The new Nintendo Switch Sports game will be released in April 2022, as the third in the console’s range of Wii Sports titles. What can players expect to find in this game?
Source: Pixabay
What It Covers
There are seven sports to be included in this game. Three of them have featured in previous installments, and these are bowling, tennis, and kendo. Another three are new, in the shape of soccer, badminton, and volleyball. The final sport is golf, which will be added at a later date in an update.
The game will be played using the console’s Joy-Cons in the same way that Wii Sports games were carried out. The controller is held in a way that mimics the game in each case and is used to simulate the motions that each sport needs. New avatars have been created and a leg strap will be included for use in the soccer game.
Some sources suggest that this game could mark the return of iconic player Matt, who is still remembered fondly by many for his swordsmanship and boxing skills in the original Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resorts titles. However, this fact has yet to be confirmed or denied by Nintendo.
Anyone interested in the game and who has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription could play a free test version of Nintendo Switch Sports online during certain dates in February. The feedback from this phase has been largely positive, with many users comparing the new game favorably to the previous releases from Nintendo.
"Young woman tests virtual archery sports" (CC BY 2.0) by verchmarco
Is 2022 a Good Year to Launch the Game?
The fact that the FIFA World Cup occurs in 2022 is perhaps one of the reasons why soccer is included in this game. There's no doubt that the world’s most popular sport will be a hot subject this year. As the first World Cup in the Arab world, the Qatar event at the end of 2022 could bring a wider audience to the sport.
This is likely to lead to more people being interested in playing the game on their consoles. The recent rise in online sports betting could also to more soccer fans online, as the retail betting platforms allow operators to offer multiple product channels and plug and play installation that allows new sites to be set up almost instantly. This could mean that more sports betting options appear during the year, creating even more of a buzz about this global event.
In terms of the competition, the soccer element is up against the UFL game that is also set to be released in 2022, as well as existing competitors like the FIFA series of games. The other sports featured in this game all have high-profile events coming up this year too, but it seems likely that the FIFA World Cup should have the biggest impact on new players.
It looks like Nintendo Switch Sports could be as much of a system seller as the Wii Sports title released back in 2006. The choice of 2022 as the release year might also prove to be an inspired choice by Nintendo.
