Konami Aims To Be The 'World's Largest Esports Platform' With eFootball

When it comes to mainstream sports making moves in the esports scene, FIFA, for all of its plaudits, has yet to capitalise on the mass audience. The closest a sport has managed to convert into an accomplished esport is Rocket League, taking the adaptation of football and flying cars and combining it with an untouchable skill ceiling.

However, Konami is looking to change that, with their new upcoming title; eFootball.

The free-to-play, cross-platform, title will finally look to move out of the shadow of FIFA, in which PES has resided for years. 

Appealing to fans through its non-existent price tag, eFootball will also look to become the "worlds largest esports platform", according to the developers.

Seitaro Kimura, eFootball’s Series Producer, said: "Following the major changes in the game engine and business aspects, we will create an impactful esports scene with cross-platform,” in an interview with The Loadout.

He continued: "In revamping the game engine, we focused on the most exciting part of football, the 1v1 battle. As we created the game system by deconstructing the mechanics of winning and losing in real-life 1v1 matches and the tactics used by top-level players, we had to restructure the control scheme in order for players to enjoy the evolved and realistic tactics.

Click to enlarge

Amid the global pandemic, FIFA was forced to cancel their attempts to conquer the esports world, with the FIFAe World Cup 2021 and the Nations Cup 2021, leaving the market wide open going into next year.

It's yet to be detailed as to how eFootball will look to take advantage of the market, although their Match Pass system does hint at a new game mode arriving in the 2022 title that could hold the key.

Konami will have a monstrous job on their hands to overthrow EA's FIFA, and will likely have to topple them in all departments to come out on top. 

Maybe the esports scene is the golden ticket they need...