Nintendo Switch 2's latest exclusive game, reminiscent of Rocket League, is being developed by the creators of Animal Crossing and a seasoned Mario Kart programmer, who are spearheading the project.
The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as Nintendo EPD, a renowned game development division within Nintendo, unveils its latest creation - Drag x Drive. This Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title promises to offer a unique gaming experience, particularly for wheelchair basketball enthusiasts.
At the helm of this project is director and program director, Yoshinori Konishi, who boasts an impressive portfolio of EPD9 projects, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendogs & Cats, and Wii Fit Plus. His counterpart, producer Hisashi Nogami, is equally notable for his work on the Animal Crossing and Splatoon franchises. This marks Nogami's first credit outside these series in over a decade, adding a fresh perspective to the small core team of 20 people working on Drag x Drive.
Key members of the development team and their roles are as follows:
- Director/Program Director: Yoshinori Konishi, with a track record on prominent Nintendo titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendogs & Cats, and Wii Fit Plus.
- Producer: Hisashi Nogami, known for his work on Animal Crossing and Splatoon franchises.
- Player Programming: Hiroki Hamaue, who has worked on Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Switch Sports.
The team also includes professionals handling UI, sound, visual effects programming and design, art direction, field design, music, QA, and coordination.
Drag x Drive stands out as a unique title compared to the games worked on by the developers in the past. It is a 3v3 basketball game that utilises the Switch 2's dual Joy-Con mouse functionality for controls, showcasing innovation tied to the hardware. The game's development by a notably small team is comparatively rare for Nintendo’s modern projects.
Takahisa Ikejiri, the art director of Drag x Drive, brings his artistry from Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 to this project. Ikejiri's previous work includes designing bosses like the Flyfish and the Stinger in Splatoon.
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[1] Nintendo Official Website [2] Nintendo Life [3] IGN
- The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, Drag x Drive, which offers a unique gaming experience, particularly for wheelchair basketball enthusiasts, is expected to be innovative due to its use of the dual Joy-Con mouse functionality.
- Yoshinori Konishi, renowned for his work on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendogs & Cats, and Wii Fit Plus, is the director and program director of Drag x Drive.
- Hisashi Nogami, known for his work on the Animal Crossing and Splatoon franchises, serves as the producer for Drag x Drive, marking his first credit outside these series in over a decade.
- Drag x Drive is a 3v3 basketball game developed by a notably small team of 20 people, which is comparatively rare for Nintendo’s modern projects.
- For updates on the latest Nintendo news, game deals, and more, including the development of Drag x Drive, consider subscribing to the Nintendo Official Website's Newsletter or visiting gaming news sites such as Nintendo Life and IGN.
