Brand new soccer game confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2

Konami announced the news eFootball game called Kick off!which is due out on the Nintendo Switch 2 this summer. The rebranded series has never been natively developed for the Nintendo Switch 2 before, nor have previous entries been ported to the platform, so this is the first time Konami's flagship soccer game is coming to a Nintendo console as eFootball.

News about Kick off! comes as Nintendo confirms an anime-style soccer game Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters for the original Switch. Both games come out around the same time, but have very different approaches to the sport. World Warriors It relies on fantasy and over-the-top action, while Konami Kick off! focuses on a realistic football experience.

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Revealed during February's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Start of eFootball! is the latest entry in a franchise created exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. It will be released in summer 2026, Kick off! features several modes with major highlights including the World Tour and International Cup. As expected, Kick off! it will also support offline and online competitive play, allowing soccer game fans to compete against friends just like before eFootball titles.

Some longtime fans have noticed that the trailer for Kick off! shows a version that seems more condensed than the full free-to-play eFootball game on other platforms. With several modes apparently missing, they hint that the upcoming spin-off could be a streamlined experience designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2. That means players will have to wait for more details to find out if Kick off! it can be a diminished experience.

Fans want to know if the kickoff! It will be a free game

Another point that still needs clarification is whether Start of eFootball! will be a paid or free-to-play game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Fans are probably aware that eFootball the series has followed a free-to-play model since 2021, when it transitioned Pro Evolution Soccer. Switch 2 owners are now wondering if Konami will stick with this approach on the new console or charge for this latest entry.

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In both cases, it has not been officially confirmed, but some believe that the launch Kick off! as a paid game would be a big mistake. For one thing, the game doesn't appear noticeably different from the free-to-play version in terms of visuals or gameplay. Furthermore, it would be difficult to justify charging players on one platform for a product that remains free on almost every other system.

One thing Switch 2 football fans should be aware of is that the International Cup mode will arrive as DLC and will not be available at launch. Many see this as a sign that the base game could be free-to-play, with Konami encouraging spending through microtransactions instead of charging for the game itself.

For those who don't know, the International Cup is the in-game equivalent of the actual FIFA World Cup. With the next tournament being held together in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Konami may want to take advantage of the timing by offering a similar mode in Kick off!. This means that fans will have to wait for more official details.

Based on the game trailer Start of eFootball! It appears to be a digital exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2.

It has already been confirmed that eFootball the spin-off will launch in the summer of 2026 on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, some fans are speculating that the release could come in June, in line with when the actual FIFA World Cup competitions begin. This means that Konami usually introduces its annual eFootball update in August or September in recent years, which also remains a possible release window Kick off!.