In August of this year, Nintendo launched Drag x Drive™, a groundbreaking sports title for the Nintendo Switch™ 2.
The game's innovative use of Joy-Con 2 motion controls has attracted attention across the gaming industry for injecting fresh, intuitive gameplay into the competitive sports genre.
A recent developer interview, part of Nintendo's 'Ask the Developer' series, offers invaluable insight into the creative journey behind this distinctive release, illuminating the team's inspirations, design challenges, and commitment to accessibility. Drag x Drive stands out as a new genre-blending sports game, directly inspired by wheelchair basketball, rugby, motocross, BMX, and skateboarding.
Players control wheelchair-like vehicles in adrenaline-fueled 3-on-3 matches, maneuvering with the Joy-Con 2 controllers as if moving dual mice on a desk—a bold departure from traditional button-driven gameplay.
The project director, Yoshinori Konishi—a veteran with programming credits on Mario Kart™ and Wii Fit™ Plus—oversaw the game's feature and technical development, emphasizing innovation and realistic yet enjoyable controls. Konishi explained that Drag x Drive was born from a prototyping initiative meant to foster unconventional ideas across hardware and genres.
"We gathered a cross-disciplinary team to experiment with new mechanics, without limiting ourselves to pre-existing genres or platforms," he shared.
This approach led to programmer Hiroki Hamaue developing a unique control scheme combining mouse-like gestures with motion controls.
Initially inspired by the next-generation Joy-Con 2’s mouse capabilities, Hamaue explored how classic flick and sliding gestures—akin to those used on a smartphone—could translate to fresh gameplay.
The physical action of sliding the controllers mimicked wheelchair propulsion, which quickly became a core mechanic. The team’s goal was to create movement that was intuitive and satisfying for all players.
They faced early challenges: controlling the virtual wheelchair accurately proved tricky because subtle differences in a player’s input could send the vehicle off course.
By implementing directional correction and iterative fine-tuning—drawing upon lessons from Mario Kart development—the team succeeded in bridging the gap between realistic user expectations and responsive in-game control. The sports theme evolved as the team tested gameplay built around movement, tackling, and ball handling.
Early playtesting revealed that the satisfaction of crashing into objects outweighed the thrill of evasion, shaping a gameplay loop focused on action and dynamic interaction.
Recognizing that traditional dribbling might overshadow the new control method, the developers drew on elements from wheelchair rugby—where tackling and possession changes amplify the excitement.
This streamlined the experience, letting players focus on mastering movement and execution. Art director Takahisa Ikejiri—formerly of the Splatoon™ series and Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder—led the visual design, accentuating arm and wheel motion for visual clarity and player feedback.
Sound designer Isami Yoshida, known for work on Splatoon 3 and The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom, ensured that sound design complemented both realism and fun, collaborating closely with composers to enhance immersion. Unusually, the Drag x Drive team invested heavily in firsthand research.
Without daily wheelchair experience, they consulted a wide range of sources—from athlete interviews to manga—then purchased everyday and sports wheelchairs for hands-on trials in their office.
Team outings to wheelchair basketball clinics deepened their understanding, impacting design and gameplay balance.
Moreover, real wheelchair basketball athletes were invited to test the prototype.
Their positive feedback was crucial, with developers expressing confidence in the game’s ability to authentically spotlight the sport while appealing to seasoned gamers and newcomers alike. Since its release on August 14, Drag x Drive has contributed to Nintendo’s reputation for accessible, innovative experiences on the Nintendo Switch 2.
With its fresh take on competitive sports and commitment to authentic, intuitive play, Drag x Drive exemplifies the creative drive and attention to detail that define Nintendo’s first-party development.
Whether you're a fan of motion gaming or new to the eShop’s evolving catalog, Drag x Drive stands as a testament to what can happen when experienced developers collaborate without limits.
The game's innovative use of Joy-Con 2 motion controls has attracted attention across the gaming industry for injecting fresh, intuitive gameplay into the competitive sports genre.
A recent developer interview, part of Nintendo's 'Ask the Developer' series, offers invaluable insight into the creative journey behind this distinctive release, illuminating the team's inspirations, design challenges, and commitment to accessibility. Drag x Drive stands out as a new genre-blending sports game, directly inspired by wheelchair basketball, rugby, motocross, BMX, and skateboarding.
Players control wheelchair-like vehicles in adrenaline-fueled 3-on-3 matches, maneuvering with the Joy-Con 2 controllers as if moving dual mice on a desk—a bold departure from traditional button-driven gameplay.
The project director, Yoshinori Konishi—a veteran with programming credits on Mario Kart™ and Wii Fit™ Plus—oversaw the game's feature and technical development, emphasizing innovation and realistic yet enjoyable controls. Konishi explained that Drag x Drive was born from a prototyping initiative meant to foster unconventional ideas across hardware and genres.
"We gathered a cross-disciplinary team to experiment with new mechanics, without limiting ourselves to pre-existing genres or platforms," he shared.
This approach led to programmer Hiroki Hamaue developing a unique control scheme combining mouse-like gestures with motion controls.
Initially inspired by the next-generation Joy-Con 2’s mouse capabilities, Hamaue explored how classic flick and sliding gestures—akin to those used on a smartphone—could translate to fresh gameplay.
The physical action of sliding the controllers mimicked wheelchair propulsion, which quickly became a core mechanic. The team’s goal was to create movement that was intuitive and satisfying for all players.
They faced early challenges: controlling the virtual wheelchair accurately proved tricky because subtle differences in a player’s input could send the vehicle off course.
By implementing directional correction and iterative fine-tuning—drawing upon lessons from Mario Kart development—the team succeeded in bridging the gap between realistic user expectations and responsive in-game control. The sports theme evolved as the team tested gameplay built around movement, tackling, and ball handling.
Early playtesting revealed that the satisfaction of crashing into objects outweighed the thrill of evasion, shaping a gameplay loop focused on action and dynamic interaction.
Recognizing that traditional dribbling might overshadow the new control method, the developers drew on elements from wheelchair rugby—where tackling and possession changes amplify the excitement.
This streamlined the experience, letting players focus on mastering movement and execution. Art director Takahisa Ikejiri—formerly of the Splatoon™ series and Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder—led the visual design, accentuating arm and wheel motion for visual clarity and player feedback.
Sound designer Isami Yoshida, known for work on Splatoon 3 and The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom, ensured that sound design complemented both realism and fun, collaborating closely with composers to enhance immersion. Unusually, the Drag x Drive team invested heavily in firsthand research.
Without daily wheelchair experience, they consulted a wide range of sources—from athlete interviews to manga—then purchased everyday and sports wheelchairs for hands-on trials in their office.
Team outings to wheelchair basketball clinics deepened their understanding, impacting design and gameplay balance.
Moreover, real wheelchair basketball athletes were invited to test the prototype.
Their positive feedback was crucial, with developers expressing confidence in the game’s ability to authentically spotlight the sport while appealing to seasoned gamers and newcomers alike. Since its release on August 14, Drag x Drive has contributed to Nintendo’s reputation for accessible, innovative experiences on the Nintendo Switch 2.
With its fresh take on competitive sports and commitment to authentic, intuitive play, Drag x Drive exemplifies the creative drive and attention to detail that define Nintendo’s first-party development.
Whether you're a fan of motion gaming or new to the eShop’s evolving catalog, Drag x Drive stands as a testament to what can happen when experienced developers collaborate without limits.
