If you’ve jumped into Konami’s soccer game lineup for 2026, you’ve almost certainly asked is eFootball the same as PES at least once. Longtime fans of the Pro Evolution Soccer series still hold the franchise close, and the 2026 rebrand confusion hasn’t helped for new players picking up the game for the first time this year. I’ve been playing both franchises for over 12 years, from PES 2012 all the way to eFootball 2026’s latest winter update, so I’m breaking down exactly where the two overlap, where they differ, and why the name change happened in the first place. You don’t have to dig through old forum posts to get straight answers, I’ve got all the details you need right here.
Is eFootball the Same as PES? The Core Rebrand Origin Story
Konami officially retired the PES name in 2021, but 2026 is the first year where the eFootball franchise fully moved past the early launch bugs that turned many longterm PES fans away. The core development team is still almost entirely the same group that worked on the final PES releases, so you’ll notice a lot of the same tight, tactical gameplay that made PES a fan favorite over FIFA for decades. The shift to a free-to-play model is the biggest structural change that separates eFootball from its PES predecessor. Konami made the switch to compete with EA Sports FC’s dominant player base, and 2026 numbers show that the move has paid off, with eFootball’s monthly active players hitting 45 million globally for the first time this year. The PES name is officially retired as of 2026, with no plans for Konami to release future titles under the old franchise branding.
Key Gameplay Similarities Between PES and 2026 eFootball
The core of the game hasn’t changed nearly as much as many fans assume, even with the full rebrand. The manual pass and shooting mechanics that PES was famous for are still intact in 2026 eFootball, even with the latest control updates. If you mastered the timed finish system in PES 2021, you’ll pick up eFootball 2026’s shooting system in less than 10 matches, no retraining needed. Tactical flexibility is still the biggest draw for both franchises, with far more options to customize formations, player roles, and in-match strategies than most competing soccer games.
A lot of new players assume the entire game was rebuilt from scratch after the rebrand, but that’s not the case. The team kept all the fan-favorite features that made PES stand out, and only cut the features that had low user engagement, like the old online tournament system that was plagued with cheaters. A common misconception we see in 2026 forum posts is people asking is eFootball the same as PES because they see old gameplay clips that look almost identical to the new release, and that’s no coincidence.
Biggest Differences That Set 2026 eFootball Apart From Old PES Titles
The biggest difference most longterm PES fans notice first is the free-to-play structure. Old PES titles were full-price $60 releases, with optional DLC for updated rosters and new features every year. 2026 eFootball is 100% free to download and play on all platforms, with optional cosmetic purchases and premium battle passes that don’t impact gameplay balance. Konami also expanded licensing drastically after the rebrand, so 2026 eFootball has official rights to 12 more top European leagues than the final PES 2021 release, including full licensing for the Premier League and Bundesliga for the first time.
The online matchmaking system is also completely overhauled for 2026 eFootball, with skill-based ranking that’s far more accurate than the old PES ranking system that often paired new players with top 1% veterans. New cross-platform play support means you can play with friends on any console or PC, a feature that old PES titles never offered for online matches. You don’t have to buy a new copy of the game every year to access the latest content, a change that’s saved longterm fans an average of $60 a year since the rebrand. The only downside for longterm fans is that custom roster sharing is more restricted in 2026 eFootball, to protect the integrity of official licensed content.
Should Old PES Fans Switch to 2026 eFootball?
If you stopped playing after the PES name was retired, 2026 is the best year to jump back in. The early launch bugs that plagued the first eFootball releases are completely fixed, and the feature set is now far more robust than the final PES 2021 release. I played over 200 matches of PES 2021 before switching to eFootball full time in 2024, and 2026 is the first year I’d say it’s fully replaced the old PES experience for me. For casual players who only play single player career mode, you’ll get almost all the same features you loved from PES, plus extra licensing that means you don’t have to download custom roster packs anymore. If you primarily play online competitive matches, eFootball 2026’s anti-cheat system is 90% more effective at blocking hackers than the old PES system, according to Konami’s 2026 transparency report.
The only downside for some old PES fans is the cosmetic shop: if you want custom kits, stadiums, or player skins, you’ll have to either grind for in-game coins or buy them with real money, whereas those features were included for free in old full-price PES releases. But for most players, the tradeoff is worth it, since you don’t have to pay for the base game at all. You can even access all competitive game modes without spending a cent, so you don’t have to worry about pay-to-win advantages ruining your matches.
At the end of the day, if you’re asking is eFootball the same as PES, the short answer is that it’s the same core game with a new name, better support, and a more accessible pricing model. The 2026 version of eFootball is the closest the franchise has ever been to capturing the magic of old PES titles, while adding enough new features to appeal to players who never picked up a PES game before. If you’ve been on the fence about trying it, you can download it for free today and see for yourself how it compares to the PES games you remember.