Konami’s free-to-play soccer sim eFootball is in a shoddy state, but franchise fans had reserved some hope that the Japanese publisher would repair the damage after YouTubers got to play a better build prior to release. The firm had pledged a patch would roll out at the end of October on the PlayStation 5 and PS4, but this week it was postponed.
“We have decided to delay the release of version 0.9.1 to early November,” a statement on the series’ social media account said. “We sincerely apologise for the delay and the inconvenience caused. Our hope is that the additional time taken will allow us to ensure the experience is improved for all users. We will announce the date and details of the fixes as soon as they are confirmed.”
eFootball launched at the end of September and was immediately ridiculed for its array of bugs, including referees embedded in the turf and horrifying facial expressions. Perhaps worse still, the release is barely more than a demo at this point, with just a handful of real-life teams available to choose from and just one gameplay mode.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 48
RIP PES. At least it gave us a good laugh before it died.
I think Konami will probably make eFootball into a much better game... eventually, after loads of updates. But at this point, I'm not sure it'll ever be enough. First impressions count for so much in this industry, and this launch period has been atrocious.
Good ol Konami, not what they used to be.
I am happy to play my updated updated edition of eFootball 2021 until Konami has sorted out the new one.....as for R.I.P. PES That went out 2 years ago.
@Iver No denying it is suffering from a few niggles but it shows a lot of promise.
@ShogunRok "atrocious" strong words completely justified.
The game isn't even at V1 yet so let's not all write it off. That's the easy thing to do. They did say before it was launched that it's not the finished product. Now, I realise they were extremely naive and misguided, and have made an error of judgement thinking eFootball wouldn't get such a bad reception considering how beloved it is, but I'm not going to join in the chorus of people being cynical and sarcastic about it's terrible launch. Even in this state the core of its gameplay has more potential than FIFA and I think after a few updates the game will be where it needs to be. Saying it's dead is ridiculous. Other games have had bad launches and bounced back, whats to say this isn't one, especially seeing as its not in a finished state as indicated by Konami.
I don't care about the glitches or the mediocre graphics ...I care about the brilliant Pes gameplay they have destroyed
@StylesT right? Eyes on the prize
@Jacko11 no they didn't. They reportedly said they were launching what is essentially a demo to get it into people's hands early. Look at the version number of the game. It's not even at 1 yet. They launched it unfinished on purpose. Turns out it was a bad idea but they're not trying to pretend about anything. As for saying it deserves to die? How melodramatic is that!
eFootball:a realm reborn. eFootball: Next.
It can be done...but the developers and publisher need to actually care first.
What do you mean disastrous?
Usually soccer bores me to tears, but this one has given me some good laughs already!
Time for me to get PES2021.
A few things:
Is PES 2021 a free update to PES 2020?
If it is, can I buy PES 2021 on its own or do I need PES 2020?
@KnightRider1982 no its not free but it is at a budget price and has been on sale many times.
It is a stand-alone game.
Subscribe to PES UNIVERSE to get some really brilliant option files. Or find free ones online.
Not that like Fifa or agree with how EA do things with it but why would you get this over that? Fifa seems more like a "complete" package and actually works.
@WallyWest well to answer that, this is free so there's no need to make a choice. Get both if you want, and if you do download this you may as well wait for a few updates to finish the game off and to add modes you may prefer.
@Integrity You don't launch a game this bad and have the nerve to offer pre-orders for f**king lootboxes, i hope the game dies and loses Konami a ton of money because they deserve it. I'm not a Football fan as its a waste of time but PES was always a solid enough series and was better then Fifa in my opinion so to lose that for this mess is just Konami all over trying to chase the trends.
@WallyWest you hope the game dies? You do realise it's the work of many developers who no doubt love the game and have been working on it for years. Konami launched it early as a demo. That turned out to be a huge mistake because gamers and non-gamers alike don't like games being released unfinished for any reason, and worse they totally ignored Konami's telling them its practically a demo.
Konami have a lot of blame on their hands. They were wrong to think this was a good idea, they were totally naive that gamers wouldn't hate to see a game as loved as Pro Evo in such an unfinished state regardless that it's a demo. And they did a bad job of making all this absolutely crystal clear so that this kind of backlash is avoided.
Having said that, I can't for the life eof me think why gamers would want this game to die?! This game can be turned around. It's not finished yet so why not give it time and then judge it once it is. Why call for its death? Why wish that kind of misery on the developers who are working on this game before they've even had a chance to complete it? How entitled do you sound calling for such a thing? I'm not saying you are but when you use rhetoric like that it sounds silly. If you're not a football fan then think of those who are who don't want this to die but want to see it rise up like a phoenix. Put their feelings first because they care about it.
@Integrity Well said. The rhetoric is silly for a game that's FREE. It's not like it automatically downloads and pops up when playing other games. They've been losing since forever to FIFA and you expect them to keep rinsing and repeating the same strategy hoping to get different results...what a joke! It's time they tried a new approach obviously.
@TheArt agreed. Imagine actually saying RIP to a game that's not even finished yet and is free 🤷♂️🙄
I think that for all sports games a GaaS-type delivery makes more sense than every year having to pay full price for a brand new game that doesn't differ much from the year before. Especially when nothing carrys over. I don't understand why people play FUT and spend money knowing in a year its all useless because you're going to get FOMO from not buying the newest version of FIFA.
Sports games as a service that's updated, like Rocket League for example, is a better and more sustainable way to package those games. Now all we ask is that publishers don't take the piss with the pricing or with MTs because that will kill my interest in any game.
@Integrity The game is a game designed to get as much money from its playerbase as possible, the fact you can pre-order lootboxes is proof of that. I want it to die because it benefits gaming if it does and sends a message that doing something like this is a bad move. It may be F2P but it doesn't mean it can do what it likes. Konami only deserve success when they put in the work and not from some whale catcher trash like this.
@WallyWest but you have no idea of this yet. Why not wait and see if you're right. Its F2P so it will have MTs in place to make money
I can understand that. Let's see when it's ready how fair they are or not.
Meanwhile if you feel that way I have no idea how you can recommend FIFA over this as you have. FIFA is a FULL PRICE game with gambling mechanics and you actually recommend it 🤷♂️
“We have decided to delay the release of version 0.9.1 to early November,” a statement on the series’ social media account said. “We sincerely apologise for the delay and the inconvenience caused. Our hope is that the additional time taken will allow us to ensure the experience is improved for all users."
This statement just angers me cause it's so full of pure BS...
@Integrity Im a long time Pes fan but while FIFA trys to push you down the ultimate team route you can easily avoid it by playing seasons mode and have fun. First time buying FIFA in about 7 years and I've been enjoying it for the most part.
While PES is in its current shambolic state I can't say FIFA is actually that bad.
For a full priced game, Ultimate Team is easily avoidable and the gameplay is not too bad, barring the overuse of skillmoves.
And let's be honest.. once EFootball is patched its main priority is the Ultimate Team copy.
You can't criticise FIFA and let Konami away with releasing a F2P which is only interested in the same gambling mechanics.
oh no!.... anyways
Communication is key, I feel they should have slapped a early access banner all over it and made a statement that said that it is still in beta before launch. And also said they knew the game was unfinished but wanted to get it in the hands of everyone so we could help beta test.
People would have loved them for that, instead they pretended like it was a stripped down version and then started selling packs for a broken game you can't even use yet.
To me pes was stagnated anyway over the last few years, they hadn't made any big leap in anything it was all just a bit of polish each year. FIFA seemed to make some big improvements and I was starting to get swayed that way anyway.
I think especially for all of the people like me who don't play online at least, we will move to FIFA now for the next few years at least.
@Integrity Governments need to step in I think and just outlaw games with lootboxes or any gambling/card pack mechanics.
Especially in the USA (NBA 2k) and Europe (FIFA/pes). The studios are just going to get more and more aggressive with it each year, especially it it's free to play. I think even when they fix pes it's going to basically be a casino unless you pay for the non free version which has Master League.
.
Curious to know what Juve and the other exclusive licensed partners make of all this. It can’t be good to be associated with this mess, wonder if there are grounds for breach of contract?
@Denni5m I agree about regulations for full price games that include lootbox, gambling mechanics regardless if it can be ignored as people keep saying about FIFA as if that makes it ok.
As for F2P games, there has to be an element of MTs and other types of payments, but yes if it strays into gambling it definetly needs regulating. The gaming industry has shown it can't regulate itself.
Konami needs to know that just releasing the game for the sole purpose of your money will never work. They should have known better.
After disastrous launch... disaster patches. XD
@videoman190 isn't that why all games are released? Can't think of any that were released to not make money.
The only thing in the world they have to do is remake PES6. Just PES6 with better graphics and that's it. I've played football games since microprose soccer on PC and for me PES6 is the best yet, I don't care for 8 directional movement or any other "old" stuff it has. It's so good that it hurts.
@Integrity Come on its Konami so it doesn't take much to know exactly what this game is and what Konami are hoping it be. I don't recommend Fifa but out of the two its more the complete package, has actual licencing and works, its a scummy game but if i liked Football i would choose Fifa over this. Konami are worse then EA and other then some decent retro collection releases have yet to show they have changed.
I am not making excuses for Konami...but before the release of the Beta/Demo whatever we want to call it there was no word from the company behind the game even the official twitter site could not give the punters anything..............I have said it before on this and I will say it again it is to do with "Translation" It is obvious Konami do not want to release a shoddy mess to the eager West something has gone wrong the only thing I can think of is a Communication issue...anyway back to the cave I go.
The game is simply a disaster.
@TheArt The game was a mess a trainwreck. People are going way to easy on games that are released in a terrible state.
Yeah the game is free so what there are so many free to play games that are released in good/decent state with a way worse financial backing.
This game should have been pushed back and they know it. Just like Cyberpunk they have no problem destroying the good name of the franchise for money so this is their reward.
They didnt even start at version 1.0 they knew it was a mess. Release it early access if want the players to be your play testers.
It seems quite clear that they tried to release a mobile friendly version on the consoles and have totally failed.
Going back to PES 2021 after trying a game of efootball 2022 actually makes the older version feel like a masterpiece.
@Integrity All games should have regulations. What is this nonsense about free to play games being free of regulations.
Gambling being used in games towards kids should be illegal. If you cant make it work financially then its the problem of the developer.
@Integrity
What I meant was only for monetization. They should have focused more on the game making sure that up to standards before releasing it. This is the higher-up's idea not the developers.
@Flaming_Kaiser Dunno but I'm always imagining you with a pitchfork and torch like those guys in the beginning of Bloodborne - leading the whole pack to the gates of big corporations with so much rage... 😆😆😆
The look on that dude's face would be my reaction too if I had a distorted face like that ahahahaha 🤣
Give it less than a year till they announce they’re returning to a PES model.
@Flaming_Kaiser where did I say F2P games should be free of regulation?
@videoman190 but they released it unfinished on purpose. They released it as a demo but failed to make sure everybody understood that.
It wasn't a beta or demo though, it was an unfinished game they had no choice but to release. Once FIFA came out they were never going to make up ground from behind. They had two years and screwed up. Unlike cyberpunk they have a direct competitor, patch it all you want the players won't be back this season.
Paul Pogba is daddy cool 😎😂
As much as it pains me to say this i think Konami need to stop making games.
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