Switch Sports Resort Multiplayer: Player Counts & Modes
By Switch Sports Resort Wiki Editorial Team · Last verified: ·Based on official Nintendo info and press reviews
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Up to 4 players can play on one Nintendo Switch 2. Online, matches support 2–16 players, and a private Friend Lobby holds up to 8 players with up to 2 per system. Online modes — Casual Online Play and the ranked Pro League — need Nintendo Switch Online. Each player needs their own controller, and Skateboarding needs a Joy-Con 2 per player.
Switch Sports Resort is built for playing together, but the rules change depending on whether you're on the couch or online.
Player counts at a glance
| How you play | Players | Needs Nintendo Switch Online? |
|---|---|---|
| One Switch 2 (local) | 1–4 | No |
| Online matches | 2–16 | Yes |
| Friend Lobby (private) | Up to 8, max 2 per system | Yes |
| Casual Online Play | Online, 9 sports | Yes |
| Pro League (ranked) | Online | Yes |
| Island Crown | 1 (offline) | No |
Local multiplayer on one Switch 2
Up to four people can play on the same console. Every player needs their own controller — a single Joy-Con 2 or original Joy-Con works for most sports.
Spocco Points for every player
If your family shares one console, set up a profile for each person before you start so nobody misses out on rewards.
Online multiplayer
All online modes need a Nintendo Switch Online membership, a Nintendo Account and an internet connection.
Casual Online Play
Relaxed matches against players worldwide, with nine sports to choose from and no ranking pressure. It's the best place to learn a sport against real people.
Pro League
Ranked online play that matches you with players of similar skill. Pick this once you're comfortable with a sport's controls.
Friend Lobby
A private lobby for up to eight players. Up to two people can join from each Switch 2, so four households with two players each can fill a lobby.
GameChat
Switch Sports Resort supports Switch 2 GameChat for chatting while you play or explore online. Video chat needs a compatible USB camera, sold separately.
How many controllers you need
| Group size | Most sports | Skateboarding |
|---|---|---|
| 1 player | 1–2 Joy-Con (Joy-Con 2 or original) | 1 Joy-Con 2 |
| 2 players | 1 Joy-Con each | 1 Joy-Con 2 each |
| 4 players | 1 Joy-Con each | 1 Joy-Con 2 each |
Some sports, such as Archery and Power Cruising, use two Joy-Con for a single player. Reviews report that Power Cruising switches to one Joy-Con per player in multiplayer. A Switch 2 comes with one pair of Joy-Con 2, so a group of four that wants to race in Skate Sprint will need extra Joy-Con 2. Full details are in our controller guide.
Common questions
›Is Switch Sports Resort split-screen?
Pre-release reviews report that the Sightseeing Tour supports two players in split-screen. We're checking how the screen is shared in each sport's local multiplayer and will list it here.
›Do you need Nintendo Switch Online to play multiplayer?
Only for online play. Local multiplayer on one Switch 2 works without a membership. Casual Online Play, Pro League and Friend Lobby are online features and need Nintendo Switch Online.
›Can guests earn Spocco Points in local multiplayer?
According to pre-release reviews, no. Each local player needs to be signed in with their own user profile to earn Spocco Points.
›Does Switch Sports Resort support local wireless or GameShare?
Nintendo's store page doesn't list local wireless play or GameShare. We'll update this page if Nintendo confirms either.
Related guides
Sources
- Nintendo of America: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort — official store page
- My Nintendo News: Review: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
- Inven Global: New Details Revealed for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
Update log
- — First published using Nintendo's official store page and pre-release reviews.