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Konami Revives Pro Evolution Soccer as an Isekai Comedy Manga
Konami is bringing back the Pro Evolution Soccer name in an unexpected format. Not as a new football game, but as a manga that leans into parody and nostalgia rather than competitive simulation. The series is titled This Time I Got Reincarnated in PES, and it frames its story around the franchise’s most iconic single-player wrapper: Master League.
For a brand that effectively moved on when PES became eFootball, this is a notable use of legacy identity. It is not a promise of gameplay revival. It is a signal that Konami still sees value in the old name and the culture around it, particularly the shared memories tied to Master League’s original cast.
A Master League Isekai, Written for Comedy
The manga is written by Kiminori Wakasugi, known for Detroit Metal City, and the tone follows that lineage. Instead of a sports drama, it uses an isekai setup: a protagonist is transported into the world of Master League, turning what was once a menu-based career mode into a literal fantasy setting.
That choice matters because it aligns with how fans actually remember Pro Evolution Soccer‘s oddities. Master League’s fictional players and names became part of the folklore, and comedy is one of the cleanest ways to reintroduce them without the baggage of modern football licensing.
Castolo and Other Classic Originals Return
Konami is also leaning into the fan-service side of the premise by bringing back familiar Master League originals such as Castolo and Minanda. For long-time players, these names are instantly recognisable, and placing them front and centre is an explicit nostalgia move.
It also positions the manga as something that can function on two levels: newcomers can read it as absurd football-isekai comedy, while veterans read it as a wink to the era when PES identities were built on couch sessions and Master League save files.
The first chapter is available to read for free on K Manga, with subsequent chapters positioned as paid content.
What This Means, and What It Probably Does Not
This does not indicate a return to classic Pro Evolution Soccer as a game. Konami is not promising a reboot or a remaster here. But it does show that the company is willing to revive the PES brand equity in other media, using the pieces fans remember most, the fictional Master League world and its cult cast.
For now, Pro Evolution Soccer is back as a joke with a deep cut punchline, and for a lot of fans, that is the point.
