If you’re a casual or competitive football gaming fan who’s spent time scrolling through console, PC or mobile game stores looking for Konami’s popular free-to-play football title, you’ve probably typed “is eFootball 2023 out” into a search bar at least once. The messy launch of eFootball 2022 left a lot of players frustrated, with widespread complaints about broken gameplay, glitchy character models, and missing features that had been standard in previous Pro Evolution Soccer titles. Most fans held out hope that eFootball 2023 would fix these issues, and many were unsure if the game ever actually launched as a fully functional product. I’ve been playing eFootball across all platforms since the 2022 beta, so I’ve put together this complete guide to answer all your questions about eFootball 2023’s release status, content, and whether it’s still worth playing today.
Is eFootball 2023 Out? Official Release Date and Platform Availability
The short answer is yes, eFootball 2023 officially launched globally on September 1, 2022, for all supported platforms. Unlike traditional yearly sports game releases that require you to purchase a new copy every 12 months, eFootball 2023 was rolled out as a free, automatic update for anyone who already had eFootball 2022 installed on their device. New players could also download it for free directly from their platform’s store with no upfront cost. eFootball 2023 was released as a free update for existing eFootball 2022 players, so you didn’t have to re-download the entire game if you already had the 2022 version installed. It is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC via Steam, iOS, and Android, with full cross-play support across all console and PC platforms. Mobile cross-play was added two months after launch, following community requests for the feature.
Key Changes and Fixes Introduced With eFootball 2023
One of the biggest reasons so many players were asking about eFootball 2023’s release status was because they wanted to know if Konami had fixed the litany of bugs that made eFootball 2022 almost unplayable for most users. The development team spent nearly a year working on feedback from the community, and the 2023 update brought hundreds of small and large changes to improve the gameplay experience. Some of the most notable fixes and additions include:
- Overhauled player motion capture to fix the infamous “gliding” bug that made defenders look like they were floating across the pitch instead of running
- Rewritten passing logic that accounts for player positioning, weather conditions, and player stamina to make build-up play feel far more intentional and realistic
- Expanded Dream Team mode with new player customization options, weekly limited-time tournaments, and cross-platform matchmaking for competitive ranked play
- Improved mobile touch controls with customizable button layouts, reduced input lag, and performance optimizations for mid-range and low-end Android devices
I tested the first build of eFootball 2023 the day it launched, and the difference from 2022 was night and day. Passing felt responsive, player movements looked natural, and I didn’t encounter a single game-breaking bug in my first 10 hours of play. One of the most requested fixes from the community was dedicated servers for ranked matches, which Konami rolled out two months after eFootball 2023’s initial launch, drastically reducing lag in competitive games.
Common Questions About eFootball 2023 Access and Content
Even after the game launched, there was a lot of misinformation floating around about what content was included and who could access it. A lot of players assumed eFootball 2023 was a paid DLC or standalone title, so they held off on downloading it because they didn’t want to spend money. That’s not the case at all, as the entire core game is 100% free to play for all users. You don’t need to make any in-game purchases to access the core 11v11 match mode, so casual players can enjoy the full gameplay experience without spending a dime. Some other common questions we’ve seen include whether the game works offline, and if it supports older legacy platforms. You can play offline friendly matches against AI without an internet connection, but all online modes including Dream Team and ranked play require a stable internet connection. Legacy platforms like the PS3, Xbox 360, and older 32-bit mobile devices are not supported, as the game’s engine requires more processing power than those devices can offer. Konami also released regular content drops throughout the eFootball 2023 lifecycle, including new licensed leagues, national team kits, and special edition player cards for events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Is eFootball 2023 Still Worth Playing Today?
Since eFootball is a live service game, Konami replaced the eFootball 2023 client with the eFootball 2024 update in September 2023, so you won’t find the 2023 version listed on official platform stores by default. That said, there are still plenty of reasons you might want to play the 2023 build instead of the latest version, depending on your device and playstyle. If you have a low-end PC or older mobile device that can’t run the latest eFootball 2024 update, eFootball 2023 is still a perfectly viable option for casual offline play. The 2023 build is also far less buggy than the early 2024 builds, which had a whole new set of performance issues when they first launched. But if you’re a competitive player who wants to participate in official tournaments or play ranked matches against other players online, the 2023 build won’t work for you. All official online servers for 2023 ranked play have been shut down, and all new content updates are only being released for the 2024 version. For competitive players, you’re better off upgrading to the latest eFootball version, as all official tournaments and ranked lobbies are now only available on the 2024 client. I still boot up my 2023 build every few weeks to play with the special World Cup player cards I collected during the 2022 event, and it still holds up as a fun, casual football game for local multiplayer sessions with friends.
If you were still wondering is eFootball 2023 out, the short answer is yes, it launched globally back in 2022 as a free update for all existing eFootball players, and it’s still accessible for players who prefer the older build or can’t run the latest version of the game. If you’re looking to download it today, you can find archived versions for PC on trusted gaming forums, and sideloadable APKs for Android from reputable third-party app stores, just make sure you avoid untrusted sites to steer clear of malware. Whether you’re playing it for the nostalgic event content or because it’s the only version that runs on your device, eFootball 2023 is a solid improvement over its predecessor and a fun football game for casual players. If you want to play online with other players though, you’re better off downloading the latest eFootball update to access all active features and content.