In a lot of ways,Nintendo Switch Sportslooks like a very nostalgic experience. The days ofWii Sportsare long gone, butNintendo Switch Sportsis determined to capture their essence by offering a variety of nostalgic sports while adding a few new sports of its own. It’s been a while since Nintendo produced one of these sports game, soNintendo Switch Sportsis a welcome addition to the Switch’s library, as well as a potential improvement on its predecessors, thanks to its online multiplayer and sharpened motion controls. It does differ in one way that’s a little more controversial:Nintendo Switch Sportsisn’t populated with Miis.
Nintendo has been using Miis as player avatars since the dawn of the Wii, and while they’re not as prominent as they used to be, they’re still commonplace in Nintendo media. That’s why it was a little surprising to see thatNintendo Switch Sportsuses a new style of avatar with bright colors and more realistic faces. Fans are divided on whether these avatars are an improvement on Miis, but whichever side they’re on, fans should note that Miis might not actually be out ofSwitch Sports.On the contrary,theNintendo Switch Sportsrevealprovided solid evidence that Miis will be available in the final version of the game.
RELATED:Nintendo Switch Sports Should Borrow Wii Sports Resort’s Swordplay Showdown
The Nintendo Direct’s Volleyball Set
The trailer forNintendo Switch Sportsis everywhere now, but notably, it cuts out a core part of the game’s reveal. Inthe February 2022 Nintendo Directwhere the game debuted, Nintendo followed up the reveal with a segment where Nintendo’s Yoshiaki Koizumi and Shinya Takahashi played a bit of volleyball to show offNintendo Switch Sportsin more detail. The gameplay moved quickly and didn’t focus on Koizumi and Takahashi’s player characters, but eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that they weren’t playing asNintendo Switch Sports' new avatars. Instead, they were playing as a pair of detailed Miis.
Koizumi and Takahashi’s Miis certainly don’t look quite as cartoony as they used to; they’ve exchanged floating hands and torsos for more realistic bodies that match the proportions ofNintendo Switch Sports' new avatars. Still, there’s no doubt that they’re Miis. Any Wii users will instantly recognize the simple face details used to make the Nintendo executives' avatars.Nintendo Switch Sports' reveal trailer didn’t go into detail about character customization, but Koizumi and Takahashi’s volleyball rally strongly implies that players will have the option to play as Miis instead of the modern avatars.
RELATED:Nintendo Switch Sports is Entering a Crowded Market
Miis' Future in Nintendo Games
It wouldn’t be too strange if Miis were available inNintendo Switch Sports.They appear in minor roles on the Switch in games likeSuper Mario Maker 2,and they recently got much more attention thanks to the highly successfulMiitopiaSwitch port. Nevertheless, it’s unclear just how much Nintendo might prioritize or deprioritize Miis inNintendo Switch Sports.It likely depends on just how much emphasis Nintendo wants to put on the game’s new avatars since it’s possible that they’re meant to be a timeless new avatar design that Nintendo can use on its next console.
WhenNintendo Switch Sportswas revealed, its playable characters were instantly taken as a sign that Miis were being phased out. Fan reaction was mixed; some fans found the new avatars uncanny, while others appreciated the greater level of detail. Because of Nintendo’s volleyball teaser, though, it looks likeNintendo Switch Sportscould preserve Miis, potentially indicating their future role in Nintendo media. While Nintendo may not intend for Miis to be commonplace anymore,Miis might still crop upas an additional, nostalgic avatar option in games likeSwitch Sportswhile more detailed avatars take the spotlight. Thankfully,Nintendo Switch Sportsisn’t very far from release, so fans don’t have to wait long to see how the game handles Miis.
Nintendo Switch Sportsreleases July 17, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Nintendo Switch Sports Proves the Switch Has Plenty of Life Left
