Fans expressed disappointment after Nintendo revealed Sportsmates as the main avatars in the upcoming Nintendo Switch Sports Resort during a recent Direct presentation.
The trailer showed a plane flying over Wuhu Island with a logo that initially raised hopes for a return to the original Wii Sports Resort style. However, the game features Sportsmates as the primary characters, with Miis available only as an optional choice and not as CPU opponents.
Many players voiced frustration online, describing the shift as an intrusion on Mii territory. One user wrote that the Sportsmates were "culling the original Miis and taking their land." Another called the changes "criminal" and stated that "Wuhu Island belongs to the Miis."
Nintendo also updated the island itself by moving the town and adding a new archipelago connected by the iconic bridge. Some landmarks such as the hotel, ship, and castle appear absent in early footage, leaving parts of the setting looking empty to longtime fans.
The backlash follows similar complaints when Nintendo Switch Sports launched in 2022 and replaced most Miis with Sportsmates.
