If you’ve just grabbed a free copy of eFootball 2022 for your PlayStation console, the first question you probably typed into your search bar is does eFootball 2022 require PS Plus to play. I’ve been there too: I downloaded the game on a lazy Saturday last month, ready to jump into a quick match with a friend across the country, only to hit a pop-up asking about online access subscriptions. This guide breaks down exactly what you can play without PS Plus, what features are locked behind the paywall, and workarounds that don’t involve shelling out for a monthly subscription you might not use for anything else.
Does eFootball 2022 Require PS Plus for All Game Modes?
The short answer to this question is no, you don’t need a subscription to access large parts of the game. Single-player offline modes are 100% accessible without a PS Plus subscription, and that includes training drills, exhibition matches against AI opponents, the full Dream Team single-player campaign, and all offline tournament modes you can set up for friends playing locally on the same console. I tested this myself when my PS Plus subscription lapsed for two weeks earlier this year, and I could still grind Dream Team challenges to earn coins, customize my squad, and play full 90-minute matches against top-tier AI with no restrictions at all.
Things change when you want to play against other real people online. Any mode that connects to Konami’s online servers for player vs player matches requires an active PS Plus subscription, and that covers ranked competitive matches, casual online friendlies, co-op Dream Team play with friends on other consoles, and limited-time online event modes that offer rare player cards as rewards. Unlike some other free-to-play PlayStation games that don’t lock online PvP behind PS Plus, eFootball 2022 falls under the list of titles that require the subscription for all cross-user online play.
Key Exceptions to the eFootball 2022 PS Plus Requirement
Even if you don’t pay for your own PS Plus subscription, you might still be able to access most online features, plus a handful of other online adjacent tools, no extra cost required. A lot of players miss these exceptions, and end up paying for a subscription they don’t actually need for months at a time.
- Primary console game share access with a household member who has an active PS Plus subscription, so everyone on the same console gets online access for the price of one plan
- Limited-time Konami-hosted free online play events that run 2-4 times per year, usually aligned with big real-world football events like league finals or international tournaments
- Full access to leaderboard browsing, in-game news updates, and official squad update downloads to keep your game rosters accurate to real life
- Cross-save sync between your PlayStation, PC, and mobile eFootball accounts, so you can pick up your Dream Team progress on any device no matter your subscription status
You can access all in-game store features and game updates without PS Plus too, so you can buy new player packs, claim free daily login rewards, and purchase cosmetic customizations for your team even if your subscription is expired. I used the game share exception for six months last year when my roommate had a PS Plus premium plan, and I could play every online eFootball 2022 mode without paying a cent, no glitches or restrictions to speak of.
Is Paying for PS Plus Worth It for eFootball 2022 Players?
This all depends entirely on how you prefer to play the game. If you only log on 1-2 times a week, and most of your play time is spent grinding single-player Dream Team challenges or playing local matches with friends who come over to your place, then PS Plus is a total waste of money for you. You get access to 90% of what the game has to offer without paying a cent for a subscription.
If you play online 3+ times a week, join weekly competitive tournaments, or regularly play with friends who live in other cities, then it’s probably worth the cost. PS Plus subscriptions also come with free monthly games and exclusive discounts on in-game eFootball 2022 purchases, so you might end up saving money on coins or limited-edition player packs if you buy them regularly. You don’t need to pay for the higher Extra or Premium PS Plus tiers either, the basic Essential tier is more than enough to access all eFootball 2022 online features. The biggest mistake I see new players make is splurging on the premium tier just for eFootball, and that’s totally unnecessary if you don’t care about the extra free games in the higher tiers.
Troubleshooting eFootball 2022 PS Plus Access Issues
Even if you have an active PS Plus subscription, you might run into random error messages saying you don’t have access to online modes. These issues are super common, and most of them have super simple fixes that don’t require you to contact support or pay for a new subscription.
First, double check that your subscription is actually active. Sometimes auto-renew fails if your payment method expires, and PlayStation doesn’t always send a clear notification that your plan lapsed. If you’re using game share access, make sure your console is set as the primary device for the account that has the active PS Plus subscription. Always restart your console and check for eFootball 2022 game updates if you get a PS Plus error prompt, I’ve had this happen three times in the last year, and 9 times out of 10, a quick restart fixes the problem immediately. If the error still pops up after that, check Konami’s official server status page, sometimes the online servers are down for scheduled maintenance, and that throws up the same error message as a lapsed PS Plus subscription, so you don’t want to waste time re-subscribing if the problem is on their end.
At the end of the day, the answer to does eFootball 2022 require PS Plus depends entirely on what you want to get out of the game. You don't have to pay a cent if you're happy playing offline, but you will need a subscription if you want to compete against other real players online. Take a minute to think about how you play most often before you sign up for anything, and don't forget to check for free access events or game share options to save money if you only play online occasionally.