Wii Sports set for HD release, with unusual pricing model

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Nintendo hasannounceda November the 7th release for Wii Sports Club, an online-enabled, HD rework of original Wii flagship title Wii Sports, adding more nuanced Wii Motion Plus control to the mix. And its chosen method of release is an interesting proposition indeed.

It’s an odd conceit on first glance, seeming a little like a confused attempt at a free-to-play model, but it’s a plan that actually makes a great deal of sense. After all, Wii Sports was always a party game at heart, so allowing players to simply hire it when friends are around is quite a smart move.

What makes less sense though, is the pricing model for those wishing to make a permanent purchase. Tennis and Bowling are currently slated for a £8.99/$9.99/€9.99 price tag, each. If the rest of the game follows suit, that will put the new version of Wii Sports at around £45/$50/€50. Bear in mind, Wii Sports was absolutely free with all western Wiis, and with the Wii U being backwards compatible, any of the original game’s (millions of) owners can still play it in their new console, simply by inserting the disc. Is online play worth that increased price tag? We’ll see when the Wii Sports Club launches in a couple of months.

David Houghton
David Houghton
Former GamesRadar+ Features Writer

Former (and long-time) GamesRadar+ writer, Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.