Player.bin Pes 2021 - Location
If you are unsure which mod installed it, the easiest way to locate the file is to use Windows Search within your game folder.
In the world of football simulation gaming, few titles have commanded the dedication of the modding community quite like eFootball PES 2021. While the vanilla game offers a solid experience, its true longevity stems from the ability to customize nearly every aspect—from stadiums and scoreboards to kits and faces. At the heart of this modification ecosystem lies a small but critical file: Player.bin. Understanding its location is not merely a technical chore; it is the first step toward unlocking the game’s full potential.
The Role of Player.bin
Before discussing location, one must understand what Player.bin actually is. In simple terms, Player.bin is a binary data file that contains the master database of player attributes for PES 2021. This includes names, positions, overall ratings, appearance IDs, stats (speed, shooting, passing), and even compatibility with specific face models. When a user installs a large option file or a patch (like VirtuaRED, Smoke Patch, or Dream Patch), they are often overwriting or editing the Player.bin file to update transfers, add new wonderkids, or correct player likenesses.
The Default and Modded Locations
The location of Player.bin depends entirely on whether the user is playing the vanilla game or has installed a major patch.
Sider-Based Patches: Many modern patches use Sider, an external tool that loads files without overwriting the core game. In this setup, Player.bin is typically found in a path like:
Why This Location Matters
Finding Player.bin is not an academic exercise; it has practical consequences. For a modder, accessing this file allows them to:
Common Pitfalls
Two mistakes are common among new modders. First, they confuse Player.bin with EDIT00000000. The latter saves formation and competition edits, while the former holds raw player data. Second, they forget that the ProgramData folder is hidden by default on Windows. Navigating to the location requires manually typing %ProgramData% into File Explorer’s address bar or enabling “Show hidden files.” Player.bin Pes 2021 Location
Conclusion
The location of Player.bin in PES 2021 is a moving target—shifting from the vanilla game’s encrypted archives to the open, accessible folders of community-made patches. For the average player, it remains an invisible background file. But for the dedicated modder, knowing whether to look in ProgramData\KONAMI or Sider\livecpk is the difference between a game that stagnates and one that continues to evolve. Ultimately, Player.bin is more than a file; it is the DNA of the virtual footballer, and finding it is the key to rewriting his destiny on the digital pitch.
For eFootball PES 2021, the Player.bin file is a core database component that contains player attributes, statistics, and IDs. Its location depends on whether you are accessing the original game files or using a modding tool like Sider or Football Life. Primary File Locations
Original Game Data: The base file is typically packed within the game's .cpk archives. Specifically, it is often found inside the dt10 or data_s2526 files located in the Data folder of your PES 2021 installation directory.
Modded/Sider Environments: If you use live content injection (like Sider), the file path is usually:
.../SiderAddons/livecpk/[ModName]/common/etc/pesdb/Player.bin.
Saved Edit Data: Do not confuse Player.bin with your personal Edit Data, which is stored as EDIT00000000 in your Windows Documents/KONAMI/eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE/[User ID]/save folder. Key Usage and Tools
Editing: To modify Player.bin, users often use the PES Editor by Ejogc3, which requires you to "Open Files" and navigate to the pesdb folder mentioned above.
Database Management: This file is critical for relicensing teams and ensuring that modded face icons (minifaces) or custom players appear correctly in-game.
Check out this guide for a detailed look at finding and using player IDs, which are intrinsically linked to the data within Player.bin: PES ID Guide: Quickly Find Any Player & Team ID PES Modding YouTube• Sep 19, 2025 If you are unsure which mod installed it,
Are you looking to edit specific player stats or are you trying to fix a "missing player" bug in a specific mod?
Since the file is compressed, you cannot simply copy and paste it out. You need a tool to open the CPK archive.
Tools needed: CriPakGUI (or CriPakTools).
Steps:
Player.bin and select "Extract".The popular PES 2021 Football Life (Smoke Patch) is a standalone version. Its file structure is unique.
Default location:
C:\Program Files\SmokePatch\Football Life\Season 2021\save\
Or inside the FL_2021 folder:
C:\Program Files\FL_2021\Sider\livecpk\SMK_Extra15\common\etc\pesdb\
If you cannot find Player.bin, run the included "PES 2021 Editor.exe" from the Smoke folder—it will tell you exactly which file it is reading.
Patches like Smoke Patch (Football Life) often create their own folder structure. Check:
C:\Program Files\SmokePatch21\save\
or
C:\Games\PES 2021\SP Football Life\save\
The unmodified player database from Konami is packed inside CPK archives:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\eFootball PES 2021\download\
The file: dt00_x64.cpk
To extract player data from this CPK, you will need CriPackedFileMaker or Dragon Unpacker. Inside the CPK, look for:
/common/character0/player/player.bin
But wait—there it is! Yes, inside the CPK, you will find a file named player.bin. However, modifying this directly is risky (Steam integrity checks will revert it). Always work with EDIT00000000 or a patch system (like sider).
If you are still lost after reading this guide, follow this logical checklist:
For the vast majority of PC users playing the legitimate Steam version of PES 2021, the Player.bin file is not located in the main game installation folder. Instead, it lives inside your saved data folder.
The standard path is as follows:
C:\Users\[YourWindowsUserName]\Documents\KONAMI\eFootball PES 2021\[YourSteamID]\save\
Let's break this down:
Important Note: By default, vanilla PES 2021 does not generate a
Player.binfile. The game normally stores player data inside theEDIT00000000file. ThePlayer.binis typically created by third-party tools like DinoTem's Editor, PES 2021 Player Editor, or specific modding patches (e.g., Smoke Patch, VirtuaRED).
