eFootball’s trouble continues, new patch version 0.9.1 delayed
Version 0.9.1 will be released in November.
The numerous issues plaguing eFootball are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
Konami stated on Friday that the soccer game’s first major patch — version 0.9.1 — will be delayed from its initial October 28 release date to sometime in early November. There was no explanation given for the delay.
Whatever the reason, it means that Steam’s worst-reviewed game (by its players) will remain in the same janktastic state it’s been in since launch. This includes visual glitches, broken AI, stuttering animations, and other performance flaws that elicited extremely unfavourable feedback from both long-time and new gamers.
eFootball is the reincarnation of the defunct Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven franchise, which dates back to 2001. After releasing eFootball PES 2020 in 2019, Konami waited a year before making the franchise free-to-play with Unreal Engine 4 this year.
The aim was always to release a base game first, followed by larger, more popular gameplay modules like the Ultimate-Team-style Master League and the single-player career Be a Legend. eFootball debuted with two forms of play: a single or multiplayer local match using one of just nine teams, and “challenge events” performed against AI or other online users.
But, with such minimal products peppered with funny visual gaffes and humiliating malfunctions, no post-launch path could inspire trust. The plans were for cross-platform play, online leagues, and a “team building mode” (these names are still being worked out), as well as a battle pass of content to be released this fall. Instead, Konami appears to be going back to the drawing board on fundamentals, and that work has also been postponed.
“Our hope is that the additional time taken will allow us to ensure the experience is improved for all of our users,” Konami stated on Friday, from the same Twitter account that issued an omnibus apology for eFootball the day it launched.
As of the time of writing, eFootball had received 19,475 unfavourable Steam user reviews out of a total of 22,068. (eFootball is also available on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as well as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X.) The most critical evaluations have an elegiac tone to them. Here’s one that’s only a week old, submitted by Steam user Terre:
“Game’s not polished” is a lie. “It’s not finished” is stretching it. Middle of a wilderness road in pitch black darkness. There you’ll find eFootball 2022. You’ve all seen the pictures, no words, no excuses. The gameplay, the most important part, feels heavy and tired. Some of the new controls are pointless, some just straight up quality of life downgrades. Goals feel hollow. 2 difficulties available. No game modes. Game play feels worse than in a decade. There’s no soul. I guess they thought that we’d stick along, silent and loyal?”
They also stated:
I guess this is my goodbye letter. There’s no more football games for me. Maybe someday … but I don’t believe it or hope for it no longer. Is this how you become an adult?
Wow. eFootball is more than just awful; it is the killing of joy.
