July 22 – Borussia Dortmund (BVB) have been named as the latest Premium Partner to sign up with Konami Digital Entertainment, marking the club’s return to the eFootball video game franchise.
Announced during the eFootball World Festival in Tokyo, the collaboration brings the two parties back together following a previous licensing agreement that lasted until 2018.
As a result, current BVB players and club legends will be integrated into the eFootball platform, which aims to provide a more immersive and authentic digital football experience.
Konami recently extended its partnership with FIFA through 2026, positioning the Japanese gaming giant as a serious challenger to EA’s traditional dominance.
After ending their partnership with EA in 2022, FIFA’s decision sent a seismic shift through an industry worth billions annually.
“Virtual football is a central part of today’s fan culture—especially for younger generations,” said Carsten Cramer, Managing Director of Borussia Dortmund.
Gaming engagement operates 24/7, transcends geographical boundaries, and provides opportunities to monetise interaction in ways traditional football cannot. Signal Iduna Park’s virtual simulation might attract more weekly visitors than its physical counterpart.
Konami’s portfolio expansion reflects broader industry consolidation. The FIFAe World Cup’s migration from EA Sports FIFA to eFootball validates Konami’s free-to-play model over EA’s premium pricing strategy.
“We’re proud to welcome Borussia Dortmund back to the eFootball™ family,” said Shinji Namekawa, President of Konami Digital Entertainment B.V.
The partnership’s influencer and streaming components reveal football’s evolving consumption patterns. Traditional broadcast audiences age upward while gaming streams capture younger demographics that advertisers crave.
Football clubs increasingly resemble entertainment franchises operating across multiple platforms. Physical stadiums anchor the operation, but digital experiences drive growth. In modern football, winning means conquering both grass and pixels.