Helena Frye
Basketball is one of the latest sports to be added to Nintendo Switch Sports, joining the likes of soccer, tennis, and volleyball. The update was announced in June 2024 and released on July 9, 2024, in the US and July 10, 2024, in the UK. The game mode features 2v2 matches, with players alternating between offense and defense, as well as single-player and multiplayer challenges. With the addition of basketball, Nintendo Switch Sports now offers an even more diverse range of sports for players to enjoy and compete in.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement | June 2024 |
| Date of release | July 9, 2024 (US); July 10, 2024 (UK) |
| Type of update | Free |
| Number of players | 2v2 matches, local and online |
| Game modes | Three-Point Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Five-Streak Battle |
| Other sports in the game | Badminton, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Bowling, Chambara, Golf |
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What You'll Learn
Basketball is the latest addition to Nintendo Switch Sports
Basketball is the latest addition to the Nintendo Switch Sports game. The game, which was released in April 2022, initially featured seven game modes, including Badminton, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Bowling, Chambara, and Golf. In June 2024, Nintendo announced the addition of basketball, which was released as a free update on July 9 in the US and July 10 in the UK.
The basketball game mode allows players to participate in 2v2 matches, with each team comprising two players. These matches can be played locally or online, using the Nintendo Switch Joy Con motion controls. In local play, players can also compete in the Solo Three-Point Challenge, where they attempt to score as many baskets as possible within a time limit of 80 seconds. Up to five players can compete in the Five-Streak Battle, with the goal of scoring the most hoops within the time limit.
The controls for basketball in Nintendo Switch Sports are intuitive and similar to those of other Wii Sports games. Players use the Joy-Con controllers to simulate the movements of the actual sport. The gyroscope functionality embedded within the Joy-Con is used to simulate motion in-game. The ball carrier on offense can attempt a shot at any time after the start of each play using the ZL/ZR buttons. If the ball carrier runs towards the basket fast enough, they may be able to perform a slam dunk.
The addition of basketball to Nintendo Switch Sports has been well-received by players, with some praising the minigames for being easy to pick up. The game sold nearly 190,000 copies in its first week in Japan and topped the weekly sales charts in several countries. With the continued addition of new sports, Nintendo Switch Sports remains a popular and engaging game for players of all ages.
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It was released as a free update on July 9, 2024
Basketball was added to Nintendo Switch Sports on July 9, 2024, in the US, and on July 10, 2024, in the UK. The update was free of charge. It was announced in June 2024, during a Nintendo Direct showcase, that the game would be receiving a new mode featuring basketball, a sport that had previously featured in Wii Sports Resort.
The basketball mode in Nintendo Switch Sports allows for 2v2 matches, with local and online play available. The game mode is similar to 3x3 basketball, with two teams of two players each playing on a single-hoop field. Players switch between playing on offense or defense on each play, and defenders cannot score on an interception. Matches are played first to 12 points, with a time limit of 100 seconds. The game also features a Solo Three-Point Challenge where players can attempt to score as many baskets as possible within a time limit. Up to five players can compete in the 'Five-Streak Battle', where the goal is to score the most hoops within the time limit.
The addition of basketball to Nintendo Switch Sports has been well-received, with some praising the game's easy-to-pick-up minigames and chaotic local multiplayer. The game sold nearly 190,000 copies in its first week in Japan and topped the weekly sales charts in the UK, South Korea, and Taiwan. As of March 31, 2025, Nintendo Switch Sports has sold over 16.27 million copies.
With the addition of basketball, Nintendo Switch Sports now features eight sports: badminton, volleyball, soccer, tennis, bowling, chambara, golf, and basketball. The game was first released in April 2022, with a free-to-play online playtest available in February 2022 for those with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
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Players can compete in 2v2 matches, locally or online
Basketball is one of the eight sports currently available on the Nintendo Switch, with players using the Joy-Con controllers to simulate on-screen motions. The game includes various modes, such as 2v2 matches, where players can compete locally or online.
In 2v2 matches, two players on one team implement their transition offence to score, while the other two players execute their transition defence to prevent scoring opportunities. This mode is available for local play, where players can choose to be on the same team and play against the CPU or have the CPU as their teammate and compete against each other.
The Nintendo Switch Sports version of basketball features a single-hoop field, similar to 3v3 basketball. The teams switch between playing offence and defence with each play, and defenders cannot score on an interception. Matches are played until a team reaches 12 points, with a time limit of 100 seconds.
Basketball Stars is another basketball game that offers 2v2 matches. This game allows players to control both members of their team to compete against other players or the CPU. It also includes special abilities and power moves like alley-oops and mega dunks. Basketball Stars provides an intense experience, allowing players to step into the shoes of legendary basketball players and climb their way up through countless matches.
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There are also single-player modes like the Three-Point Challenge
Basketball is one of the eight sports currently available on the Nintendo Switch, with six other sports having been released at launch. It is the most recently added sport to the game, having been released on July 9, 2024.
Nintendo Switch Sports has been praised for its mini-games and family-friendly entertainment. However, it has also received criticism for its lack of single-player options, with one review noting that playing alone can be "depressingly isolating". This has led to some speculation that Nintendo may continue to support the game into the future, with the potential addition of other sports such as Dodgeball, Baseball, Boxing, and Archery.
Indeed, there are single-player modes available in the basketball version of the game, such as the Three-Point Challenge. In this mode, players must score the most baskets from the three-point line within a time limit. The player can throw 25 balls in 80 seconds, with regular balls awarding one point and multicolour balls awarding double points. The highest possible score is 30, but if the player achieves a perfect score, the remaining time is added to the total.
The Three-Point Challenge is also featured in basketball games available on Google Play, where players can compete in leagues and play 1v1 duels to win prizes.
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Nintendo may add more sports to the game in the future
Nintendo Switch Sports has been out for two years, and with the recent addition of basketball, it seems that Nintendo may continue supporting the game into the future. Nintendo Switch Sports sold over 16.27 million copies as of March 31, 2025, and topped the weekly sales charts in Japan, the UK, South Korea, and Taiwan. With these impressive sales figures, it is likely that Nintendo will continue to add more sports to the game.
There has been no official announcement from Nintendo regarding the addition of new sports to the game. However, there are several sports that fans have been requesting to be added to the game. These include boxing, baseball, archery, dodgeball, and table tennis. Some fans have also suggested adding less traditional "sports" such as scuba diving, gymnastics, and parachuting.
Nintendo has a history of adding new sports to its games over time, with Golf being added to Nintendo Switch Sports in a 2022 update, and Basketball being added in 2024. The game currently includes Bowling, Chambara, Soccer, Tennis, and Volleyball, in addition to the more recently added sports.
While there is no guarantee that Nintendo will add more sports to the game, the company has shown a willingness to listen to fan feedback and incorporate more content into its games over the years. With the success of Nintendo Switch Sports and the continued demand for new sports, it is likely that Nintendo will continue to expand the game in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Nintendo Switch Sports is a video game for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch - OLED Model systems. It features a variety of sports, including basketball, soccer, bowling, and tennis. The game emphasizes motion controls over button inputs, allowing players to use their Switch Joy-Cons to simulate their movements in the game.
No, basketball was added to Nintendo Switch Sports in July 2024. It is not the most recently added sport to the game. However, it was the most recently added sport at the time of writing.
Other sports in Nintendo Switch Sports include golf, volleyball, badminton, and chambara.
