As we look back at the history of football video games, there is one name that has stood the test of time: Pro Evolution Soccer (Winning Eleven). For nearly 25 years, Konami’s beloved series has been the gold standard for realism and player control, often outshining its competitors in terms of depth and gameplay. And then, in 2021, everything changed with eFootball PES 2021—the swan song of a franchise that would soon be rebranded, not only in name but in structure and purpose. As we reflect on PES 2021, it’s clear that while this title marked the end of an era, it also left behind some lasting memories of what made the PES series so special.
eFootball PES 2021: The Final Chapter of the PES Era
A Final Stand for PES
The PES 2021 Season Update wasn’t a brand new game—it was a transitional release that built upon PES 2020, with updated squads, kits, and some key tweaks to gameplay. For many fans, it felt like Konami was saying goodbye to the PES era in a way that was both familiar and bittersweet. The announcement of eFootball—Konami's bold step into a free-to-play, cross-platform future—was already looming over the PES 2021 release, making it feel like the last hurrah for the iconic series before a new direction was taken.
While the gameplay tweaks were noticeable, PES 2021 felt almost like a love letter to fans who had been with the series for years. The refined dribbling mechanics, improved AI, and increased player responsiveness made it clear that PES 2021 wasn’t just a roster update—it was a statement that the series had evolved to its peak on current-gen consoles. The FOX Engine, which had powered PES titles since PES 2014, delivered what many considered some of the most realistic football gameplay ever seen. The stadiums, the faces, the movements—they all felt so authentic, so alive, that it made you forget you were playing a game.
But with the move to eFootball and the introduction of Unreal Engine, the foundations of that realism would soon crumble. Fans would soon learn that the transition from the FOX Engine to Unreal wasn’t just a technical shift—it marked the end of an era of deep, immersive football simulations that had defined the PES franchise for over two decades.
The End of the FOX Engine Era
A key talking point during the PES 2021 release was the continued use of the FOX Engine—a custom-built game engine that had powered the series since PES 2014. Under the direction of Kojima Productions before Konami’s split in 2015, the FOX Engine allowed PES to achieve impressive visual fidelity and lifelike animations that made it stand apart from the competition. Players’ unique playing styles, from Messi’s dribbling to Ronaldo’s powerful shots, were brought to life in ways that no other football game could replicate.
However, as we all know, change is inevitable in the gaming industry, and the move to Unreal Engine 4 for eFootball was driven by multiple factors. Many in the community speculate that Konami’s shift to Unreal Engine came not just for technical reasons but also to ensure a more unified development approach across platforms, especially considering their increasing focus on mobile versions of the game. After all, PES Mobile (which had been running on Unreal Engine for years) was a major revenue generator, and Konami sought to integrate the mobile and console experiences into a single, cohesive product.
As community members have pointed out, the PES 2021 experience on consoles and PC was powered by the beloved FOX Engine, while eFootball would soon move entirely to Unreal. Yet, many argue that elements of the old engine still linger in eFootball—animations and player models, for example, appear to be carried over, giving the game a somewhat familiar but fractured feel. For long-time fans, it’s hard to ignore the nostalgia that still bubbles up when we see those iconic player faces or those fluid dribbling animations, even if they no longer belong to the same world as they once did.
A Missed Opportunity?
While the transition to eFootball was necessary for Konami to keep up with the modern gaming landscape, many fans feel that PES 2021 represented the last true PES experience. Yes, there were issues, and some gameplay aspects could have been further refined. But there was a purity to the PES formula that made it stand out: deep tactics, precise control, and a true simulation of football. The move to Unreal Engine, although a logical step for Konami, has led to some mixed reactions within the community. From the frustrations over eFootball’s lack of depth and the clunky transitions in gameplay, it feels like PES 2021 was the last game that encapsulated everything that made the PES series a standout.
Many of us remember the joy of carefully constructing our teams in Master League, the excitement of pulling off a last-minute winner, or the thrill of competitive matches in myClub. These experiences were as much about the gameplay as they were about the soul of the game—the dedication to creating the best football simulation possible. Sadly, these elements are now overshadowed by the free-to-play, cross-platform ambitions of eFootball, which feels more like a marketing initiative than a passion project.
The Legacy of PES
As we look back on PES 2021, it's impossible not to feel a sense of nostalgia for the days when Konami wasn’t just trying to compete with the giants of the industry but was setting the bar for what football games could be. The PES series might have never achieved the same commercial success as its rival, FIFA, but it commanded the respect of its loyal fanbase by focusing on authenticity, gameplay, and tactical depth.
It’s not just the shift to eFootball that marks the end of an era, but the realization that we’ll never see the likes of PES 2021 again. The game was the culmination of years of fine-tuning, and although it might not have been revolutionary, it felt like the culmination of everything PES had worked toward. The last of the old guard before the new dawn.
Looking Ahead
eFootball is here now, and as much as we long for the days of PES 2021, we have to acknowledge the inevitable shift that happens in all franchises. The move to Unreal Engine and the free-to-play model represents Konami’s attempt to evolve with the times, but at what cost? For many of us, PES 2021 will remain the true final chapter in the PES saga—the last time we got to experience the magic of a game that, for years, was the benchmark for football simulations.
And yet, the memories of those PES days, from the first time we controlled our favorite players to the countless nights spent perfecting our free kicks, will live on in the hearts of the community. eFootball PES 2021 may have been the last of its kind, but it will always hold a special place in the history of football gaming.
Goodbye, PES. Hello, eFootball. But we’ll never forget where it all began.
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