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Wow, PES is back! Before I open this up, I want to take a little trip down memory lane because the last time I unboxed a football game from Konami was way back in 2020. At that time, the game was still called PES 2021 on the PS4. That turned out to be the final game carrying the iconic “PES” name. After PES 2021, Konami completely rebranded the franchise to eFootball. Along with the name change, physical copies disappeared because it transitioned entirely into a digital-only release. Furthermore, it shifted its direction toward a free-to-play model, allowing players to download it completely free from their respective digital storefronts.
efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 review
A 13-Year Absence Ends on Nintendo
Things were completely different on Nintendo platforms. The last time I played a Konami football game on a Nintendo system was PES 2014 on the Nintendo 3DS, if I’m not mistaken. Throughout the entire subsequent generation on the Nintendo Switch, Konami completely skipped the platform—there was absolutely no news or updates. It’s a shame, because playing portable football on the go is an amazing experience. But out of nowhere, they have made a grand return on the Nintendo Switch 2! After a 13-year disappearance, it is finally back.
Because of that, today we are going to do an unboxing of this Konami football game that has finally arrived on a Nintendo console. I bought this physical copy for around IDR 500,000 (approx. $30-35 USD). That is actually quite cheap for a brand-new game release on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Quick Game Specs & Packaging:
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Price: IDR 500,000 (~$20 USD digital equivalent / regional pricing)
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Cover Stars: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal, Neymar, Jamal Musiala, Bruno Fernandes, and more.
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Required Storage: ~25 GB mandatory download.
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Contents: Physical game cartridge only (No DLC code inserts included).
efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 game card
Unboxing & Design Impressions
Looking at the cover art, I really like it. It turns out it’s not just Messi featured alone this time; there are tons of star players sharing the spotlight. You can see “Bang Messi”, “Bangdo” (Ronaldo), Lamine Yamal, Neymar, Musiala, Bruno Fernandes, and many others. Flipping it over, you can see the back cover layout. Opening the case reveals that there are no additional DLC code papers inside—it contains just the physical game cartridge itself.
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efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 review game package back
As is standard with modern “key card” physical releases, you are required to download the rest of the game data before jumping in. Make sure you prepare around 25 GB of storage space in order to play this game properly.
efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 game data
Gameplay, Menu Design, and Performance
Moving on to the user interface, this is the menu presentation for eFootball Kickoff on the Nintendo Switch 2. Interestingly, it is entirely different from both the PlayStation 5 console version and the mobile version. The menu layout has been custom-designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2.
efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 menu
Wow, the graphics look amazing! It looks highly comparable to the PS5 version. One thing is absolutely certain: this is definitely not a ported mobile version. The visual fidelity sits comfortably well above the mobile release. On top of that, playing a football game at a smooth, fluid 60 fps feels incredibly satisfying.
“Well, it was going to take something a bit special from there. That wasn’t it. You reckon as Peter, I don’t think you’re going to get many defenders who aren’t as good as this fellow, do they?”
The Post-Release Update Dilemma
I am sharing these thoughts while playing through a match, as this is also my very first time trying out this particular eFootball Kickoff edition. However, I am still a bit confused about where this game stands in terms of long-term support. Will this eFootball Kickoff function like the PS5 version, where it receives regular free roster updates every single year? Or will we be forced to buy a completely new physical edition every year, similar to how the EA Sports FC series operates?
efootball kick-off nintendo switch 2 gameplay
The timing of this release feels a bit awkward. The current football season has already concluded, yet the brand-new season hasn’t officially kicked off. I truly hope Konami decides to continuously update this specific edition. After all, the Switch version is a paid release—it isn’t free-to-play like its counterparts. Even though the digital version only costs around $20 (or roughly 300,000+ IDR), the fact remains that while other platforms get it for free, Nintendo players have to pay upfront.
Final Thoughts
I haven’t had the chance to thoroughly test out all the other included modes and features just yet. I really hope it turns out to be worth the investment. That’s about it for this initial video and overview. I will definitely follow up with a much more comprehensive review later on, but first, I want to dive deeper into all the features to determine if eFootball Kickoff is truly worth your hard-earned money.
Thank you for tuning in to this update from Abiodun (Gamehelptech). See you in the next piece! Bye-bye!
