If you’ve stumbled across old gameplay clips of Konami’s rebranded football franchise and wondered is eFootball 2022 out, you’re not alone. Many football game fans still search for this specific iteration after the franchise shifted from the well-known Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) branding to the free-to-play eFootball model in the early 2020s. I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing every eFootball release since the rebrand, so I’m breaking down exactly what you need to know about eFootball 2022’s release status, how to access it if you want to play, and whether it’s a better pick than newer eFootball versions right now.
Is eFootball 2022 Out? Official Release Timeline Explained
Yes, eFootball 2022 fully launched to the public years ago, though its rollout was far from smooth. eFootball 2022 first launched as a free-to-play title across all major platforms on September 30, 2021, timed to align with the start of the 2021/2022 global football season. Konami marketed it as a complete reimagining of the PES franchise, built on a brand new Unreal Engine to deliver more realistic graphics and gameplay than ever before.
The initial launch build was widely panned by players and critics alike, with complaints ranging from broken character animations and unresponsive controls to missing core modes that had been standard in PES games for over a decade. It became one of the lowest-rated games in Steam history at the time, prompting Konami to issue a public apology and delay nearly all planned post-launch content to focus on fixing core bugs.
The game didn’t reach a fully playable state for most users until the 1.0 patch dropped in April 2022, which overhauled the passing, tackling, and movement systems and added most of the missing features promised at launch. For many fans, this April 2022 patch is the “real” release of eFootball 2022, as the initial launch build was effectively a public beta. Konami continued to release small patches and balance updates for the game until the end of the 2022 football season, when it shifted focus to the next eFootball iteration.
Which Platforms Can You Play eFootball 2022 On?
eFootball 2022 was Konami’s first cross-generation football release, launching for both old and new hardware at the same time to reach as many players as possible. eFootball 2022 is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (via Steam), and mobile devices (iOS and Android). It was also the first entry in the franchise to support full cross-platform play, though this feature was not added until the 1.0 patch in 2022.
Many new players struggle to find eFootball 2022 on digital storefronts now, because Konami rebranded the base eFootball app to drop the year suffix after 2022. Instead of releasing new standalone games each year, the studio now releases free season updates for the core eFootball app. If you specifically want to play the 2022 iteration, there are a few key rules to keep in mind:
- You won’t find it listed as “eFootball 2022” on most official storefronts now, but users who downloaded the game before the 2023 season update can still access the 2022 build via their game library or legacy build settings
- All save data from eFootball 2022 carries over to newer season updates, so you won’t lose your custom teams, player progress, or in-game currency if you choose to upgrade to the latest version later
- Mobile versions require at least 4GB of RAM on Android and iOS 13 or later to run smoothly, with no official support for older devices
- PC users on Steam need at least an Intel Core i5-6600K or equivalent processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GTX 1060 graphics card to run the game at 1080p 60fps on medium settings
If you don’t already have the 2022 build installed on your device, you may have trouble finding an official copy now. Avoid sketchy third-party download sites, as these often host modified versions of the game with malware or account-stealing code.
Is eFootball 2022 Still Worth Playing Over Newer eFootball Releases?
This is the most common question I get from fans who are considering going back to the 2022 build, and the answer depends entirely on what you want from a football game. There are a few clear advantages to playing eFootball 2022 over newer iterations, especially for players who prefer a more realistic simulation experience. eFootball 2022’s post-patch gameplay has a more realistic, slower pace that rewards tactical play over fast, arcade-style runs, which makes it a favorite for long-time PES fans who hated the shift to a more casual meta in later releases.
The 2022 build also has far less pay-to-win pressure than newer eFootball versions. The best players in the 2022 meta are all unlockable for free through regular gameplay, and paid special player cards have only minor stat boosts instead of the game-changing advantages you see in more recent updates. I regularly play casual matches with a group of friends who still stick to the 2022 build for this exact reason—we don’t want to have to spend money to compete on a level playing field.
That said, there are some big downsides to playing eFootball 2022 now. The roster is permanently stuck at the 2021/2022 season, so you won’t find new transfers, rising young stars, or updated team kits from later seasons. The player pool for online matches is also much smaller than it is for newer versions, so you can expect longer wait times for matchmaking, especially during off-peak hours. You also won’t get access to any new game modes or limited-time events that Konami runs for the current eFootball build.
Common Issues Players Face When Accessing eFootball 2022 Now
If you decide you want to play eFootball 2022 in 2024, there are a few common pitfalls you should watch out for to avoid wasting time or putting your device at risk. The first and most important warning is to avoid unoffical download sources. Downloading unoffical APKs or pirated copies of eFootball 2022 puts your device and personal data at risk of malware or account bans, as Konami actively cracks down on modified versions of the game that bypass in-game purchases.
Another common issue is lost save data for players who are re-installing the game after a long break. If you played eFootball 2022 on mobile and deleted the app, you’ll only be able to recover your save data if you linked your account to a Konami ID when you played. Local save files are not supported, so you’ll have to start from scratch if you didn’t link your account.
You should also be aware that the game is no longer supported by Konami. Konami no longer releases bug fixes or security updates for eFootball 2022, so any remaining glitches won’t be patched in the future. There are a few known bugs with the online matchmaking system and some rare player model glitches that will never be fixed, so you’ll have to tolerate those if you choose to play.
If you spend money on in-game items for eFootball 2022, keep in mind that most paid cosmetic items like team kits and player skins won’t carry over to newer versions of the game. Only your in-game currency and player card collection will transfer, so don’t spend money on cosmetic items if you think you might upgrade to the latest eFootball build later.
By now you should have a clear answer to whether is eFootball 2022 out and what to expect if you decide to play it. It was a landmark release for Konami’s football franchise, even with its rocky launch, and it still has a small, dedicated fanbase years later. If you’re curious to try it, stick to official copies from trusted storefronts, and don’t be surprised if you prefer its more grounded gameplay over newer, more polished eFootball entries. If you try it and don’t like it, you can always upgrade to the latest version for free without losing any of your progress.