If you’re a PES 2018 fan you’re probably used to the grumbles surrounding the Pro Evolution Soccer series’ lack of licensed kits and badges but, thankfully, there’s an easy-to-install patch for PC and PS4 fans (Xbox One owners are out of luck, I’m afraid, although you can manually edit team names, kits and badges, as we outline below) to get the brand spanking-new kits and badges. All updated for the 2017/18 season, too, which is handy. Don't worry, the option file is easy to install, and we'll walk you through the process, which will take 15 to 30 minutes tops. Best of all, the results are genuinely incredible, negating any FIFA envy. Here’s how to get the option file onto PES 2018 so you’re raring to go.
UPDATE: October 5th, 2017. Where can you find the best option files? How does the official Data Pack affect your edited teams and kits?
Konami have just released official Data Pack 1 which updates 100 player faces (loving the new Luis Suarez), adds new Master League cut scenes, new kits for Atletico Madrid and A.S. Roma, plus more updated boots and kits. Data Pack 1 should automatically-download and – at the time of writing – doesn't appear to affect any changes made by option file downloads. Which is very good news indeed. Data Pack 2 is mooted for a mid-November release.
There's now a variety of great PES 2018 option files available for PS4 owners, both free and premium. We recommend the free-to-download PES World option files, which include real teams and kits for: English Premier League, English Championship, France Ligue 1 and 2, Italian Serie A and B, Spanish La Liga, Portugese Primeira Liga; plus the Dutch, Scottish, Japanese and Mexican main divisions. Don't forget to download their 'PES Competition' option file for all the correct competition logos and names. They've also created more accurate versions of the Champions League, Carabao Cup and the UEFA Nations League.
PES World are still reporting a technical issue that affects the importing of some files: "It has come to our attention that on importing a licensed team file a bug within the game prevents certain images from copying over. we are unsure what causes this but Konami have been notified of this issue. In the meantime we have a temporary fix". Their suggested solution is to 'first import stadium images only then import manager and team files (.ted)'.
- Want a good, all-in-one, PS4 option file? Try the PES Universe V1 option file, with the real names and kits for the Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, La Liga and Serie A. It's free and no registration is required.
The PES Universe option files feature all major teams, leagues and kits, but some are unlocked via a tiered membership service, with different levels of access requiring a fee. Bronze membership is free, but requires a sign up. Silver membership is £5 for 10 months, and Gold membership £10 for 10 months. Follow @PESUniverse on Twitter for updates on their servers and option file. We'll keep you updated as more patches and option files appear. Please share your findings in the comments below.
What you'll need:
· A USB stick*
· An internet connection
· (and that’s it – no, seriously!)
* If you don't have a USB stick, we can recommend you head to Amazon UK to pick up the Kingston Data Traveller 16GB for £5.79 or, if you're looking for something a little bigger for capture, Amazon also has the SanDisk Ultra 64GB for £19.79.
Step-by-step guide to installing an option file (PS4)
· First things first, format your USB drive to FAT32. Right-hand click on your USB device and go to Properties to check if it is/isn’t in FAT32 format already. Follow the instructions if not; it’s nice and straightforward.
· This next bit is important: create a separate folder on your USB device and name it WEPES. Some option files, like PES World, automatically create this folder structure for you when you unzip their download.
· Go to your website of choice for option files and PES 2018 patches. PESUniverse, in many people's eyes, are the best the internet has to offer for consistent updates, but feel free to look around. PES World are also offering regularly updated option files, and their site is easier to navigate (head to the Downloads section).
· Once there, download an option file (most places come with detailed instructions in case you get stuck) and pop the unzipped files – use WinRAR if needs be – into the WEPES folder. Please note: if you're using the PES World option files, they require a separate download for each league, which unzip to create their own WEPES folder. You need to aggregate the files for each league into one central WEPES folder on your USB stick.
· Next, place your USB into your PS4 and fire up PES 2018. Easy-peasy.
· Go to the Edit screen and make your way to Data Management and then, finally, the Import/Export screen
· Hit Import Team and make sure all boxes are checked on the Select File page.
· The Detailed Setting page after that needs to have all three boxes unticked – then go for it.
· Once the option file works its magic (it’ll take around 5-10 minutes), be sure to save in the Data Management screen at the very end.
· If you’ve only downloaded kits, badges, and names (or if that’s all you want) then you’re finished. Go play. If not, make your way back to the Data Management screen to upload those pesky competition logos.
· Go to Import/Export and click Import Images. Find the Competition Emblems option and tick all of the logos you want to import then press OK. Voila!
· Finally, stick some music on because you’ve got to add the competition logos manually. Find the Competitions menu on the Edit screen and match the logos you’ve downloaded to the correct competitions. (Be sure to Google the images - you don’t want to mix up your La Liga 123 and your Serie Bs!) All done!
Step-by-step guide (PC)
· Find a PC-specific PES 2018 patch (don’t expect one straight away, though!)
· Run the installer upon download – though it goes without saying be wary of malicious files. Always check around for the safest option file.
· The installer should then ask for a folder to install the files to. Save them to your /Steam/SteamApps/Common/Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 folder.
· And that’s it! Easy, right? No more Man Blue for you ever again.
What do I do if I'm an Xbox One owner?
Do you want the bad news or the worse news? The bad news is that, as Xbox One doesn’t support USB data transfers into games, there’s no way you can download option files or patches. The worse news? You can have the correct kits, badges, team names etc etc but you’ll have to do it all manually. Team names are easy enough (see below) but the kits and badges will take much, much longer and probably require some sort of fancy art degree. Sorry about that.
Will it work online?
Unfortunately not. Don’t worry, everyone plays as Barca anyway.
PES 2018 - real team names
If you can’t figure out your West Glamorgan Cities from your Lancashire Clarets then look no further. You can find the real names for the Premier League and English Championship below as well as filling in the gaps for the Spanish and Italian top divisions.
Barclays Premier League:
Arsenal FC – Arsenal FC
East Dorsetshire – AFC Bournemouth
East London – West Ham United
East Midlands – Leicester City
East Sussex – Brighton and Hove Albion
Hampshire Red – Southampton FC
Hertfordshire – Watford FC
Lancashire Claret – Burnley City
Liverpool FC – Liverpool FC
London FC – Chelsea FC
Man Blue – Manchester City
Man Red – Manchester United
Merseyside Blue – Everton
North East London – Tottenham Hotspur
South Norwood – Crystal Palace
ST Red – Stoke City
Tyneside – Newcastle United
West Glamorgan City – Swansea City
West Midlands Stripes – West Bromwich Albion
West Yorkshire Town – Huddersfield Town
English Championship/English 2nd Division:
Berkshire Blues – Reading FC
Derbyshire – Derby County
East Anglia Town – Ipswich Town
Fulham FC – Fulham FC
GL Blue White – Millwall FC
Hounslow – Brentford
LN White – Preston Town
Norfolk City – Norwich City
North West London – QPR
Notts Red – Nottingham Forest
NW White Black – Bolton Wanderers
South Wales – Cardiff City
South Yorkshire Blues – Sheffield Wednesday
ST Yellow – Burton Albion
SW Red – Bristol City
SY Red – Barnsley
Teesside – Middlesbrough
Wearside – Sunderland
West Midlands City – Birmingham City
West Midlands Village – Aston Villa
WM Gold – Wolves
YH Red Black – Sheffield United
Yorkshire Orange – Hull City
Yorkshire Whites – Leeds United
Serie A/Italian 1st Division (one unlicensed team):
PM Black White – Juventus
Spanish 1st Division/La Liga:
AN Cyan White – Malaga CF
AN Green White – Real Betis
AN White Red – Sevilla FC
Atletico de Madrid – Atletico de Madrid
CN Yellow Blue – UD Las Palmas
CT Blue White – RCD Espanyol
CT Carmine White – Girona FC
ED Blue Burgundy – Levante UD
ED Yellow – Villarreal
FC Barcelona – FC Barcelona
GA Blue White – RC Deportivo
GA Cyan – Celta Vigo
MD Blue White – CD Leganes
MD Cobalt Blue – Getafe CF
MD White – Real Madrid
PV Blue Red – SD Eibar
PV Blue White – Real Sociedad
PV Sky Blue White – Alaves
PV White Red – Athletic Bilbao
Valencia CF – Valencia CF
We hope you find this guide useful, and please let us know in the comments – by tapping 'See Comments' below – if you find a particularly good option file, or want to share any tips for how fellow PES 2018 players can optimise the game via settings for the best experience.
