Konami, What Are You Doing? Yu-Gi-Oh! x eFootball While Master League Still Waits

When Konami announced eFootball, the spiritual successor to the legendary Pro Evolution Soccer series, fans expected one thing: football. Authentic, engaging football. For many of us, Master League was the heart and soul of PES. The thrill of building a squad, managing transfers, and leading your club to glory is what made the game special.

So what does Konami do instead of developing and releasing a long-awaited Master League addon?

They launch a Yu-Gi-Oh! × eFootball™ collaboration.

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Yu-Gi-Oh! × eFootball™
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A collaboration with the “Yu-Gi-Oh! CARD GAME” is coming soon!

A teaser movie featuring Neymar and five players from the national team of France has been released!
#eFootball pic.twitter.com/kbn42OFfFo

— eFootball (@play_eFootball) August 30, 2025

Yes, you read that right. Neymar and five players from the French national team are starring in a crossover teaser to promote… a card game tie-in.

Why This Move Feels Wrong

On paper, crossovers aren’t necessarily bad. But the timing here is baffling. The core of eFootball is still missing crucial features that fans have begged for since day one. Master League hasn’t been properly implemented, offline modes remain thin, and gameplay improvements are inconsistent.

Instead of prioritizing the foundations of a football simulator, Konami diverts resources to a flashy marketing stunt that feels disconnected from what players actually want.

It’s like buying a football stadium and filling it with trading cards before fixing the pitch.

Fans Deserve Better

Konami has a loyal fanbase that stuck with PES for decades—even when FIFA dominated the market. That loyalty is being tested. Fans aren’t asking for gimmicks or flashy collabs; they’re asking for the modes and gameplay depth that defined the series.

Master League isn’t just a “feature”—it’s an identity. It’s what separates PES/eFootball from being just another online football game. Ignoring it in favor of crossover promotions shows a worrying set of priorities.

 

The Yu-Gi-Oh! collaboration might bring headlines, but it won’t bring back the fans who feel abandoned. If Konami truly wants eFootball to succeed, they need to go back to basics: football first, marketing stunts second.

Until then, Master League remains in the shadows, waiting for the spotlight it deserves.

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G. Leroy (pesmodding.com) / blog writer