A moment frozen in time: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PES, where football simulation reached its peak.
We fans of the beloved Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series, are no strangers to the highs and lows, successes, and failures, that have defined this iconic football franchise. From its humble beginnings during the mid-'90s to the eventual rebranding as eFootball, PES has been the heartbeat of virtual football for many of us. I still remember when I first played FIFA and then later discovered PES - the good old times. Back in the days, when graphics were not as impressive or realistic as now, it didn't matter. For us, it felt real back then. PES wasn’t just a video game or a form of entertainment; it was a true celebration of football. It represented art—a masterpiece on a virtual canvas where passion, skill, and strategy came together to create unforgettable moments. However with time, as the series evolved over the years, it’s hard not to reminiscent on the golden days—the peak of the PES legacy.
A Humble Start: The ISS and Early PES Days
To understand the origin of the game we know and love as PES, let's go back in time with the company behind it called Konami, one with which all of us PES players had a love-hate relationship. Konami’s first attempt at making football games was through a name you might not be familiar with unless you were there playing it back in '94, the International Superstar Soccer (ISS) series, which made its debut on the SNES(aka Super Nintendo). The SNES version was basic, but you could tell Konami was onto something. While it was far from perfect, it was the start of something big that set the stage for a fierce rivalry between EA Sports FIFA and Konami's ISS—a rivalry that would dominate the football gaming scene for decades.
In 1997, ISS Pro arrived on the PlayStation, revolutionizing football simulation with its more realistic gameplay and tactical depth. The introduction of features like multiple in-match strategy options was groundbreaking for its time. They took it to the next level—more tactical, more detailed. If you played it, you would feel it getting closer to what would become PES.
The Rise of PES: A Legacy of Excellence
In 2001, with the release of PES 1, the game ushered in a new era for football video games. The gameplay was more fluid, the controls more precise, and the experience overall more grounded in the beautiful game itself. The PES franchise quickly became synonymous with realistic football simulation. While FIFA was making full use of its licensing upper hand, PES centered its efforts on providing a game experience as close to reality as possible, that felt true to life. From its more accurate physics to its unique player movements, PES was a game that appealed well to true football enthusiasts.
But what truly set PES apart was its depth—its attention to detail. The way the ball would curve just right, or how it felt when you executed that last-minute winner. The revolutionary Player ID and Team ID system, introduced later in the series, allowed fans to truly experience the individual flair of world-class stars like Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar. These weren’t just generic footballers running around a pitch anymore—now they were players with distinct playing styles, each of them offering something unique. Messi moved like Messi with that unique dribbling wizardry, Ronaldo was all power and precision, and Neymar had that Brazillian flair that made him so unique. The game captured the essence of these players in a way that no other football game had done before. It wasn’t just a football game anymore—it was a chance to control some of the best players on the planet.
In this period PES established itself as the definitive football game for purists, for those players who wanted more than flashy graphics or big-name licenses. What made PES really tick was its fluidity, its responsiveness, and the way it captured the flow of a real match. Sure, the AI wasn’t flawless, but that’s what made it feel alive. The unpredictability factor in PES—the sudden counter-attacks, the incredible goals, the close calls—made every match different. The sound of the crowd, the commentary by iconic voices like Jon Champion and Jim Beglin, and the thrilling unpredictability of a last-minute winner all combined to make PES a game you couldn’t help but fall in love with.
In particular, the PES 2016 installment brought a unique experience to the table with the introduction of the now-iconic commentary team of Peter Drury and Jim Beglin. Their voiceovers became the soundtrack to so many memorable moments, adding an extra layer of authenticity and drama to every match. Hearing Drury’s passionate calls—his unmistakable “And it’s a goal!”—and Beglin’s insightful analysis became a hallmark of the PES experience, one that fans came to associate with the pure thrill of the game to date.
The Rivalry with FIFA: A Clash of Titans
Of course, no story of PES would be complete without mentioning its fierce rivalry with FIFA, the rivalry that defined the football gaming industry. It was the debate every football gaming fan had, and you know exactly what I mean. FIFA was always the more mainstream option, with all the licenses and fancy presentations. But PES—that was the hardcore choice. It was for the players who didn’t care as much about having every club licensed. We cared about how the game felt. PES fans knew what they were getting into—less flair, more substance. No matter how many times we lost in a PES vs FIFA argument, we always knew deep down that the gameplay was what mattered the most.
What attracted me to PES more than FIFA was the same fact, PES felt like a more serious, simulation-driven football game, whereas its nemesis FIFA seemed to follow a more arcade-style gameplay. To me, PES seemed to have that soul of football, which FIFA mostly lacked, at least from gameplay, controls, and in-game physics. I haven't played much of FIFA after 2019, so can't comment a lot on the recent progress and the new EA FC game. I hear their game is now much better with a tactical and more immersive experience, but I still doubt if they can bring the true soul of Football in their gameplay mechanics and controls, which judging by some gameplay clips on YouTube, still seem arcade-like.
In this era, PES fans weren’t just playing a game—they were part of a community. The debates were fierce: “Which game offered the better experience?” “Which had the best AI?” “Is FIFA really a better game, or just better marketed?” But despite the heated exchanges, there was one thing everyone could agree on both franchises were pushing each other to new heights, and we, the players, were the ultimate beneficiaries of that rivalry.
By the way, talking about community, if you play eFootball and are not part of any, you should check out our eFootball Fans International Community on Telegram and Discord.
The Golden Years: PES 2010 to PES 2017
If there were ever a “golden age” for PES, it would undoubtedly be the years between PES 2010 and PES 2017. If you were a PES fan during this period, then you know what I’m talking about. PES 2016, in particular, stands out as one of the best. It wasn’t just the gameplay, though. It was the small things. In this period, PES achieved what many thought was impossible—it delivered a near-perfect football simulation. From the slick presentation to the unrivaled gameplay, these were the years when PES truly felt like a football game. It was the culmination of years of refinement. The addition of Player ID, alongside the fluid animations and dynamic ball physics, brought a level of authenticity that made each match feel unique. For PES fans, these were the years when we could truly say we had the best football game on the market.
The Changing Landscape: Transition to eFootball
However, as we all know, nothing stays the same forever. All good things must come to an end, and so did the PES era. In 2020, Konami made the bold decision to rebrand PES as eFootball, moving away from the familiar, beloved series that was a benchmark for football video games for nearly two decades. The transition was full of controversy, starting with its poorly planned release. The new eFootball brand, along with its switch to the Unreal Engine, marked a significant shift. I get that games need to evolve, but eFootball felt like it was losing everything that made PES special, it was an embarrassment to share history with PES. It just didn’t feel anything close to PES experience. Gone were the days of a polished, complete game. In their place, microtransactions and a mobile-first design took center stage. Konami seemed more focused on modernizing the game for mobile and cross-platform play than on enhancing the core football experience. For fans like me, it was a tough pill to swallow. Sure, I understand the need for change, but when you’ve been part of something for years, it’s hard to watch it transform into something unrecognizable.
For long-time PES fans, the announcement of eFootball felt like the end of an era. The slick, polished game that had once defined virtual football had now been replaced with something that, at the time, seemed far too reliant on microtransactions and mobile-first design. The sharp focus on free-to-play models and the need for constant updates signaled a departure from the days when PES was a premium experience—a game you could buy, pop in, and lose yourself in for hours.
A Farewell to the PES Legacy
As we look back on the PES legacy, I can’t help but feel nostalgic. PES wasn’t just about football—it was about the memories. For nearly 20 years, PES was the go-to video game for the pure joy of football. It wasn’t about graphics, licenses, or any hype—it was about the way this game made us feel. The late-night gaming sessions of victories and losses, the moments of pure joy when you pulled off that dribble in a tight space, a perfect pass and scored that unbelievable goal, the thrill of a last-minute equalizer, or the pride in defending like a true pro. PES was a celebration of the beautiful game, and it will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up playing it.
But as eFootball attempts to carve its own path, it’s important to remember that PES was more than just a series of video games. It was a community—a family of fans who shared a love for football, for the sport in its purest form. It’s easy to get caught up in the debates about which game is better, but the truth is that PES, in all its forms, will forever be a part of football gaming history.
So, here’s to the memory of PES—the game that brought us countless hours of joy, frustration, and unforgettable moments. While the future may be uncertain, consider this post a reassurance to the fact that the PES legacy will never truly fade.
For as long as there are football fans, there will always be those who remember the good old days of Pro Evolution Soccer.
PES Forever.
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