Feature: One Year On, Is Anyone Still Playing Drag x Drive?
Drag x Drive, released by Nintendo on August 14, 2025, for Nintendo Switch 2, is a wheelchair basketball sports simulation that generated discussion for its deliberate avoidance of direct disability sports terminology, instead referring to wheelchairs as “vehicles.” The game met with notably poor reception from players and critics upon launch, raising early concerns about its long-term viability. One year later, questions remain about whether the title has retained any meaningful player engagement within the Nintendo Switch 2 community. This release exemplifies Nintendo’s broader efforts to develop new intellectual properties beyond their flagship Mario and Pokémon franchises—following 2025 releases like Pictonico! on mobile and D-Hopper on Virtual Boy. The mixed critical reception of Drag x Drive highlights the challenges established publishers face when venturing into new game concepts and niche sports categories on current-generation hardware.