Pro Evolution Soccer 2018

Game Development and Core Features

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 was developed and published by Konami as the seventeenth installment in its Pro Evolution Soccer series, also known as Winning Eleven 2018 in Japan. The game was released worldwide in September 2017 for a wide array of platforms including Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, and iOS. This marked the final PES release for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. Konami maintained the theme from the previous release and announced a special Barcelona Edition with pre-order bonus content for both digital and physical versions.

Licensing was a significant focus. The game featured fully licensed clubs including Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool, with these partnerships confirmed at E3 2017. Other licensed teams included FC Schalke 04, Valencia, Fulham, and the Brazil national football team, with the France national team license confirmed in the online beta. PES 2018 was notably the last title in the series to hold the official licenses for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup, as well as the Borussia Dortmund partnership. To mark this, Konami recreated the Ultimate Stage stadium from the UEFA Champions League 2015-18 brand.

A dedicated mobile version, PES 2018 Mobile, was released for iOS and Android. The Chinese version of this mobile game was published by NetEase. Konami released a demo for console platforms on August or 30, 2017, which included limited stadiums, clubs, and feature sets. The company stated that a Nintendo Switch version was not developed for this installment but that they were open to porting future games in the series.

The game introduced and refined several gameplay features. While specific new mechanics for PES 2018 are not detailed in the provided notes, the series has historically focused on realistic ball physics, player intelligence, and strategic positioning. The promotional tagline 'Where Legends Are Made' encapsulated Konami's aim to deliver a gameplay experience with new features and modes.

Post-Launch Support and Updates

Konami supported PES 2018 with substantial post-launch data packs. The first, Data Pack 1, launched on October 5, 2017. It featured 117 new player face updates, ten of the latest boot models, updated backboards for Barcelona in the Master League mode, and over 3,000 new player thumbnails. This focus on visual authenticity was a key part of the game's support.

Data Pack 2.0 followed on November 15, 2017. This update added major real-world stadiums, including Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, along with new boots and player faces. However, the update also removed licenses for the Brazilian clubs Avaí, Fluminense, São Paulo, and Vasco da Gama, replacing those players with generic counterparts. A trailer for this data pack was released on the same day as the update itself. These data packs were crucial for keeping the game's roster and aesthetics current throughout the football season.

Critical Reception and Accolades

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 received generally favorable reviews from critics. IGN awarded the game a score of 9.2 out of 10, calling it amazing and stating it set a high level of quality for other sports games to match. GameSpot declared it the most satisfying football game ever made, praising its on-pitch gameplay as giving it an edge over its direct competitor, FIFA 18. Many reviews highlighted the game's realistic ball physics, smooth animations, and strategic depth as its greatest strengths.

The game earned significant award recognition. It won the award for Best Sports Game at the Gamescom 2017 Awards. At Game Informer's 2017 Sports Game of the Year Awards, it won the award for Best Gameplay. PES 2018 was also nominated for several other honors, including Best Sports Game at the Game Critics Awards, Best Multiplayer Game at the 35th Golden Joystick Awards, Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2017, and Best Sports/Driving Game at the Titanium Awards. It received a nomination for People's Choice at the Italian Video Game Awards. Furthermore, Eurogamer ranked the game 43rd on their list of the Top 50 Games of 2017, confirming its status as one of the year's notable titles across all genres.

Commercial Performance

PES 2018 performed strongly in the market. In Japan, it sold 64,342 copies on the PlayStation 4 within its first week of sale, placing it at number one on the all-format sales chart. This demonstrated its continued popularity in a key market.

The mobile version, PES 2018 Mobile, was a major success. By August 2018, it had exceeded 150 million downloads globally. During a three-month period from May to July 2018, the mobile game was downloaded 7.1 million times and generated $26 million in revenue. In Japan alone during the 2018 calendar year, the game grossed ¥15.7 billion, which was approximately $143 million. These figures underscore the financial impact and player reach of the mobile platform for the PES franchise, far exceeding the traditional console and PC audience.

Esports Integration and Competition

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 was designed with competitive play in mind. Konami promoted its PES League and myClub modes for online competition. The company announced the start of a UEFA Champions League esports competition, with the first offline event scheduled for January 2018. This official structure provided a clear pathway for players to compete at a high level within the game's ecosystem.

The game's status as an esports title was formally recognized when it was selected as part of the electronic sports demonstration event at the Asian Games 2018, held in Indonesia. The specific title used for this event was Pro Evolution Soccer 2018. Eight countries participated after qualifying from their respective regional qualification tournaments, with Indonesia qualifying automatically as the host nation. This inclusion in a major multi-sport event like the Asian Games represented a significant step in the legitimization of football simulation games within the broader esports and sporting landscape.

Game Modes and Player Experience

PES 2018 offered a variety of modes catering to different play styles. The Master League mode allowed players to manage a football team, with specific updates like new backboards for Barcelona added via data packs. The game supported both single-player and multiplayer experiences, with online player counts ranging from 1 to 22. This flexibility allowed for everything from one-on-one matches to larger online competitions.

The myClub mode was a central feature for building a custom team and competing online, directly tied to the PES LEAGUE esports structure. The game was rated suitable for players from 3 years and up. While the core gameplay was praised for its simulation style, the game also faced the ongoing challenge of competing with FIFA's broader league and team licenses, making its licensed clubs like Barcelona, Dortmund, and Liverpool particularly valuable assets.

Legacy and Successor

PES 2018 holds a distinct place in the series' history as the final chapter for the previous console generation and the end of an era for several key European licenses, including the UEFA club competitions. Its mobile version's staggering download numbers demonstrated the franchise's massive reach on portable platforms and set a high benchmark for future mobile sports titles.

The game was succeeded by Pro Evolution Soccer 2019, which built upon its foundation. The critical acclaim for PES 2018's gameplay, particularly its realism and satisfaction on the pitch, confirmed its reputation among dedicated football simulation fans. Its role in formal esports, especially at the Asian Games, helped pave the way for competitive play in subsequent entries in the series.