After several months of stewing, Nintendo motivated the masses to mark their calendars with a bevy of new games during last week’s Direct presentation. Long-awaited additions like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and a modern Chrono Cross remaster were shown as coming later this year, but 2022 is also set to reintroduce fans to a Switch successor of the beloved time-wasting Wii Sports games, aptly titled Nintendo Switch Sports. We got a fairly good look at the follow-up during the big event, but fans will actually get the chance to play it themselves this coming weekend.

Ahead of Nintendo Switch Sports’ release, an online play test is set to be held between Friday, February 18th and Sunday, February 20th, exclusively for members of Nintendo Switch Online. According to the game’s website, games of Bowling, Cambara, and Tennis will be available to play via random matchmaking, with Nintendo aiming to “evaluate various technical aspects and help improve the quality of the game.” Registration is to begin later this week on February 15th at 5 pm PST. A rundown of available play test times can be viewed below.

Nintendo Switch Online Play Test Times

• February 18th
  • 7:00-7:45 pm PST
• February 19th
  • 3:00-3:45 am PST
  • 11:00-11:45 am PST
  • 7:00-7:45 pm PST
• February 20th
  • 3:00-3:45 am PST

Nintendo Switch Sports was revealed last week as a modern spin on the classic Wii Sports series, which sees players harness custom Mii characters and compete in a series of distinct minigames. This new iteration features 6 total games at launch – Tennis, Bowling, Chambara, Soccer, Badminton, and Volleyball – with each supporting local multiplayer, online friend matches, and random matchmaking. As with pervious entries, Nintendo Switch Sports also supports unique motion control functionality, including a Leg Strap accessory made for playing ‘Shoot Out’ mode in Soccer.

Though Nintendo Switch Sports comes only 6 games (down from as many as 13 featured in spin-off Wii Sports Resort), Nintendo has suggested the possibility of more showing up as post-release DLC. A staple of the original series, Golf is set to be added to Nintendo Switch Sports in a free sometime in the fall, while another free update slated for summer will extend Leg Strap functionality for play during regular Soccer matches. With any luck, more classic minigames such as Basketball and Boxing might join the title as well.

Nintendo Switch Sports is set to release for Nintendo Switch on April 29th.

What do you think? Are you ready to test your Mii might in Nintendo Switch Sports, or are you bummed a certain game isn’t returning? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!​

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