If you’re a football game fan looking for a new title to dive into without draining your wallet, you’ve probably asked, is eFootball 2022 free at some point during your search. Konami’s reboot of the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise was marketed heavily as a free-to-play alternative to premium football sims, but there’s a lot of confusion around what you actually get without spending money, and what hidden costs might pop up as you play. I’ve spent over 100 hours playing both the free and paid tiers of the game across console and mobile, so I’m breaking down exactly what you can expect for $0, and whether paying extra is worth it for your play style.
Is eFootball 2022 Free for All Platforms?
Let’s get the core question out of the way first: yes, the base version of eFootball 2022 is 100% free to download and play on every supported platform, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and mobile devices. You don’t need a paid subscription to any Konami service to download the base game, though you will need an active internet connection to access most online modes, even if you’re playing solo. That means you can grab the game right now without entering any payment details, and start playing within minutes if you have a solid internet connection.
There is one small exception to this rule, though. If you purchased a physical or digital copy of the premium eFootball 2022 Premium Player Pack at launch, you paid for extra content, but that’s entirely optional. The core game is still available for free for every user, even if they never spend a cent. I’ve tested the free version on both PS5 and Android mobile, and the core gameplay is identical across both free and paid tiers, so you don’t have to worry about getting a worse gameplay experience if you stick to the free option.
One thing to note for console players: if you want to play online multiplayer matches against other users, you will need an active PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription, depending on your console. That’s a platform requirement, not a cost tied to eFootball 2022 itself, so it applies to all online games on those systems.
Free Content You Can Access Without Spending a Cent
Many players assume free-to-play games lock almost all good content behind paywalls, but eFootball 2022 actually offers a surprising amount of content for free users, especially if you mostly play casual matches rather than competitive ranked modes. I’ve been able to sink dozens of hours into the free version without ever feeling like I’m missing out on core features, though there are clear limits of course.
Here’s a full breakdown of what you get for $0 when you download eFootball 2022:
- Full core gameplay: All on-field mechanics, player physics, and stadium details are identical for free and paid users, so you get the same smooth football experience as anyone who paid for extra content.
- Offline friendly matches: You can play unlimited offline matches against AI, using a selection of 9 licensed clubs including FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, as well as national teams like Brazil, France, and England.
- Online casual matches: You can play unranked online matches against other free or paid users, using the same pre-selected licensed teams available in offline mode.
- Limited Dream Team access: You can build your own custom Dream Team for free, earning in-game coins by completing daily and weekly challenges to unlock new players, managers, and training items without spending real money.
- Regular free content updates: Konami releases free roster updates, minor gameplay patches, and limited-time event modes for all users, including free players, throughout the game’s lifecycle.
That said, there are clear limits to the free tier. For example, you can’t access the full roster of over 200 licensed clubs in offline mode, and you won’t get access to ranked competitive Dream Team matches unless you either earn enough in-game currency to unlock them or pay for a premium pass. But if you just want to play casual matches with your favorite top-tier clubs, the free version will more than cover your needs.
Hidden Paid Costs You Should Watch For
While the base game is free, Konami does have multiple paid tiers and microtransactions built into eFootball 2022 that you might be tempted to buy as you play, especially if you get invested in the Dream Team mode. None of these are required to enjoy the game, but it’s important to know what they are so you don’t get caught off guard by unexpected costs.
The most common paid purchase for eFootball 2022 players is the eFootball 2022 Premium Player Pack, which cost $29.99 at launch. This pack unlocks the full roster of licensed clubs and national teams for offline and casual online play, gives you a set of high-rated player cards for your Dream Team, and unlocks ranked competitive modes for all game types. It’s a one-time purchase, not a subscription, so you get all that content permanently once you buy it.
There are also recurring microtransactions in the form of eFootball Coins, which you can buy with real money to speed up progress in Dream Team mode. You can use these coins to open player packs, purchase premium training items, or unlock limited-time event players that are hard to earn with free in-game currency. I’ve never bought coins myself, and I’ve still been able to build a competitive Dream Team by grinding weekly challenges, but it does take a lot more time than if you pay for coins.
Another paid option is the seasonal Dream Team Pass, which costs $9.99 per season and gives you access to exclusive player rewards, bonus in-game currency, and extra challenges for the duration of the season. Again, this is entirely optional, but it’s a popular purchase for players who play Dream Team competitively and want to progress faster.
The biggest mistake new free players make is accidentally purchasing coins or premium content when they’re navigating the in-game menu, as the prompts for paid content are pretty prominent. Make sure you double check any pop-ups before you click confirm, so you don’t end up with an unexpected charge on your account.
Should You Pay for Extra eFootball 2022 Content?
Whether paying for extra content is worth it depends entirely on how you play the game, and what you want to get out of it. For most casual players who only play a few matches a week with friends or against AI, the free version is more than enough, and you won’t get much value from spending extra money.
If you’re someone who plays eFootball 2022 regularly, and you’re interested in building a competitive Dream Team to play in ranked online matches, the premium pack or seasonal pass might be a good investment for you. The full club roster unlock alone is worth the price for players who want to play as smaller licensed clubs that aren’t included in the free tier’s 9-team selection, like your local lower-league team or a niche European club that doesn’t make the top tier cut.
That said, I don’t recommend buying eFootball Coins directly, even if you play competitively. The drop rates for high-rated players in paid packs are extremely low, so you could easily spend $50 or more and not get a single player that improves your team. You’re much better off either grinding challenges for free coins, or buying the one-time premium pack if you want to spend money, as that gives you guaranteed value for your cash.
Before you spend any money, try playing the free version for at least 10 hours to get a feel for the gameplay and see what content you actually use. If you find yourself wishing you had access to more teams or faster progression in Dream Team, then you can consider paying for extra content. But if you’re happy playing casual matches with the included top-tier clubs, you can stick to the free version indefinitely without missing out on the core fun of the game.
At the end of the day, the answer to is eFootball 2022 free is a resounding yes for anyone who wants to play casual football matches without spending money. The free tier offers more than enough content for most players, and the paid extras are entirely optional for people who want deeper customization or competitive access. Just make sure you pay attention to the in-game purchase prompts to avoid accidental charges, and take time to test the free version before you decide to spend any extra cash on the game. It’s a solid football sim that works great for both casual and competitive players, no matter how much you choose to spend.