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 that Nintendo Switch Sports uses 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 of Switch Sports. On the contrary, the Nintendo Switch Sports reveal provided solid evidence that Miis will be available in the final version of the game.
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The Nintendo Direct’s Volleyball Set
The trailer for Nintendo Switch Sports is everywhere now, but notably, it cuts out a core part of the game’s reveal. In the February 2022 Nintendo Direct where 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 off Nintendo Switch Sports in 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 as Nintendo 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 of Nintendo 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.
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Miis’ Future in Nintendo Games
It wouldn’t be too strange if Miis were available in Nintendo Switch Sports. They appear in minor roles on the Switch in games like Super Mario Maker 2, and they recently got much more attention thanks to the highly successful Miitopia Switch port. Nevertheless, it’s unclear just how much Nintendo might prioritize or deprioritize Miis in Nintendo 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.
When Nintendo Switch Sports was 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 like Nintendo Switch Sports could 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 up as an additional, nostalgic avatar option in games like Switch Sports while more detailed avatars take the spotlight. Thankfully, Nintendo Switch Sports isn’t very far from release, so fans don’t have to wait long to see how the game handles Miis.
Nintendo Switch Sports releases April 29, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
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