Update 10/7: After it was first revealed during Nintendo’s big June direct, the addition of basketball in Nintendo Switch Sports as a free update has finally arrived and is available right now.
Players who update their copy of the game and jump back in will be able to go head-to-head with friends in streak battles or three-point contests, as well as two-on-two matches and solo challenges with both local and online multiplayer supported.
We gave Nintendo Switch Sports a 7.5/10 in our review back in 2022, with Shannon saying, “Nintendo Switch Sports feels familiar, yet still remains fun after all these years, especially when played with groups of friends. Whilst the offline offering is a little bit basic, what’s on offer online will take advantage of the easy to play, hard to masters gameplay mechanics.”
Original Story: Nintendo aired its promised June Nintendo Direct overnight, giving us around 40 minutes of new announcements, updates, trailers and releases for the Switch.
One of the smaller but more unexpected reveals was the news that Nintendo Switch Sports is getting a new, free update that’ll introduce the sport of basketball to the game, in a nice bit of added support for the 2022 title.
Players will be able to go head-to-head with friends in streak battles or three-point contests, as well as two-on-two matches, and solo challenges when the basketball update lands soon.
You can see the reveal video for Nintendo Switch Sports basketball below:
Here’s what Nintendo had to say about the update:
Basketball is coming to Spocco Square in the Nintendo Switch Sports game as a free update! Use motion controls to sink as many baskets as you can within the time limit in the solo Three-Point Challenge. If you’re looking for friendly competition, then up to four players can compete locally in Five-Streak Battle or Three-Point Contest, and you can dribble, pass and score in two-on-two matches locally or online. This free update for Nintendo Switch Sports dunks its way onto Nintendo Switch this summer.