Konami’s soccer simulation will have to do without the FC Bayern license in the future. In just one week, there will no longer be an authentic representation of the Munich team in eFootball.
When Konami rolls out the next update for eFootball on June 26, German fans of the soccer simulation game will suffer a major loss. As the Japanese company announced a week in advance, the next update will no longer feature a faithful representation of FC Bayern Munich. Instead, “original designs from eFootball” will be used.
According to an in-game announcement, the name, emblem, jerseys, and home stadium of the German record champions will be affected by the change. There will therefore be some changes in friendly and test matches where authentic representations are playable. For example, the Allianz Arena will disappear completely from the game and “can no longer be selected as a stadium.”
Avatars and names remain unchanged
Meanwhile, online content that Dream Team players already have in their clubs will remain unchanged. In addition, the avatars and names of the Munich pros will also remain the same. Beyond the jerseys, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and new signing Jonathan Tah should therefore still be recognizable.
A look at England provides an indication of what Bayern’s future eFootball presence might look like. In the Premier League, only Manchester United and Arsenal are officially licensed. All other teams have specially created names, jerseys, and other elements. For example, Manchester City is called Manchester B in eFootball, while Liverpool FC is listed as Liverpool R.
Konami suffers another defeat
The loss of the Bayern license is a heavy blow for Konami. The Munich club is one of six international flagships with which the developer prominently advertises as a partner club. In addition, the Tokyo-based company recently announced its separation from the highest Mexican league, from which only four clubs remain licensed.
Will EA SPORTS benefit?
Whether Bayern’s impending split from Konami will mean a more extensive return to its rival EA SPORTS remains to be seen. However, this move is possible and would offer exciting opportunities.
On the one hand, fans would be able to play in the Allianz Arena for the first time in an FC game. On the other hand, following the return of Franz Beckenbauer as part of FC 26, other Bayern legends could make their way into the game. Some of these had been exclusive to eFootball due to the partnership with Konami, which was last extended in 2022.
