PES 2013 Patch 2017
In the vast and ever-evolving world of football gaming, certain titles achieve a legendary status that transcends their release date. They become benchmarks, cultural touchstones whispered about with reverence by long-time fans. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is one such title. Released in 2012, it is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the series, a perfect storm of fluid gameplay, tactical depth, and unparalleled “feel.” But what happens when a beloved game’s official support ends and the football world moves on? For PES 2013, the answer was simple: its community refused to let it go. This is the story of how, in 2017, a four-year-old game felt more current than ever, thanks to the tireless dedication of modders and the magic of the “2017 patch.”
The Enduring Magic of a Classic
To understand why anyone would bother patching a 2013 game in 2017, one must first appreciate what made PES 2013 so special. It was the last title before Konami’s major transition to the Fox Engine, an engine that, while graphically impressive, initially struggled to replicate the beloved gameplay of its predecessor. PES 2013 was built on three core pillars: Full Control, Player ID, and ProActive AI.
- Full Control: This system gave players an unprecedented level of command over every pass, shot, and first touch. It was intuitive yet deep, allowing for a creative and unpredictable style of play that felt genuinely player-driven.
- Player ID: Konami meticulously recreated the signature moves, playing styles, and mannerisms of the world’s top 50 players. Cristiano Ronaldo moved and shot like Ronaldo; Iniesta dribbled and passed like Iniesta. This added a layer of authenticity that made the superstars on screen feel like their real-life counterparts.
- ProActive AI: The AI was smarter and more balanced than ever before. Goalkeepers were improved, and defenders held their lines intelligently, making for a challenging and rewarding experience that still holds up today.
This combination created a game that was simply fun. The ball physics felt weighty and authentic, the player movements were responsive, and every goal felt earned. It was this core gameplay that players were desperate to preserve, even as the official game became outdated.
The Community Becomes the Developer
When the 2016-2017 football season kicked off, the world of football had changed dramatically. Leicester City were the reigning Premier League champions, Paul Pogba had made a world-record return to Manchester United, Gonzalo Higuaín had controversially moved to Juventus, and Zlatan Ibrahimović was ready to take England by storm. The official PES 2017 reflected these changes, but many players found its gameplay a step back from the 2013 masterpiece.
This is where the modding community stepped in. Teams of dedicated fans and amateur developers from around the globe, like the legendary teams behind PTE Patch, Smoke Patch, and others, took on the monumental task of dragging PES 2013 into the modern era. A “2017 patch” wasn’t just a minor update; it was a total conversion, a labor of love that completely overhauled the game from the ground up.
A typical PES 2013 patch for the 2017 season would include an astonishing amount of new content:
- Complete Roster Updates: Every major league was updated with the latest transfers. Pogba was at Manchester United, N’Golo Kanté was patrolling Chelsea’s midfield, and all the promoted and relegated teams were corrected. Player stats were often re-evaluated to reflect their current form.
- Authentic Kits: Every team, from Real Madrid to the newly promoted Burnley, received their official 2016-2017 season kits—home, away, and third strips included.
- Visual Enhancements: The patches brought a visual refresh that was night and day compared to the vanilla game. This included thousands of new and updated player faces, new boots from Nike, Adidas, and Puma, and the official match balls for leagues like La Liga and the Premier League.
- Broadcast Realism: To complete the immersion, modders would create new scoreboards and replay wipes that mimicked the TV broadcast styles of Sky Sports, beIN Sports, and others. Stadium adboards were updated to reflect the 2017 sponsors, making the entire experience feel incredibly current.
- New Teams and Leagues: Many patches went the extra mile by adding entire new leagues, such as the German Bundesliga, which was famously absent from the original game due to licensing issues.
Why Not Just Play the New Game?
For outsiders, the question was obvious: “Why go through all this trouble? Why not just buy PES 2017?” The answer lies in a combination of preference, accessibility, and nostalgia.
First and foremost was the gameplay. For a significant portion of the player base, the Fox Engine’s gameplay in PES 2017 felt slower and less responsive. They yearned for the arcade-like fluidity and creative freedom of PES 2013. The patches offered the perfect compromise: the best gameplay engine with the latest modern presentation.
Second was accessibility. PES 2013 had significantly lower system requirements, meaning it could run smoothly on older PCs and laptops that would struggle with the more demanding new titles. This kept the game alive for a huge global audience that didn’t have high-end gaming hardware.
Finally, it was about community and passion. Playing a patched PES 2013 in 2017 felt like being part of an exclusive club. It was a testament to the power of a dedicated fanbase to preserve a game they loved, refusing to let it become a relic of the past. The forums and websites where these patches were shared were buzzing with activity, a collective effort to keep the dream alive.
The Enduring Legacy
The phenomenon of the PES 2013 patch was not a one-off for the 2017 season. It continued for years, and astoundingly, you can still find patches today that update the game to the current 2024 or 2025 seasons. It proves that a strong gameplay foundation is timeless.
The PES 2013 patch for 2017 represents more than just a mod. It’s a symbol of how a video game can evolve into a living platform, sustained not by its creators, but by the sheer will of its players. It highlights a golden era where gameplay was king, and it serves as a powerful reminder that when a community loves a game enough, its heart will never stop beating.