eFootball has surpassed one billion cumulative downloads worldwide, marking a major milestone for Konami as it continues its push to challenge EA Sports’ dominance in the football gaming market.
Originally rebranded from the long-running Pro Evolution Soccer series, the free-to-play title has steadily rebuilt its global footprint, using accessibility and live-service updates to expand its player base across console and mobile platforms.
To mark the milestone, Konami has launched a new limited-time activation called Master League Sprint, running until April 16, reintroducing career-mode style mechanics that allow players to manage transfers, training, and squad development. Match outcomes are influenced by internal systems such as team synergy, player condition, and in-game event dynamics.
The update also includes daily login rewards and progression-based incentives, including access to player pools featuring legacy football icons such as Ronaldinho.
Beyond gameplay, Konami is expanding the franchise into transmedia content through a collaboration with publisher Kodansha. The manga series, titled That Time I Got Reincarnated in PES, will be distributed via the K MANGA platform, reflecting a broader effort to extend the brand beyond gaming.
Additional gameplay improvements include a new “Advanced Feint Command†system aimed at enhancing one-on-one mechanics and improving user control responsiveness.
The milestone reinforces eFootball’s position as a major free-to-play alternative in a market long dominated by EA Sports FC, particularly as publishers increasingly rely on live-service ecosystems rather than annual paid releases.