Fans weren’t exactly begging for a new Nintendo sports game to be revealed at last month’s Direct, but the announcement ofNintendo Switch Sportswas nonetheless met with a warm reception. The sequel toWii SportsandWii Sports Resort,Switch Sportspromises players the same experiences as its predecessors, but on the Switch. Despite its similarities, though, early looks at the new sports title show that the developers are working to establishSwitch Sportsas its own game. A good example of these efforts is the inclusion of soccer, volleyball, and badminton this time around.
In addition to these new sports, however, other visible changes raised a lot of questions from fans. In the gameplay shown, there was no sight of Wuhu island, baseball and boxing weren’t mentioned, and barely any Miis were seen. As discussions continued online, fans kept returning to the subject of oneMii avatarin particular: Matt fromWii Sports. The name will be instantly recognizable to some players familiar with the original sports titles. For others, though, some explanation of these obscure CPU Mii is warranted.
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Matt’s Explosive Debut in Wii Sports
Like most of the other characters inWii Sports, the exact origin of Matt’s design is unknown. Most likely, he’s a Mii created by the game’s developers to act as CPU opponents in competitive sports and background characters in casual sports. Other familiar faces appear throughoutWii SportsandWii Sports Resort, such as Abby, Elisa, and Tommy.
Matt sticks out in the minds of players, however, because he served as the champion boxer inWii Sports. Near impossible to beat, Matt lived up to his title and gave more than a few players reason to put down the Wiimote in a rage. He then returned inWii Sports Resortas the champion of swordplay to continue his reign as hardest Mii CPU.
Memes of Wii Sports Matt
For the most part, Matt didn’t garner a lot of attention during the Wii’s lifecycle. Players recognized him and the difficulty of beating him in boxing and swordplay, but his reputation didn’t really take off until later. Around 2018, the internet did what it does best and began circulatingWii-era memesof Matt. Different images of Matt depicted as a supernaturally powerful being were posted to various forums. One, for instance, depicted him as the cover image for an article listing “15 Characters Who Could Defeat Thanos.” For many, it was surprising to learn just how common of an experience it was to have been demolished in aWii Sportsboxing match against Matt.
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Matt in Switch Sports
Sadly, it’s unknown whether Matt’s notoriety as Nintendo’s strongest will be enough to earn him a spot in Nintendo’s new sports title. The most striking change noticed in its trailers is thatSwitch Sportsincludes Mii avatars, but only for the company’s executives. Bearing cutesy, round eyes and realistic body proportions, the only CPU characters shown in theSwitch Sportsvolleyball demo were named “Leo” and “Naomi.”
While it isn’t confirmed if familiar faces from Wii Sports will be excluded from Switch Sports, it certainly seems unlikely. Fans therefore flocked to Twitter following the Direct to express their disappointment at Matt’s apparent absence. It’s sad to imagine Matt and his legacy as reigning champ being left behind.
It makes sense thatSwitch Sportswants to establish its own identity given the popularity ofWii Sports. As one of the biggest games on one of the best-selling platforms of all time,Switch Sportshas a big legacy to live up to. Regardless, it would be nice to see familiar faces like Matt and the otherWii SportsCPUs make an appearance. Memes can be a demonstration of fans' love for a game. Many other video game developers have, at the very least, acknowledged and made small nods to their audience, so it would be nice to see the same from aNintendo Switchtitle. No matter what, Matt’s legacy as an indomitable force of nature will live on.
Nintendo Switch Sportsreleases on June 30, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch.
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