It's hard to believe, but eFootball Konami's long-standing work in progress and once-promising digital football title is finally getting a major update. Version 4.4.0 will be released on Thursday, bringing with it features many have been requesting for years: cross-play between all platforms and matches against AI opponents. eFootball-League.
Platform boundaries are falling – crossplay for everyone
Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and Windows are thus converging – at least virtually. Those who previously had to leave their friends behind on the "wrong" platform can now join them in co-op or compete in friendly matches. Events and ranked games are also available across platforms. Leaderboards will no longer be separated by platform but will be maintained uniformly – a small but significant change for competitive gaming.
Perhaps even more exciting for many is the integration of AI opponents into the eFootball League Previously, this game environment was exclusively reserved for online players – with the disadvantage that beginners often had to compete directly against experienced PvP players and consequently gave up in frustration. General Producer Junichi Taya sees the new feature as a kind of springboard for hesitant players: "If you can beat the AI in Division 2 and 3, you're probably ready for PvP matches."
That sounds reasonable – and like a long overdue step towards greater accessibility. The fact that Konami is only introducing this feature now seems almost ironic. But better late than never.
New comfort features
The version 4.4.0 It also brings additional convenience features: A "Smart Assist" system is designed to support beginners in league mode. Players can now unlock up to 500 additional reserve slots for their squad (The maximum number thus increases to 1.400.Furthermore, it is finally possible to remove multiple players from the transfer menu at the same time – a small but time-saving improvement.
There are also changes to individual player development: a new skill training program specifically increases the chance of acquiring certain abilities. Players who later change their minds can also delete these abilities – the kind of flexibility you'd expect from a live-service title.
Version 4.4.0 makes eFootball This finally represents some long overdue steps forward. While the game remains a controversial chapter in Konami's history, it is at least slowly moving in the right direction. Let's hope this isn't just a fleeting glimmer of hope, but a genuine sign of Konami's long-term ambitions.
