eFootball Celebrates 1 Billion Downloads with Free Legendary Players, Including Ronaldinho Gaúcho

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Konami’s eFootball 2026 update, version 5.4.0, launched on April 9, 2026, and introduced the 1 Billion Downloads campaign, which runs through April 30, 2026. Players who log in will receive rewards, including eFootball coins. Furthermore, completing matches and progressing in the campaign awards random contracts that can be used to acquire exclusive players, including legendary figures. The 1 Billion Downloads campaign features football legends such as Ronaldinho Gaucho, Angelo Peruzzi, Steven Gerrard, Francesco Totti, Cafu, Edmilson, and Dimitar Berbatov. Players can earn Chance Deals through login bonuses and completing objectives, totaling 23 chances to win one of these seven Epic cards from a 250-player pack. Throughout the campaign, players can also earn rewards through PvP battles and AI events, campaign progress, and completing time-limited objectives. New modes like European Clubs Championship, National Teams, and WORLD LEGENDS challenges offer themed competitions and tougher AI opponents. Konami has confirmed free deals, daily bonuses, and a 5,000 eFootball Points giveaway as part of the celebration, along with an extra free chance deal for a random signing of one of the seven legends—potentially even a highly valuable Selection Contract. Several new in-game events are available as part of this update:

1. Master League Sprint: Running until April 16, 2026, this special event, inspired by the popular Master League from the Pro Evolution Soccer series, allows players to step into the role of a club manager. Players manage their squad by making signings, scheduling training sessions, and selecting their squad based on players’ physical condition while aiming for the top of the table. The initial lineup includes familiar players from the original Master League, such as Castolo and Minanda. In Synergy matches, team synergy is affected by each player’s abilities and condition. Various episodes can occur during these matches, impacting the game’s outcome positively or negatively. Players can then use points earned from matches to sign new players. 2. Manga Serialization: A manga serialization titled That Time I Got Reincarnated in PES, written by Kiminori Wakasugi, will be released soon. This fantasy story revolves around Master League characters like Castolo and Minanda in the world of eFootball. The manga can be accessed via the in-game banner in regions where K Manga is available.

eFootball Updates Introduce Advanced Feint Command & Quality-of-Life Improvements

eFootball will also receive gameplay updates, including the addition of the advanced feint command and other quality-of-life improvements. For more details, consult the eFootball website or watch eFootball Connect.

In Case You Missed It

In our last post, we explored the intricacies of game development, but have you ever wondered about the financial landscape behind those sprawling AAA titles? Ahmed Hassan’s insightful piece, “AAA Games Have Became Too Expensive to Produce” (published March 26th), sheds light on this very topic, revealing that even at $70 a pop, games struggle to recoup their budgets which can soar above $300 million. Meanwhile, our colleague Jonathan Dubinski has just dropped a bombshell over on Players for Life with his latest article, “Nintendo Switch 2 Will Get Major Blockbuster Titles in 2026, Says NateTheHate” (published March 28, 2026). He shares some mouth-watering details about the upcoming console’s game lineup, including the return of Star Fox and a potential Ocarina of Time remake. But if you’re more into classic RPGs getting new life, Marcus Thompson’s latest piece over at Players For Life is a must-read. Published just yesterday (April 7th), his article “Pillars of Eternity Receives Long-Awaited Update Adding Turn-Based Combat” delves into the eagerly anticipated update that brings a complete turn-based mode to this 2015 gem, adding depth and tactical options. So, dive right in with these fascinating reads: AAA games’ financial landscape AAA Games Have Became Too Expensive to Produce, Nintendo Switch 2’s promising lineup Nintendo Switch 2 Will Get Major Blockbuster Titles in 2026, Says NateTheHate, and Pillars of Eternity’s significant update Pillars of Eternity Receives Long-Awaited Update Adding Turn-Based Combat.