eFootball: more than one billion downloads and an upcoming manga

Konami's live-service successor to the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series, eFootball, has reached a remarkable milestone with more than one billion downloads worldwide. Despite a turbulent launch in 2021, Konami appears to be holding its ground in the football gaming market, especially with the recent announcement of a celebratory in-game campaign and a new manga.

The milestone

On April 9, 2026, Konami announced that eFootball had surpassed one billion downloads. This marked a significant achievement for the developer, which had long been criticized for the game's gameplay shortcomings at launch. The rise in downloads suggests that players may have given eFootball a second chance, helped along by updates and improvements rolled out over the years.

In-game campaign

To celebrate the milestone, Konami is launching a special in-game campaign called 'Master League Sprint'. Inspired by the popular Master League mode from the PES series, the campaign gives players a chance to earn in-game currency and secure a selection of valuable players, including the legendary Ronaldinho. The event runs from April 9 to April 16, 2026.

New manga

Alongside the in-game campaign, there is also good news for manga and anime fans. A new manga titled 'That Time I got Reincarnated in PES' is in the works. Written by Kiminori Wakasugi, the manga will be published on K Manga and follows a protagonist who is reborn into the world of PES, where he encounters famous players such as Castolo and Minanda. The details of this reincarnation remain a mystery for now.

Community reaction

Reactions from the gaming community have been largely positive, with many players expressing excitement about the progress eFootball has made. The game's comeback, after receiving Steam's worst-ever review, shows that developers not only need to acknowledge problems, but also actively work on solutions to win back player trust.

With continued support from fans and a wave of new content updates, eFootball looks set to strengthen its position in the football game industry and attract new players. Ongoing community engagement and the introduction of innovative features are clear signs of growth for the game's future.