The question on every former PES fan’s lips has been a simple one: will eFootball ever be worthy of their time again? We get to find out with eFootball 2026.
Today, Konami is making its boldest case yet for a comeback. A massive new season update for eFootball is now live on Xbox and all other platforms, introducing a brand-new Link-Up Play manager feature, deep stadium customisation, and a host of other gameplay enhancements.
This update, which continues the game’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, aims to add a new layer of tactical depth and personalization to the free-to-play football experience.
Another Shot at the Title?
It’s fair to say that the journey for eFootball has been a difficult one, with updates often feeling sparse.
When we reviewed eFootball 2024, we gave it a 2.5/5 score, calling the last major update “disappointingly bereft of anything decent enough to tempt players to return.” We concluded that the game was “flawed and, if a measly update is all that’s coming each year, it’s hard to see it ever being worthy of your time.“
This new season update, that of 2026, however, feels like it could well be different. With a genuinely new gameplay system and a host of other features, this is a much more substantial offering and a clear attempt to address those criticisms head-on.
A New Tactical Dimension: ‘Link-Up Play’
The headline feature of this new season is Link-Up Play, a brand-new manager skill that introduces special combination plays.
This new feature is activated when you have a specific manager and two specific players, the “Center Piece” and the “Key Man,” in their designated positions. If they also possess the correct play styles, they can trigger powerful, pre-determined combination moves, adding a new layer of tactical strategy to your team building.
The Special One Arrives
To showcase this new system, the legendary manager José Mourinho is now available in a special edition pack for £3.98. He comes with the “Diagonal Long Pass A” Link-Up Play skill. To help you activate it, “Epic & Show Time” versions of Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o, two players who thrived under his management, will also be available from August 15th.
Make it Your Own: Stadiums and Ambassadors
This season also brings a wealth of new customisation options and player packs.
For the first time, you can now customise your home stadium. You can combine various elements like stadium colours, fan choreography, and decorative objects to create a unique and personalised design that reflects your club’s style.
New Ambassador Editions and Packs featuring superstars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are now available.
These packs include powerful versions of the players, training items, and exclusive stadium customisation items. For brand-new players, a free Show Time: Lionel Messi card can also be obtained by simply clearing the in-game tutorial.
On-Pitch Improvements
Beyond the major new features, the update also brings a host of general gameplay improvements, including more realistic player speed and movement, enhanced defensive controls, and new set-piece controls for mobile users.
The team sheets are in, and the new tactical instructions are clear. With a genuinely new gameplay mechanic in Link-Up Play and a host of other improvements, this is arguably the most significant update eFootball has received in a long time.
Whether it’s enough to finally convert the doubters and rebuild its legacy is a question that can only be answered on the pitch.
The new season is live now.
Grab a copy of eFootball for free from the usual digital stores – like that of the Xbox Store, perhaps.
