Wii Sportsis an important part of the Nintendo Wii’s legacy. Using the console’s motion sensing Wii Remote, players are able to play virtual versions of popular sports, including tennis, bowling, and golf. The game gave gamers a reason get off the couch and play video games in a way that encouraged physical activity.The popularity ofWii Sportscan be seen through its sales, as the game has sold 82.90 million copies and reigns as the bestselling Wii game of all time. It seems Nintendo wishes to replicate the success ofWii Sportsbecause, at February’s Nintendo Direct event, the company revealedNintendo Switch Sports.
Like its predecessor,Nintendo Switch Sportswill make use of motion sensing controls to allow players to play virtual sports. The game will include some sports fromWii Sportsas well as a few new ones including soccer and volleyball. Nintendo will also be supporting the game post-launch with updates that will add more sports. Although there are plenty of reasons to get excited aboutNintendo Switch Sports, it is strange that Nintendo waited so long to release a game that gamers desperately needed.
RELATED:18 Nintendo Switch Games To Play if You Like Wii Sports
Nintendo Switch Sports Is the Perfect Pack-in Game
The success ofWii Sportscan be attributed to the fact that it offers a unique way to play and interact with video games. It also appeals to gamers who love gaming but also want to get some physical activity into their routine. Perhaps the biggest contribution to the sales ofWii Sportsis the fact that it wasbundled with the Nintendo Wiiin many regions. This was a genius move, as the game has widespread mainstream appeal, and it makes liberal use of the console’s motion controls which was one of its biggest selling points.
IfNintendo Switch Sportshad released closer to thearrival of the Nintendo Switchand been bundled with the hybrid console, it could have piggybacked on the record-breaking sales of the Switch. Since it hit stores in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 100 million units. HadNintendo Switch Sportsbeen bundled with even half those consoles, it would be one of the bestselling games in recent years.
Nintendo Switch Sports' Timing Is Off
The end of 2019 brought with it the COVID-19 pandemic which affected several industries and drastically affected the way many people live their lives. For many industries, including tourism and film, the global pandemic was a near-lethal blow. However, there were a few lucky industries that did not just endure the pandemic but instead thrived. Gaming is one of these industries, as lockdowns and quarantines have left huge swaths of the population stuck at home, causing many of them to turn to gaming to kill boredom.
It did not take long for people to realize that gaming could solve not only the boredom problem but also the exercise craze caused by lockdowns. Consequently,many gamers flocked toRing Fit Adventure, a Nintendo Switch game that promises to keep players active and fit. Demand for the game skyrocketed during the pandemic, causing global shortages. Some retailers responded by doubling and sometimes even tripling the game’s price.
HadNintendo Switch Sportsreleased a few years earlier, it would have been in the perfect position to take advantage of the pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns and closure of many gyms.WithNintendo Switch Sports, players will be able to stay active and play their favorite outdoor sports without having to leave the home. The games get gamers off the couch and onto their feet, as the sports included rely on motion controls. For example, when playing soccer, players can strap a Switch joy-con to their leg and score goals by kicking.
Although COVID-19 is still an ongoing issue, many countries have loosened restrictions, and gyms have opened their doors once again. ThoughNintendo Switch Sportswill likely still be a hit, the game may have missed out on millions of sales by not being around when the demand for exercise games was at its highest. Had it been around in 2020 and 2021, the game might have enjoyed the same astronomicsales thatRing Fit Adventurehas.
Nintendo Switch Sportsis scheduled to release on June 14, 2025 on Nintendo Switch.
