eFootball™ v10.5.0 locks controversial Smart Assist in PvP, driving massive rating rebound in May 2026

The core of the release revolves around competitive integrity. According to official release notes, players can no longer toggle Smart Assist mid-match in PvP modes, effectively closing a loophole that users previously branded as legalized cheating.

Beyond the matchmaking adjustments, Konami expanded the maximum number of Game Plan Lists to 20. The update also adjusted the eFootball™ League rating calculation formula and removed the possibility of mid-Phase relegation for players in Divisions 1 through 3.

The mechanical rollback triggered an immediate sentiment reversal. Prior to the fix, reviews for v10.4.2 averaged a dismal 2.33 stars, with one 3-star reviewer on v10.4.2 warning, "Your Ai division is so fustrating am quitting soon."

Following the v10.5.0 release, the average ratingGlossaryStar RatingThe 1-5 star average users give your app on^[2] the App Store and Google Play — a primary ranking signal and one of the biggest conversion drivers on your product page. for reviews of that version climbed 1.52 stars to reach 3.85. Recent testimonials reflect the shift, with a 5-star reviewer on v10.5.0 declaring it the "World best mobile football game" and praising the return to realistic gameplay mechanics.

Reversing the downward trajectory was critical for Konami, as the title maintains a massive footprint with over 1.1 million downloads in the last 30 days.^[3] The swift deployment of a mechanical lock suggests the publisher recognized the immediate churnGlossaryChurnThe rate at which users stop using an app (general churn) or cancel a subscription (subscription churn) over a time window — retention's mathematical complement. risk posed by the v10.4.2 backlash.

A discussion on r/pesmobile highlights the relief among competitive players, with users noting that "locking smart assist settings in PvP means the filter is here" and praising the fix as a necessary restoration of balance. Archived.

While the Smart Assist rollback successfully stabilized the player base, minor localized bugs remain. A handful of post-update reviews report missing in-game currencyGlossaryIn-Game CurrencyVirtual currencies used within mobile games — typically a dual system with soft currency (earned through play) and hard currency (purchased with real money). after device transfers and missing roster data for the Haitian national team.

Konami's rapid response to the matchmaking crisis shows a high capacity for course correction. Moving forward, the publisher will likely need to address lingering demands for deeper offline content, such as Master League, to sustain long-term engagement. These figures compare the 133 US App Store reviews tagged with v10.4.2 against the 130 tagged with v10.5.0, measured on 2026-06-02.