If you’ve spent any time scrolling eFootball fan groups or Reddit threads lately, you’ve almost certainly seen hundreds of people asking when is eFootball coming out. After Konami rebranded the beloved PES franchise to eFootball back in 2021, the release schedule shifted a bit from the strict yearly drops long-time fans were used to, leaving a lot of players confused about when they can expect the next big update. I’ve been covering eFootball news and testing beta builds for four years now, so I’ve sifted through all the official announcements, verified insider leaks, and community feedback to bring you the most accurate, up-to-date info without all the clickbait rumors you’ll find on random social media accounts.
When is eFootball Coming Out: Breakdown by Platform and Release Type
First, let’s clear up the biggest question first: full, stand-alone eFootball yearly releases always drop on the final Thursday of September, for all console and PC platforms. Full eFootball yearly releases always launch on a Thursday in the final week of September, a schedule Konami has stuck to for three consecutive years now. These releases include full updates to player stats, new league licenses, major gameplay overhauls, and fresh in-game event lines for the upcoming real-world football season.
Mobile versions of the full release usually land 7 to 10 days after the console and PC launch, because of extra regional app store checks and licensing adjustments for local markets. But if you’re not waiting for a full yearly drop, you’re probably looking for info on seasonal patches. These smaller, content-heavy updates come every three months, usually in the middle of January, April, and July. They add new player cards, limited-time events, small gameplay tweaks, and bug fixes, and they launch simultaneously across all platforms with no regional delays most of the time.
Beta versions for both full releases and major seasonal patches usually go live 6 to 8 weeks before the official public launch, and access is only available to users who sign up via the official Konami website, or selected long-time players who get invite codes via email. Regional delays do happen occasionally, especially for mobile users in parts of Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, where local league licensing deals take longer to finalize. If you’re in one of those regions, you can expect the mobile release to be pushed back by up to two weeks, but Konami always posts updates on regional delays on their official social media accounts.
Key Details You Should Know Before the Next eFootball Launch
Once you know the rough release window, there are a few key details that will save you a lot of frustration on launch day. First, pre-order windows for premium editions open well before the official launch announcement. Premium edition pre-orders usually open 6 weeks before the official release date, and they come with a lot of extra perks that casual players might find worth the extra cost. These perks include 3 days of early access to the full game before the public launch, exclusive legendary player cards for your MyTeam, custom stadium skins, and free access to the first three seasonal battle passes for the new release.
Pre-load for full releases opens 48 hours before launch day for all console and PC users, so you can download the entire game ahead of time and jump straight in as soon as it goes live, instead of waiting hours for a large download on launch day. That said, launch days almost always come with small bugs and server issues. Konami usually pushes a small hotfix patch 24 to 48 hours after launch to fix common issues like menu glitches, server overload errors, and incorrect player stats.
If you don’t care about playing the second it launches, waiting 2 to 3 days to download the hotfix will give you a much smoother first experience. You should also make sure you have enough storage space before the release: the full console version takes up around 55GB of space, while the mobile version takes between 10 and 15GB depending on your region.
How to Get Notified as Soon as eFootball Drops
If you want to be one of the first people to know when the next release is confirmed, there are a few reliable ways to get alerts without wading through fake clickbait posts. Sign up for official Konami eFootball newsletters first, because the company always sends release date announcements to email subscribers 24 hours before they post them on social media. Beyond the newsletter, here are the most reliable ways to get real-time alerts:
- Follow the official eFootball X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts for real-time launch announcements and surprise drop teasers for limited-time events
- Enable push notifications for the eFootball app on your mobile device if you already have an older version installed, as you’ll get a pop-up alert as soon as the new update is available for download
- Join popular eFootball community Discord servers to get beta invites and leak updates from verified insiders who have a track record of accurate, early release info
- Add the eFootball store page to your wishlist on Steam, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Store to get automatic alerts when the game goes live for pre-order or general release
You should be careful with insider leaks though. A lot of random accounts post fake release dates to get clicks, so only trust insiders who have correctly leaked 3 or more previous eFootball release dates, and always wait for official confirmation before marking your calendar. You should also never click on links promising early access or free in-game items outside of official Konami platforms, as these are almost always phishing scams designed to steal your account information.
What to Expect From the Next eFootball Release
Now that you know when to look for the next release, let’s talk about what you can expect when it drops, based on official Konami announcements and beta build leaks from verified testers. The biggest feature coming to the next release is full cross-progression across all platforms. Cross-progression will be fully supported across all platforms for the next release, so you can carry over your entire MyTeam progress, in-game currency, and unlocked items from your PS5 to your PC or mobile device, no extra steps required. That’s a huge win for players who like to switch between platforms depending on where they are.
Konami has also added two new licensed leagues for the next release: the Brazilian Serie A and the Saudi Pro League, so you’ll be able to play with all your favorite players from those leagues with official kits, badges, and stadiums. The new release also comes with a fully updated anti-cheat system for online ranked matches, which will automatically flag and ban players using aimbots, stat hacks, or lag switches to cheat in competitive play. That should make ranked matches a lot fairer for casual players who don’t want to deal with cheaters ruining their games.
But it’s not all good news. Konami has confirmed that the long-requested Master League offline mode still won’t be added to the core game in the next release. The company says they’re prioritizing online competitive features first, and Master League is still in development with no confirmed release window. If you’re a big fan of offline single-player modes, you might want to stick to the older PES 2021 release for now, or wait for further announcements about Master League development.
At the end of the day, waiting for new eFootball releases can feel frustrating, especially when there’s a lot of conflicting info floating around online. But once you know the standard release schedule and where to find reliable alerts, you won’t have to waste time scrolling through fake posts trying to find out when is eFootball coming out. If you’re planning to pick up the next release, make sure you pre-order if you want early access, or wait a couple of days for the first hotfix if you want a smoother experience. I’ll be testing the new build as soon as it drops, so keep an eye out for more gameplay guides, tier lists, and patch breakdowns once the new version is live for everyone.