Nintendo's most ambitious Switch 2 game has a release date
Get ready for wheelchair basketball on Switch 2 in August
📆 Drag x Drive, an ambitious Switch 2 title, releases on August 14, 2025
🏀 The game simulates 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball using Joy-Con 2's mouse mode and motion controls
🐵 Other major Switch 2 releases include Donkey Kong Bananza (July) and Pokémon Legends: Z-A (October)
👍 Drag x Drive's experimental gameplay highlight Nintendo's innovative approach
Nintendo has revealed the release date for Drag x Drive, arguably one of the most ambitious Switch 2 games.
The game, which recreates 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball using the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode and motion controls, is set to release on August 14, 2025. Nintendo made the announcement via its Today app.
Drag x Drive's release date means Nintendo is now only missing three months of the remaining year without a big first-party title. July sees the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases in October, which means September, November and December are still free.
It's likely that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will take up two slots. This still leaves space for Nintendo to announce a big title for the holidays. Kirby Air Riders is also due to release this year, but we'll have to see whether it hits that goal.
As for Drag x Drive, Nintendo's unusual sports title uses both Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode to simulate wheelchair movement. It left a positive impression on many during the Switch 2 hands-on events before the system launched, but whether the game translates well to online play remains to be seen.
It's also fair to say the game looks pretty bare-bones from the footage we've seen so far. The art style isn't very Nintendo-esque, and we've only seen a standard basketball match take place. Presumably, there will be other modes included.
Art direction aside, Drag x Drive is certainly the type of experimental and quirky title Nintendo is known for. It's also a game only possible on Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to the Joy-Con 2 controllers both functioning as mice.
Hopefully Nintendo will reveal more about the game in the run up to launch. As someone who wants to see more Nintendo Switch 2 mouse mode games, it's certainly one to watch.
Up next: Nintendo Switch 2 OLED: predicted price, release date, and what to expect
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.