A new brand identity for a new generation of consoles and players, eFootball represents a fresh approach for the long-running franchise, previously known as Pro Evolution Soccer and Winning Eleven.

Thanks to the greatly evolved football game engine, the animation system has also been overhauled. New technology called "Motion Matching" converts the vast range of movements that players make on the pitch into a series of animations, selecting the most accurate one in real-time. The system provides more than four times as many animations as before, achieving highly realistic movement. “Motion Matching” will be utilised across all eFootball platforms, including last-gen consoles, PCs and mobile.

Ensuring that eFootball is an experience that everyone can enjoy, Konami’s new football game is free-to-play across console, PC and mobile. Importantly, eFootball will also present a fair and balanced experience for all players. More details about gameplay and online modes will be revealed in late August.

As a digital-only title, Konami will regularly add new content and game modes after launch this Autumn. Local matches featuring FC Barcelona, Juventus, FC Bayern, Manchester United and others will be available, for free, at launch. In the future, certain game modes will be sold as optional DLC, giving players the freedom to build an experience that follows their interests.

Uniting football’s global gaming community for the first time, eFootball will offer the same highly realistic esports experience across console, PC and mobile, including full cross-play support post-launch. eFootball on mobile will be detailed at a later date.

KONAMI announced both the schedule details and the participating clubs for the eFootball Championship 2022. This competition has been split into two editions: eFootball Championship Pro and eFootball Championship Open.

eFootball Championship Pro

The eFootball Championship Pro will see eight of Europe’s top clubs pit their professional esports teams against one another in a three-week showdown.

The clubs competing in this year’s tournament will be FC Barcelona, Manchester United, FC Bayern München, Arsenal, Celtic FC, AS Monaco, AS Roma and Galatasaray.

Details of schedule:

• Saturday, 4th June: Draw for matching
• Saturday, 11th June – Sunday, 12th June: Group Stage Days 1 & 2
• Saturday, 18th June – Sunday, 19th June: Group Stage Days 3 & 4
• Saturday, 25th June: Quarter-Final & Semi-Final
• Sunday, 26th June: Third-Place Play-off & Final

KONAMI will be broadcasting the tournament live across the eFootball social media channels, during which they will be running a viewing campaign where users can gain in-game items whilst tuning in.

eFootball Championship Pro will also see a set of campaigns ran by participating clubs where fans can win themselves club gifts as the match results come in.
For further details on the various campaigns ran during eFootball Championship Pro, check official announcements from clubs and in-game news on eFootball 2022.

eFootball Championship Open

eFootball Championship Open is a public competition where eFootball 2022 users from around the world can enter and compete across a number of consoles including: PS5, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). This year, eFootball Championship Open’s World Finals will also see users able to compete on mobile as well on both iOS and Android devices.

Details of schedule:

• Monday, 27th June – Sunday, 3rd July: Round 1
• Friday, 8th July – Monday, 11th July: Round 2
• Saturday, 30th July – Sunday, 31st July: Round 3
• Saturday,13th August – Sunday 14th August: World Finals

About Dream Team

eFootball Championship 2022 will be based within the game mode ‘Dream Team’. This is a brand-new game mode where users can build their own original team by signing players and managers by making use of in-game items (e.g. GP acquired by playing in different in-game matches and events) and taking on players from around the world.

Users can develop their players and match them to suit their own unique playing styles whilst also signing others to further strengthen their squad.

Through ‘Dream Team’, eFootball 2022 users can create a team that reflects their very own unique footballing ideologies.

At the heart of eFootball is eFootball World, where players can enjoy matches with real-life teams

Offline Matches

• Play against the AI or a friend offline with nine fully authentic clubs to choose from: FC Barcelona, FC Bayern München, Juventus, Manchester United, Arsenal FC, SC Corinthians Paulista, CR Flamengo, CA River Plate, São Paulo FC
• Choose from six stadiums: Camp Nou, Old Trafford, Allianz Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Allianz Arena, eFootball Stadium

Online Events

• Experience cross-generation matchmaking (PS5 vs. PS4, Xbox Series X|S vs. Xbox One) with weekly online events using pre-set teams, providing rewards such as GP

Konami is honored that Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., two of the greatest footballers of all time, will become global ambassadors for eFootball. In addition, Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué have been closely involved in development as official advisors for offensive and defensive gameplay, respectively.

eFootball 2022 is available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC (Win10 and Steam).