Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 or eFootball PES 2021, to say its official name, is not a full release this year. Doe to the impact of Covid-19, game developers across the globe have had to revise plans for the launch of their new titles, and PES developer Konami is no different.
The Japan-based studio is releasing eFootball PES 2021 as a seasonal update, rather than a game with new features, to compensate for this unprecedented event. With PES 2021 not being a full release, however, you might be wondering how the update will work. Many fans have assumed that you will need a copy of eFootball PES 2020 to run PES 2021. So, is this the case?
No, you do not need to buy PES 2020 to play PES 2021. This year’s entry is not considered to be DLC or a content update, but a standalone game without any new features or gameplay improvements. PES 2021 is an updated version of last year’s game, which contains the latest club rosters and player data, but with the same features that PES 2020 has.
PES 2021 comes with a fully up-to-date roster of players for each club. Not only that but, thanks to the PES franchise celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, some other bonuses and improvements will form part of the update.
Anyone who played myClub mode in PES 2020 or PES 2020 LITE will be eligible to receive the Veteran’s Bonus. This grants you access to in-game milestones, which nets you, special agents, depending on how many legendary players or Iconic Moments you accrue in myClub mode.
Three legendary manager avatars, Pep Guardiola, Frank Lampard, and Ryan Giggs, have also been added to Master League, while other gameplay improvements, such as better dribbling and 3D scans of real-life players and stadiums, have been implemented. Finally, PES 2021 will include new UEFA Euro 2020 content despite the international tournament being pushed back to June 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
