Nintendo finally released a new Nintendo Direct, and it touched on quite a few anticipated subjects. Kirby and the Forgotten Land revealed major features in a new trailer, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 got announced by Monolith Soft. As is often the case with Nintendo Directs, there were also some pretty unexpected announcements. Aside from Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings coming to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo announced Nintendo Switch Sports, a new compilation of sports games meant to channel the motion-control athletic action of Wii Sports. Nintendo Switch Sports will offer players a mix of old and new sports, including Volleyball, Golf, and Badminton.
The concept of Nintendo Switch Sports isn't particularly surprising, given how beloved Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort were in their time. If anything is surprising, it's the game's fairly limited selection of sports. There are only six sports in the game by default, with Golf planned to join as a seventh in fall 2022. That may not be a weakness, though; on the contrary, it could be a major strength. Nintendo is an enthusiastic purveyor of DLCs nowadays, meaning Nintendo Switch Sports could get a ton of new sports added as DLCs in the future, whether they're lifted from previous Wii Sports games or entirely new to the series.
New Games as Nintendo Switch Sports DLC
Nintendo Switch Sports covers plenty of Wii Sports' greatest hits, like Bowling and Tennis, but there's still lots of Wii Sports content that could join the game. Nintendo's original Wii Sports featured Boxing and Baseball, both of which seem like perfectly viable DLC additions to Nintendo Switch Sports. The new sports game also has access to a trove of compelling games that first appeared in Wii Sports Resort. The Wii Sports sequel set on vacation resort Wuhu Island introduced Archery, Air sports, Table tennis, Cycling, and Basketball. Nintendo Switch Sports' Chambara mode is a clear spiritual successor to Wii Sports Resort's Swordplay, but there's a lot that Switch Sports could still borrow.
Alternatively, Nintendo Switch Sports could focus on adding games that Wii Sports hasn't tried out yet. Boxing may appear in Wii Sports, but Switch Sports could add a unique wrestling mode instead of revisiting trodden ground. Nintendo could also focus on adding international sports to its Wii Sports successor in order to create a well-rounded party game. Ice hockey, rugby, and cricket are just a few examples of sports with huge international audiences that could give Nintendo Switch Sports broader appeal.
Beyond New Switch Sports
Switch Sports DLC doesn't have to stop at adding new sports either. While the game's reveal trailer doesn't go into depth about player avatars, it suggests that players can choose between creating a Mii to play as or using a new style of avatar unique to Nintendo Switch Sports. If players can freely customize these playable characters, Nintendo could add cosmetic DLCs similar to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Mii Fighter costumes, letting players reference or dress up as Nintendo characters while playing sports with friends. To play into nostalgia, Nintendo could also consider a Wii Sports Resort DLC that takes fans back to Wuhu Island, creating alternate settings for the sports themselves that players can choose from.
Nintendo often serves up nostalgia in surprising ways, and Nintendo Switch Sports looks like no exception. Bringing back the old Wii Sports logo and describing it as a new installment in the Wii Sports series makes Nintendo Switch Sports a treat for Wii lovers. If Nintendo really wants to push that identity, it has ample opportunity to develop DLC that touches on other Wii Sports concepts. At the same time, Nintendo shouldn't be afraid to add expansions that drive home Nintendo Switch Sports' identity as a new generation of Nintendo sports game. Hopefully, Nintendo does all it can to reach Nintendo Switch Sports' full potential.
Nintendo Switch Sports releases on April 29, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.