Video gaming giant Konami recently issued a statement regarding eFootball 2022, admitting that the game was launched in an unfinished state.
Konami recently acknowledged the sub-par state of eFootball 2022, admitting that the game was not ready to be released. The company’s FIFA competitor changed its name from Pro Evolution Soccer in 2019, though the franchise has been struggling to gain traction among fans and critics, with Screen Rant calling eFootball 2022 calamitous, citing a number of unreconcilable technical issues and design flaws as reasons for the game’s failure.
Needless to say, things have not been going the way Konami might have hoped when it comes to eFootball. By most accounts, the game’s latest entry was marred by glitches and poor performance, alongside a problematic free-to-play model that restricted gameplay and pushed predatory microtransactions upon its player base. The state of the game at launch was rather starved as well, with very few gameplay options available and nothing that could compete with EA’s popular FIFA franchise. Konami has been attempting to bolster and polish the live-service title since its release, though numerous delays of vital eFootball updates have made once-hopeful fans less than optimistic.
In an interview with Video Games Chronicle (via Eurogamer), a spokesperson for Konami conceded that the game was launched in an incomplete state, noting multiple factors that influenced this. The spokesperson cited issues with the transition to a new game engine, cross-generational console development, and the shift to free-to-play as reasons for the game’s less-than-optimal quality. Additionally, this spokesperson stated that the developers have “prioritised improvements and corrections” following critical player feedback, and that Konami has a “strong desire” to push out the full game as soon as possible.
This statement will likely serve as small comfort for anyone who felt let down by the game. This isn’t the first time that Konami has apologized for eFootball, but it may still feel like the company is dodging full responsibility for its title; while the new engine, cross-generational development, and adoption of a free-to-play structure likely all posed challenges to the development team, the technical issues of the game are underpinned by what many consider poor design choices and weak core gameplay. In other words, eFootball‘s problems go beyond just technical shortcomings.
With that said, sports game fans looking for an alternative to FIFA will have to hope that Konami is being serious about its commitment to improving eFootball. For the game to compete with EA’s goliath franchise, it will need to see substantial technical fixes, gameplay adjustments, and new content expansions.
eFootball 2022 is currently free-to-play on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and mobile devices.
Source: Video Games Chronicle (via Eurogamer)
Nick Rodriguez is a Senior Writer for Screen Rant. While vigorously passionate about books, movies, and music, he was particularly drawn to video games since he first laid eyes on Spyro the Dragon and (much to his mother’s distaste) Silent Hill. More recently, his favorites have included Disco Elysium, Red Dead Redemption II, Kentucky Route Zero, and the Mass Effect series. Presently, he spends most of his time typing away in the chilly state of Wisconsin.
