Why Konami (eFootball) and FIFA Mobile Separated — The Story Not Everyone Has Heard
For years, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) and EA Sports' FIFA Mobile competed as the two titans of football gaming. But in 2021, everything changed when Konami rebranded its beloved PES series into eFootball, going fully free-to-play and online-focused. This shift marked a major split from EA’s FIFA Mobile approach — but why did it happen? Let’s dive into the untold story.
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1. A Clash of Philosophies
Konami wanted to redefine football gaming. While FIFA Mobile kept evolving its Ultimate Team model — focusing on player cards, packs, and a fast-paced arcade style — Konami aimed to deliver a more realistic, strategy-driven football simulator that was accessible to everyone for free.
Konami saw the future as cross-platform and esports-friendly, blending mobile, console, and PC into one connected experience. FIFA Mobile, on the other hand, stayed mobile-exclusive, emphasizing its microtransaction-heavy gameplay.
This core difference in philosophy became the first big reason for their split.
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2. Licensing Battles Behind the Scenes
What most players didn’t know was the intense behind-the-scenes battle over club and league licenses. For years, EA had the upper hand, holding the FIFA license along with deals for leagues like the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga.
Konami responded by securing exclusive partnerships with iconic clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, and Manchester United, making it impossible for FIFA to use those clubs' official branding.
This licensing war led to a standoff — both companies realized they couldn’t share the football market without one overshadowing the other.
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3. The Shift to Free-to-Play
Konami made a bold move: they ditched the yearly release model entirely and rebranded as eFootball, a continuously updated, free-to-play game. Their goal was to create a “football platform” rather than a yearly game, evolving over time with new content and improvements — similar to games like Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone.
FIFA Mobile stayed with its seasonal reset model, releasing yearly updates that made players start from scratch. This business model divide was a dealbreaker, pushing Konami further from EA’s path.
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4. The Fallout of the FIFA-EA Breakup
The plot thickened when EA lost the FIFA license in 2022 after a dispute with the FIFA organization over licensing fees. EA rebranded their series to EA Sports FC, while FIFA announced plans to make their own game — creating even more division in the football gaming world.
Konami’s eFootball, meanwhile, doubled down on improving gameplay, graphics, and crossplay capabilities, aiming to become the "people’s football game" — accessible to everyone, not just those willing to pay for packs.
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5. The Untold Story: A Fight for Football’s Future
The rivalry wasn’t just about games — it was about the soul of digital football.
FIFA Mobile leaned into arcade-style, fast gameplay with microtransactions.
eFootball pursued realism, strategy, and a free-to-play philosophy designed to mirror the tactics and pacing of a real match.
This split wasn't just a business move — it was a battle for what football gaming should represent: arcade thrills vs. simulation realism.
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Final Takeaway: Konami and FIFA Mobile's split wasn’t an accident — it was inevitable. Both companies envisioned completely different futures for football games. Konami wanted a free, evolving football simulator, while FIFA Mobile stuck to yearly, fast-paced arcade gameplay with monetization at its core.
Now, the two games aren’t just rivals — they’re representatives of two different styles of football gaming. Which one wins? That depends on what kind of football fan you are.
Why Konami (eFootball) And FIFA Mobile Separated — The Story Not Everyone Has Heard..