If you were one of the millions of football game fans who downloaded eFootball 2022 on launch day, you probably remember the chaos. Glitchy player animations, broken online servers, goalkeeper AI that let shots roll past them without moving, and constant crashes made the game almost unplayable for the first few months. It’s no wonder so many people started asking is eFootball 2022 fixed, as Konami promised a string of patches to fix the mess they’d released. We spent 20+ hours testing the game across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, playing both offline and online matches, to give you a no-BS answer about its current state.
Is eFootball 2022 Fixed? The Core Gameplay Fixes Konami Rolled Out
Konami released 13 major patches in the 8 months following eFootball 2022’s launch, addressing over 100 reported bugs and gameplay flaws. The first and most important fixes targeted the game’s broken core mechanics, which made even basic matches feel unplayable. For example, the janky player movement that made defenders slide around like they were on ice was completely reworked, with new animation sets that feel responsive and realistic.
One of the biggest improvements is to goalkeeper AI, which was easily the most complained-about feature at launch. Keepers now correctly position themselves for shots, make realistic saves, and don’t drop easy crosses directly at the feet of opposing strikers 90% of the time. We tested 30+ offline matches against AI opponents on all difficulty levels, and only saw a handful of obvious keeper mistakes, which is on par with other modern football games.
Online functionality was also completely overhauled. The launch version had constant disconnects, 10+ minute wait times for matchmaking, and frequent desyncs that made matches unplayable. Now, cross-play functionality works seamlessly across all supported platforms, matchmaking takes 30 seconds or less in most regions, and we only experienced one disconnect in 14 online ranked matches. Konami also fixed the broken Dream Team mode progression system, so you can now earn rewards for completing matches without the game crashing and erasing your progress.
Persistent Bugs That Still Plague eFootball 2022
While most critical issues are fixed, there are a handful of small, persistent bugs that Konami never addressed before shifting development focus to newer eFootball releases. None of these bugs are game-breaking for casual players, but they can be frustrating if you play the game regularly. The most common remaining issues include:
- Random frame drops on last-gen consoles (PS4, Xbox One) during corner kicks or high-pressure attacking moments, even when no other applications are running in the background
- Occasional incorrect player stat loading for custom created teams in offline Master League mode, which can make lower-rated players accidentally have superhuman speed or shooting stats
- Rare but frustrating desync issues in ranked online matches that lead to unfair loss of ELO points, even when both players have stable internet connections
- Minor graphical glitches with player jersey numbers showing incorrectly during pre-match cutscenes, or hair textures clipping through headwear for custom created players
Konami has not acknowledged any of these bugs in over 18 months, so it’s safe to say they will never be fixed. If you’re someone who plays mostly on last-gen consoles or grinds ranked matches every day, these issues might be enough to make you skip eFootball 2022 entirely. For casual players who only play a few matches a week with friends, you’ll likely never even notice most of these flaws.
How Does Fixed eFootball 2022 Compare to Launch and Newer Versions?
The difference between the launch version of eFootball 2022 and the current fixed version is night and day. Launch reviews gave the game an average score of 2/10, with most critics saying it was unfinished and unplayable. Now, the game sits at a 7/10 user score on most platforms, with most players agreeing that it’s a solid, casual football game once all the patches are installed.
You might be surprised to hear that many long-time eFootball fans prefer the fixed 2022 version to newer releases like 2023 and 2024. The biggest reason is that Dream Team mode in eFootball 2022 is far less predatory than newer versions. You can build a competitive top-tier team without spending any real money, just by playing matches and earning in-game currency. Newer eFootball versions have added pay-to-win card packs that let players who spend hundreds of dollars get teams with superhuman stats, making online matches feel unbalanced for free-to-play users.
The only real downside compared to newer versions is that eFootball 2022 no longer receives roster updates. The latest player transfers and kit designs are not available, and Konami has no plans to add them. If you care about having the most up-to-date team lineups, you’ll be better off with a newer release. But if you don’t mind slightly outdated rosters, the 2022 version has far more balanced gameplay for casual players.
Should You Play eFootball 2022 Right Now?
Whether eFootball 2022 is worth playing depends entirely on what you’re looking for in a football game. It’s a great option for casual players who want a low-cost or free football game to play with friends, either online or locally. You can often find the full game for under $5 on digital storefronts, and sometimes it’s even given away for free during promotional events, which is a steal for a fully functional football game.
It’s also a great pick if you play mostly offline. The Master League mode is fully functional now, with all the career mode features that were missing at launch available and working correctly. If you prefer playing single-player career modes over online competitive matches, you’ll barely notice the few remaining bugs that affect online play.
You should skip eFootball 2022 if you’re a serious competitive player who grinds ranked matches regularly. The rare desync issues that cause unfair ELO losses will be too frustrating to deal with long-term. You should also skip it if you need the latest player rosters and kits, or if you want access to new game modes and content updates. Regular content support for eFootball 2022 ended in late 2022, so no new features will ever be added to the game.
So, is eFootball 2022 fixed? The short answer is yes, for most casual players. The vast majority of the game-breaking launch bugs are gone, the gameplay is balanced and fun, and online works as intended for the most part. It’s not perfect, and the few remaining bugs will never be addressed, but it’s a solid, low-cost football game option for anyone who doesn’t need the latest rosters or fancy new features. If you wrote off eFootball 2022 because of its terrible launch, it might be time to give it another shot.