Drag x Drive

File:Drag x Drive gameplay.jpg

Drag x Drive is a sports video game centred around wheelchair basketball. The player control a robot in a wheelchair-like vehicle{{efn|According to Nintendo, they are called "vehicles".{{Cite web|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/drag-x-drive-controls-well-enough-to-be-a-switch-2-gem-but-there-are-still-too-many-unknowns/|title=Drag x Drive controls well enough to be a Switch 2 gem, but there are still too many unknowns|last=Scullion|first=Chris|date=22 April 2025|website=Video Games Chronicle|access-date=24 April 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424152401/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/drag-x-drive-controls-well-enough-to-be-a-switch-2-gem-but-there-are-still-too-many-unknowns/|archive-date=24 April 2025}}}} with the goal of shooting a basketball into the opponents basket.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/nintendo-shows-off-switch-2-mouse-capabilities-with-a-3-on-3-basketball-game-thats-basically-rocket-league-with-robot-wheelchairs/|title=Nintendo shows off Switch 2 mouse capabilities with a 3-on-3 basketball game that's basically Rocket League with robot wheelchairs|last=Bailey|first=Dustin|date=2 April 2025|website=GamesRadar+|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=10 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410141032/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/nintendo-shows-off-switch-2-mouse-capabilities-with-a-3-on-3-basketball-game-thats-basically-rocket-league-with-robot-wheelchairs/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/preview-drag-x-drive-may-be-the-switch-2s-blast-ball/|title=Preview: Drag x Drive May Be the Switch 2's Blast Ball|last=Lada|first=Jenni|date=3 April 2025|website=Siliconera|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=9 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409023105/https://www.siliconera.com/preview-drag-x-drive-may-be-the-switch-2s-blast-ball/|url-status=live}} Matches are split between two teams of threes with the goal of scoring more points than the other team by the end of the match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/70652/nintendo-switch-2-experience-new-york|title=Nintendo Switch 2 Experience New York|last=Abou-Nasr|first=Adam|date=6 April 2025|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=6 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406193727/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/70652/nintendo-switch-2-experience-new-york|url-status=live}} The player control the robot using the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode to mimic the motions of using a wheelchair. Each Joy-Con controls one wheel; moving both Joy-Con moves the wheelchair forward, whereas moving only one turns it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sports/drag-x-drive-hands-on-preview-first-impressions-april-2025/|title=I was a Drag x Drive skeptic, but playing the Nintendo Switch 2's wheelchair basketball game using two Joy-Con as mice made me a believer|last=Bishop|first=Rollin|date=16 April 2025|website=GamesRadar+|access-date=17 April 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418022645/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sports/drag-x-drive-hands-on-preview-first-impressions-april-2025/|archive-date=18 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/previews/hands-on-drag-x-drive-is-fantastic-but-is-it-destined-to-be-switch-2s-arms|title=Hands On: 'Drag x Drive' Is Fantastic, But Is It Destined To Be Switch 2's ARMS?|last1=Hagues|first1=Alana|last2=Lane|first2=Gavin|date=16 April 2025|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=6 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406193231/https://www.nintendolife.com/previews/hands-on-drag-x-drive-is-fantastic-but-is-it-destined-to-be-switch-2s-arms|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2025/04/04/rolling-start|title=Drag x Drive Rolling Start|last=Shea|first=Brian|date=4 April 2025|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405223923/https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2025/04/04/rolling-start|url-status=live}} Due to the Joy-Con 2's haptic feedback, performing this motion imitates surfaces such as concrete through vibrations. Shooting the ball requires the use of motion controls, with the player required to raise their arms and flick the Joy-Con whilst aiming at the hoop. Depending on how far the player throws the ball, the more points earned when scoring. Additionally, the player can raise their arms in order to signal teammates to pass the ball as well as clap. Players automatically grab the ball if it's on the ground, or they can ram into their opponents to make them lose control of the ball.

Matches are set within dark arenas fitted with bright, neon lights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendojo.com/games/hands-on-preview-drag-x-drive|title=Hands-On Preview: Drag x Drive|last=Marrujo|first=Robert|date=16 April 2025|website=Nintendojo|access-date=17 April 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418022922/https://www.nintendojo.com/games/hands-on-preview-drag-x-drive|archive-date=18 April 2025}} The perimeters of the basketball court are fitted with half-pipes,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2025/04/02/drag-x-drive-is-a-mouse-controlled-basketball-game-coming-to-switch-2|title=Drag X Drive Is A Mouse-Controlled Basketball Game Coming To Switch 2|last=Stewart|first=Marcus|date=2 April 2025|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=7 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407131142/https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2025/04/02/drag-x-drive-is-a-mouse-controlled-basketball-game-coming-to-switch-2|url-status=live}} allowing players to perform tricks on them as well as slam dunk the ball into the hoop.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/switch-2s-first-dual-mouse-mode-game-is-wheelchair-basketball-drag-x-drive|title=Switch 2's first dual-mouse mode game is wheelchair basketball Drag x Drive|last=Nightingale|first=Ed|date=2 April 2025|website=Eurogamer|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405221250/https://www.eurogamer.net/switch-2s-first-dual-mouse-mode-game-is-wheelchair-basketball-drag-x-drive|url-status=live}}

File:I ACTUALLY Played The Nintendo Switch 2 (Hands On Preview) videoplayback-00.23.22.111.png being used in mouse mode]]

Drag x Drive was first announced at a Nintendo Direct about the Nintendo Switch 2 in April 2025,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-announces-drag-x-drive-a-switch-2-game-that-relies-on-mouse-controls/1100-6530555/|title=Nintendo Announces Drag X Drive, A Switch 2 Game That Relies On Mouse Controls|last=Cogswell|first=Jessica|date=2 April 2025|website=GameSpot|access-date=17 April 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418022638/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-announces-drag-x-drive-a-switch-2-game-that-relies-on-mouse-controls/1100-6530555/|archive-date=18 April 2025}} with a release date scheduled for Summer 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/drag-x-drive-is-nintendos-switch-2-mouse-mode-showcase-puts-the-rocket-league-into-wheelchair-basketball|title=Drag x Drive Is Nintendo's Switch 2 'Mouse Mode' Showcase, Puts The Rocket League Into Wheelchair Basketball|last=O'Reilly|first=PJ|date=2 April 2025|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=10 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410153846/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/drag-x-drive-is-nintendos-switch-2-mouse-mode-showcase-puts-the-rocket-league-into-wheelchair-basketball|url-status=live}} According to Nintendo, Drag x Drive is expected to only be released digitally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2025/April/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-16-Nintendo-Switch-2-Chapter-2-2787952.html|title=Ask the Developer Vol. 16, Nintendo Switch 2 – Chapter 2|date=3 April 2025|website=Nintendo|access-date=18 April 2025|archive-date=7 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407074709/https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2025/April/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-16-Nintendo-Switch-2-Chapter-2-2787952.html|url-status=live}} The game was made available to play to both journalists and the public during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience playtests between April and June 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/nintendo-pants-gaming-switch-2-joy-cons-mugler-drag-x-drive-jeans|title=In Search of The Perfect Pair of Pants to Game On|last=Liao|first=Shannon|date=4 April 2025|website=Inverse|access-date=15 April 2025|archive-date=11 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411144514/https://www.inverse.com/gaming/nintendo-pants-gaming-switch-2-joy-cons-mugler-drag-x-drive-jeans|url-status=live}} It was announced to release on August 14th on the Nintendo Today! app.

Upon the announcement of the game, some critics praised the game for representing disabilities in a positive light, with Alana Hagues from Nintendo Life writing how it was a fantastic spotlight of wheelchair sports, as well as disabilities in sports as a whole, due to a lack of wheelchair sports representation within video games. However, Video Games Chronicle{{'}}s Chris Scullion noted how he thought it was strange Nintendo avoided calling them wheelchairs in favour of vehicles, believing Nintendo was "being overly squeamish about a future scandal that will never happen, instead of embracing the game’s disabled representation".

Feedback on the gameplay overall was mixed, with some journalists who attended Nintendo Switch 2 preview events recount feeling aches and pains after playing,{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/how-good-are-switch-2s-mouse-controls-eurogamers-verdict-from-the-big-reveal-event|title=How good are Switch 2's mouse controls? Eurogamer's verdict from the big reveal event|last=Purchese|first=Robert|date=11 April 2025|website=Eurogamer|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=13 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413014200/https://www.eurogamer.net/how-good-are-switch-2s-mouse-controls-eurogamers-verdict-from-the-big-reveal-event|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/games/642493/nintendo-switch-mouse-controls-metroid-prime-4|title=I'm not sold on the Switch 2's mouse-like controls|last=Parrish|first=Ash|date=3 April 2025|website=The Verge|access-date=17 April 2025|archive-date=9 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409000457/https://www.theverge.com/games/642493/nintendo-switch-mouse-controls-metroid-prime-4|url-status=live}} with Hagues reporting it as "a workout for your arms". However, other critics responded more positively to the gameplay, with Kate Kozuch from Tom's Guide praising the controls as feeling immersive, mentioning the game having "serious competitive potential". Writing for Nintendojo, Robert Marrujo described the controls as feeling natural and easy to learn, noting that the controls felt "arcade-like". Many critics compared Drag x Drive{{'}}s aesthetics and gameplay to the 2015 video game Rocket League, with GamesRadar+{{'}}s Rollin Bishop characterising the gameplay of Drag x Drive "something akin to Rocket League combined with Wii Sports{{'}} basketball and wind-up cars".

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• {{Official website|https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-2-games/Drag-x-Drive-2785803.html}}

Category:Basketball video games

Category:Fantasy sports video games

Category:Multiplayer online games

Category:Multiplayer video games

Category:Nintendo games

Category:Nintendo Switch 2 games

Category:Nintendo Switch 2-only games

Category:Upcoming video games scheduled for 2025

Category:Video games about robots

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Wheelchair basketball