By applying the same model across all platforms, we hope that more football fans will be able to play this game on consoles as well.” While eFootball PES had been free on mobile devices, Konami had also trialled this strategy on consoles and PC in the past couple of years with eFootball PES Lite, a downsized free-to-play version of the main entry. “I believe that we have already proven that this structure can be successful on mobile. “We started planning this move roughly two years ago to coincide with the console generation transition and changes in the market environment,” eFootball series producer Seitaro Kimura told IGN.

A live service free-to-play offering is an interesting response to the old model of annual paid releases, one that's still in use by its biggest rival, EA Sports' FIFA. Crossplay on mobile will require an external controller. eFootball will launch this autumn on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam for PCs, with Android and iOS versions to follow soon after.

Konami announced Wednesday that its football simulation title is being rechristened simply as eFootball, after a couple of years carrying the unwieldy title “eFootball PES.” But more importantly, eFootball will be a free-to-play title, offering cross-platform play post launch everywhere. Pro Evolution Soccer is in for an overhaul - the biggest since its inception.

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