In 2006, Nintendo releasedWii Sportsas a pack-in title for its new Nintendo Wii console. A mini-game compilation designed to show off the Wii’s motion control capabilities,Wii Sportsbecame a cultural phenomenon, and can be given a lot of credit for the Wii’s massive success.Wii Sportsis one of the best-selling video games of all time and is still talked about to this day, so it’s a bit strange that Nintendo hasn’t tried to revive it for the Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s most successful console since the Wii, to the point where some think thatSwitch sales could even surpass the Wii. The Nintendo Switch is a unique hybrid of a traditional home video game console and a handheld, allowing it to appeal to both those who enjoy console gaming and handheld gaming. It can also appeal to those who enjoy motion controls, as the Switch Joy-Cons can effectively function as more advanced Wii remotes.
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With theNintendo Switch Joy-Conshaving motion control andWii Sportsbeing such a massive success for the company, it seems like now it would be the perfect time to revive the game for the Switch. Here is whyWii Sportswould be a great addition to the Nintendo Switch library of games.
Casual Crowd
It’s no secret thatWii Sports' mass appeal included a great number of casual gamers. These are people who don’t necessarily label themselves as gamers, and may in fact have never really played video games outside ofWii Sportsand some select other titles. Based on the Nintendo Switch’s success, it’s a safe bet that there is some overlap, with quite a few casual gamers likely buying the Switch for theexpress purpose of playingAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
This means that the Nintendo Switch likely has millions of owners who have fond memories ofWii Sportsand may be inclined to pick up a new entry in the series.
Wii Sports Resort and Sports Club
Nintendo has previously attempted to create sequels toWii SportswithWii Sports Resortand most recently, 2013’sWii Sports Club.Wii Sports Resortearned positive reviews at the time of its release, with it featuring a new set of mini-games designed to take advantage of theWii MotionPlus accessory.Wii Sports Club, by comparison, was not nearly as well-received, though it still brought some new features to the table. Mainly,Wii Sports Clubadded online support for classicWii Sportsgames, while also including some new functionality inspired by the Wii U GamePad.
TheWii U was a sales failure for Nintendo, with a fraction of the install base that the Nintendo Switch enjoys. The Nintendo Switch has improved online functionality in general when compared to the Wii U, and so Nintendo could take another crack at aWii Sportgame with online, but provide a more reliable and engaging product this time. ManyWii Sportsfans likely didn’t even knowWii Sports Clubexisted, and Nintendo could potentially sell the game on the “Wii Sportsbut with online” premise alone.
Switch Lite Problem
There is one problem that Nintendo could potentially run into when it comes to revivingWii Sportson the Nintendo Switch, and that is the Nintendo Switch Lite. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a cheaper, handheld-only variant of the Switch, and it could be that much of the casual crowd went that route instead of buying the more expensive version of the console. This could potentially hurt interest in aWii Sportsrevival. However, there is some precedence for Nintendo Switch games not being compatible with Switch Lite, so maybe it won’t have nearly as much of an impact as some would think.
A variety of Nintendo Switch games are not compatible with Switch Lite consoles, and in fact, many of them are the kinds of games that would also appeal toWii Sportsfans. This includes the Switch launch title and mini-game compilation1-2-Switch, as well as games like theJust Danceseries andSuper Mario Party.Ring Fit Adventure, essentially a spiritual successor to theWii Sportsspin-offWii Fit, is also not compatible with the Switch Lite. Otherwise, Nintendo may be able to think of a creative way forWii Sportsto work on the Switch Lite, like how it has offeredalternate control schemes forThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD.
Ring Fit
Speaking ofRing Fit,Ring Fit Adventureis, as previously mentioned, arguably a spiritual successor toWii Fit. It has enjoyed tremendous success as both an entertainment product and an exercise tool, and it could have laid the foundation for Nintendo to bring back theWii Sportsfranchise. Maybe instead of angling it as a newWii Sportsgame, Nintendo could instead look to continue theRing Fitseries, potentially even using the Ring-Con accessory for some of the mini-games.
Super Switch Pack-In Title
Then again, theWii Sportsbrand on its own may just be too recognizable to give up. And it could be something that could very well convince newcomers to buy a Switch and help Nintendo reach its lofty sales goals for its latest system. Perhaps a newWii Sportstitle could be a pack-in with therumored Super Switch console, serving as a technical showcase for what that device brings to the table.
