In case you've spent the last few days living under a Donkey Kong barrel, it's finally happened. Nintendo has confirmed the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch Sports, a successor to one of the best-selling video games of all time, Wii Sports, albeit it was a bundle title.
As announced during the company's first Nintendo Direct event of the year, the Wii game will be getting a full update in time for its April 2022 release. And while some people generally have mixed feelings about companies remaking their games most popular, it's hard to deny. that the news of a new version of Wii Sports has been incredibly well received.
Finally a worthy successor
From what we've seen so far in the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch Sports, it's set to reintroduce updated versions of fan-favorite mini-games like tennis and bowling. The latest installment will add badminton, soccer, volleyball and chambara, while golf will also return later this year as part of a free update.
All sports will be available for online multiplayer, making them even more competitive than ever. It's almost exciting enough to forgive the fact that my personal favorites, boxing and baseball, are conspicuously absent from the Switch version.
The original Wii version was and still is one of the best-selling video games in history. As things stand, it's safe to assume the Switch version should also sell well. Aside from the painfully obvious fact that the Switch is the company's current flagship device, there are several reasons why I think it's the perfect console for a remake of the classic Wii game.
Switch sold more than Wii
First, Nintendo Switch Sports will be available to one of the largest player bases Nintendo has ever had, in addition to the various iterations of the Nintendo DS and Game Boy.
As Nintendo announced in its latest financial results, the Japanese video game company has sold 18,95 million Switch units so far this fiscal year. This means that overall, Nintendo shipped 103,54 million units over the Switch's lifecycle, outselling the Wii by 2 million.
The company also plans to sell even more consoles in the coming years, buoyed by how often Nintendo executives point out that the Switch is only "in the middle of its life cycle." And since we're unlikely to see a Switch Pro model anytime soon, releasing Nintendo Switch Sports now makes perfect sense when the console is already widely available.
Joy-Cons are great for exercise games.
Looking back, another big part of Wii Sports' success could be down to people's love of the Wii Remote. At the time, the iconic controllers were almost revolutionary, encouraging kids and parents alike to replace family nights with more engaging activities.
Enter the Joy-Con controllers.
Since the release of the Nintendo Switch, its two wireless controllers have been a huge selling point for the device. The versatility of the controllers allows the Switch to function as a hybrid device that can be played in handheld or docked mode, adding a certain level of convenience that other current-gen consoles can't. The fact that you also get two controllers from the start means that multiplayer can be enjoyed without having to buy another accessory.
The Joy-Cons are much more technologically advanced than the Wii Remote. Both have motion sensors that replace typical button inputs with movement, though the Joy-Cons are significantly better at measuring this more accurately. Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure was a good example of how the Joy-Con works with exercise-focused games, and even used the rather underused IR sensor to measure your heart rate after a workout.
By the way, one of the accessories used in Ring Fit Adventure will also have a prominent role in Nintendo Switch Sports. Physical copies of the game will include a leg strap, which users can use to attach a single Joy-Con to their thigh for a more interactive soccer minigame experience. However, this feature will not be available at launch; it is expected to arrive in a later update.
swing
Of course, the hardware used in the Joy-Con isn't perfect. Nintendo recently confirmed during a Q&A session that Joy-Con deflection, a well-known issue that causes controller analog sticks to fail with constant use, is more or less inevitable.
In Nintendo Switch Sports, however, you'll generally be using the Joy-Con controllers' motion-sensing capabilities, and swinging them in the air no matter how many times you do so won't cause any wear and tear.
Although the game is scheduled for April, Nintendo plans to run a technical test from February 18 to 20 to ensure that its servers can accommodate a large user base. If you're considering participating, my advice would be to make sure your Joy-Con straps are securely fastened to avoid breaking TVs, which was very common when the Wii was originally released.
Today's best OLED Nintendo Switch deals