balance between free and premium content has to be right, and in a competitive game such as this, Konami has to ensure that those who spend big aren’t provided with an unfair advantage against those who opt not to spend a penny.
Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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