Wii Sports on the Nintendo Switch is an excellent idea that needs to be explored.
Fourteen years ago, Nintendo created one of its biggest casual gaming hits with Wii Sports, a game that pretty much sold on a one-to-one basis with the Nintendo Wii when it came out. And how could it not? It created so many sports experiences with a simplistic, yet highly effective, set-up. Whoever wasn’t playing Bowling was clearly playing Tennis, or even Golf.
The game managed to sell 82 million copies by the end of 2017, marking it as one of Nintendo’s biggest successes. But now, in the face of the Coronavirus, the game’s popularity is surging yet again, with people being stuck inside and looking for something fun to play.
Based on this report from NintendoLife, sales for used copies of the game have spiked in the past few months, with copies going for around $30 or more. Considering its age, that’s a genuine surprise – but has us asking Nintendo an interesting question.
Would a Nintendo Switch release be out of the question?
It’s a good time for sports
Although the game is called Wii Sports and not, well, Switch Sports, there’s no question that it could find a new audience on Nintendo’s platform. The JoyCons make it ideal to replicate the motion-style controls that the original Wii game had. And being able to play it on the go – like at the hospital or even in the park if you’re social distancing well enough – is a novel idea.
Not to mention the fact that a port wouldn’t really require that much effort. It’s a Wii game, and we’ve seen a number of classic Nintendo titles make their way to the Switch platform with ease. So it’d be minimal at best bringing the game to the system. The only obstacle we could see getting in the way is revitalizing the controls so they take advantage of the JoyCons. But clearly Nintendo is a master of this domain at this point, so it’s no big deal.
Nintendo could sell it for cheap and make a fortune
Let’s look at the general popularity of Wii Sports. It sold over 82 million copies over the decade that it released. And it became a huge hit in that time, probably one of Nintendo’s biggest.
Now imagine if the company re-released the game somewhere around the $10-$20 range. People would flock to it instantly, even if it was a port of the best-selling follow-up Wii Sports Resort. That’s because it gives people an alternative to play when they’re stuck inside – and without having to pay out the nose for a physical copy that’s no doubt seen better days. (Looking at you, scratched discs.)
Nintendo could even follow a structure as they did with Wii Sports Club on the Wii U, selling each sport separately (give us Bowling and Tennis and we are good), or even making it an affordable all-in-one package. It worked before, even with the Wii U’s abysmal sales. Now imagine how quickly it could multiply on the Switch.
It’s a game that’s adaptable to everyone
The universal appeal from Wii Sports comes from the fact that everyone can play. We’ve seen this be a popular favorite in nursing homes, bowling alleys, bars…hell, everywhere. Now imagine the accessibility of the Switch being added to that, and people being able to play it wherever they please. Even without the need of a monitor, since the Switch would provide all the action on its screen.
It’s a move that makes sense. Nintendo would benefit greatly from sales; people would benefit from enjoying the game all over again without needing to get a Wii or Wii U system on the side; and, hey, it would bring so many people together. The only question is if Nintendo could make enough Switch systems right now to upkeep with its popularity since they’re becoming pretty scarce as of late.
C’mon, Nintendo. If there was ever a time for a Wii Sports re-release, it’s definitely now. At least give us Bowling!
