Sometimes, the Player.bin is not loose on the hard drive but packed inside a CPK file. If a modder provides a CPK file, the Player.bin is located inside that archive under the internal path:
Internal Path:
\common\etc\pesdb\player.bin
To access this, you would need a CPK File Browser/Extractor tool.
For console players, the process is more restrictive because you cannot access the raw file system via standard means. However, you can export Player.bin via USB.
Steps to locate/export Player.bin on PS4/PS5:
On your PC (after export):
The file will appear in:
PS4\SAVEDATA\[User ID]\CUSA18743\
(Note: CUSA18743 is the NA version of PES 2021. EU is CUSA18744.) Player.bin Pes 2021 Location
You can then open this Player.bin using a PES 2021 save editor on your PC.
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 edit Player.bin after starting a Master League save, the changes will not apply to that existing save. You must start a new ML career for the edited player stats to take effect. Sometimes, the Player
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.
For the vanilla (unmodded) version of PES 2021 on PC via Steam, the file structure is straightforward. However, Player.bin is often hidden or generated inside the save folder.
Primary Path:
C:\ProgramData\KONAMI\eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE\save\
Breaking it down:
What you will find: In a clean install, you will see EDIT00000000, SYSTEM00000000, and MOUNT00000000. If you use an editor like PES 2021 Editor by ejogc327, the tool will generate a Player.bin file in this exact directory.
In the context of PES modding:
If you are a seasoned modder or a newcomer trying to customize eFootball PES 2021, you have likely stumbled upon the cryptic file known as Player.bin. This small but mighty file is the backbone of many editing projects, from simple stat adjustments to complete roster overhauls. However, one of the most common frustrations in the PES modding community is simply finding it.
In this guide, we will leave no stone unturned. We will cover the exact Player.bin PES 2021 location for every platform (where applicable), explain what this file does, how to access it with the right tools, and troubleshoot the most common "file not found" errors.