We're getting closer and closer to an eventual eFootball PES 2021 release, but you might not get the kind of game you'd usually expect. According to a leaked Microsoft Store listing, this year's edition is going to be a smaller-scale DLC in light of development challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic.
DualShockers reports on a tweet from @geronimo_73 which took screenshots of this reported leak.
Confirmed
— Roberto Serrano' (@geronimo_73) July 11, 2020
eFootball #PES2021 coming in 09.15.2020 as Update of #PES2020 at special price#PC #PS4 #PS5 #XboxOne #XboxSeriesX pic.twitter.com/9sTpIYfBif
The Microsoft Store link is now dead, but we've been able to gather a fair amount of information from the screenshots. The first item of note is a disclaimer about how different this will be to previous year's releases, owing in part to the real-world challenges many soccer clubs are facing with quarantine and lockdown concerns.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, certain real-world football leagues and/or tournaments may undergo sudden regulation changes. As a result, there is a chance that in-game regulations may not perfectly match their [real-life] counterparts. Other changes that impact leagues and tournaments may also be implemented in future updates without prior notice.
Additionally, the screenshots show a further disclaimer about the contents of the eFootball PES 2021 release:
This product is an updated edition of eFootball PES 2020 (launched in [September 2019]) containing the latest player data and club rosters. Please note that some leagues will have their rosters updated post-release.
When is the eFootball PES 2021 Release Date?
If this leak proves to be true, Konami may be making one of the most drastic changes to one of its sports games to compensate for the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. When will you be able to play it?
We don't have a confirmed release date just yet (much less a confirmed announcement), but the leaked Microsoft Store page reportedly lists the eFootball PES 2021 release date as September 15, 2020 — roughly one year after the release of eFootball PES 2020 as expected.
We can't say for certain if this leak is true; as always, take such rumors with a grain of salt. If it is genuine, though, this might be our best opportunity to enjoy some pro soccer action in the coming year.
Read more about how the COVID-19 novel coronavirus is affecting the gaming world at our Coronavirus Gaming Convention Cancellations and Game Delays Hub.
What do you think about eFootball PES 2021 reportedly shifting to a DLC model for this year? Do you think they should continue this model moving forward? Let us know in the comments below!
