Version 5.0.0 of eFootball Arrives Today with Over 80 Gameplay Adjustments
Get ready for an unparalleled football experience with eFootball 5.0.0, launching August 14th! Featuring customizable stadiums, a new Link-up Play system, and the arrival of José Mourinho - plus exclusive content from Messi and Lamine Yamal!
Jonathan Dubinski · 3 min read
Custom Stadiums Debut in eFootball Version 5.0.0, Introducing Linkup Play and Special Coaches
Konami has announced details for eFootball version 5.0.0, launching on August 14th, which brings over 80 gameplay adjustments designed to address community feedback and introduces the highly anticipated Custom Stadium mode. Players can now customize their stadiums with personal color schemes, fan routines, unique decorations, special visual elements, and more. The new Linkup Play system introduces a significant mechanic: specific players, under certain coaches, can execute special combinations or enhance their skills. To inaugurate this feature, Jose Mourinho joins as a coach, bringing his "Diagonal Long Pass A" special ability. Players such as Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto'o can activate this special play when conditions are right. The update also features Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal as ambassadors. They will offer exclusive content, including the players themselves, stadium customization items, and premium DLC. New players receive a free Lionel Messi by completing the tutorial.
Enhanced Control and Realism in eFootball Version 5.0.0 Gameplay Updates
Version 5.0.0 brings over 80 gameplay adjustments aimed at enhancing realism and control: Player Control: Enhanced dribbling techniques improve player control, making it easier to evade defenders. Acceleration: Players accelerate quickly from slow speeds and gradually increase speed when already moving fast. Balance: Improved balance enables smoother dribbling. Finishing and Headers: Shots remain on target more often, and headers feel more realistic. Weak Foot: Players with a strong weak foot execute more effective shots. Defense System: A revamped defense system enables defenders to perform smoother tackles with improved control. Pressure: With high defensive awareness, defenders track opponents more efficiently. Natural Reactions: The update eliminates jerky movements and sudden stops after losing the ball, leading to more natural reactions. Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers move faster for quicker saves and no longer stop completely during play. Counterplay: Goalkeepers can no longer hold the ball to waste time, leading to more controlled counterplay. AI Intelligence: Improved AI facilitates smarter player switching during crosses. Tactical Positioning: Players position themselves better based on their aggressiveness and defensive engagement. Fair Play: The game balances AI levels for a more even competitive experience.
In Case You Missed It
For all you football fans out there, make sure to check out "Rematch: The Football Game by Sifu's Creators is Coming This Summer, New Trailer!" by Sophie Laurent (April 10, 2025). Dive into the world of Rematch, an arcade-style football game set to release this June. Developed by Sloclap, the team behind Sifu, this unique title offers a fresh take on competitive gaming with its third-person perspective and no-foul gameplay mechanics. Don’t miss out—head over to Rematch: The Football Game by Sifu's Creators is Coming This Summer, New Trailer! to learn more! If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber looking for some exciting new additions to your gaming library this month, be sure to check out Jonathan Dubinski’s latest post “PS Plus: Plenty of Free Content for Subscribers in July 2025” (published on July 12, 2025). The article highlights the array of exclusive packs and gifts available across a variety of popular titles like Naraka Bladepoint, Rainbow Six Siege, and Bleach Brave Souls. With deadlines ranging from immediate to October 2025, there’s plenty to claim before it’s too late—don’t miss out! PS Plus: Plenty of Free Content for Subscribers in July 2025. For all the esports enthusiasts and football fans out there, be sure to dive into Sophie Laurent's latest piece on how eFootball has been chosen as one of the official games for the FIFAe World Cup in 2025. The article, published on July 22nd, details the exciting partnership between Konami Digital Entertainment and FIFA, promising increased global participation through a robust qualification process. With more nations competing than ever before, this event is set to be a highlight of the esports calendar. Head over to FIFA | eFootball Chosen as One of the Official Games for FIFAe World Cup 2025 to learn more about this groundbreaking development in the world of football esports.
// The Friday recap
Enjoyed this article? You will like the Friday recap.
Game info
- Official Name
- eFootball
- Brief Summary
- Players will be able to control the strength of kicking the ball as well as determining dribbling speed; from a knock-on all the way to a full dash, just as in real football. In addition, on PlayStation5, eFootball will make use of the controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to feel the difference of player movements. With greater freedom to control how the player will trap the ball, each play becomes a mind game. A wide array of dribbles and body feints are also available with intuitive commands. In combination, these ensure that every single duel offers an exciting moment for both attacker and defender. Players can block their opponent's shot by throwing their body or by reading the kick and cutting the pass. Naturally, stealing the ball close to the opponent’s goal creates an excellent scoring opportunity. eFootball recreates the "physical defence", which is so important in real-life football, with a charging command when defending. In addition, the offensive team can also use their bodies to keep the ball in play, making both offensive and defensive play more dynamic. An option to charge a “sharp kick”, complete with new animations, will make the game even more technical and exciting. Players will be able to perform special kicks, such as sharp crosses, fast lofted passes and rising shots. These new actions take more time to execute, so players will need to choose the right opportunities during a match. The eFootball development team has analyzed real-life football tactics to create a new set of "1vs1" win/lose rules. With Motion Matching technology, the game evaluates the ball, movement speed, body direction, physical ability and more in real-time to affect the movement of every player. These win/lose rules work in tandem with player movement to make the game more convincing, including foul decisions, which have been reworked. Team playstyles are a vital part of football, so the AI controlling the off-the-ball players has been revamped. Combining this with the new attacking and defending controls, players will have much greater freedom to play the way they want. The new “Duel” camera zooms in when the player is in a 1vs1 situation, allowing the player to enjoy the 1vs1 scene from a closer distance. When the player is in a free situation, the field of view expands, allowing the player to send a long pass at the right moment. The new Motion Matching animation system creates much more natural and fluid player movements. In addition, ball movement has seen further enhancements due to a partnership with a research institute. Finally, the action never stops during a match, due to the Seamless Restart system. eFootball is a football simulation game developed and published by Konami. Released in September 2021, it marks a significant shift in the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series. Konami rebranded the franchise to eFootball and transitioned to a free-to-play model and a new engine, Unreal Engine.
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
- Released
- September 30, 2021
- Genre
- Simulator, Sport
- Play Modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Content Rating
- E
- Languages
- Chinese (Simplified), English, Japanese, Korean
- Developer
- Konami
- Publisher
- Konami
- Ratings
- 50/100 (20 reviews)
