Key things
- Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program leaks suggest that Nintendo is developing an MMO game.
- The Playtest program will be open to 10,000 Expansion Pass subscribers from October 23rd to November 5th.
- The MMO game is said to focus on teamwork and customization as players shape the planet's vast environment.
Despite requests for secrecy from Nintendo, it appears Nintendo Switch online users are beginning to leak details regarding the upcoming Playtest Program, suggesting that Big N's mysterious project could be some sort of MMO game. Fans were excited earlier this month when Nintendo announced that it would be testing a new feature for its Nintendo Switch Online service, and if these leaks are to be believed, this could very well be its first real stab at a massively multiplayer online experience.
The Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program is scheduled to run from October 23rd to November 5th and will be open to approximately 10,000 subscribers to the Expansion Pass level of the service. Beyond those specifics, Nintendo hasn't revealed what exactly will be tested, only describing it as a “new feature.” This lack of information didn't stop players from getting excited, and could very well be the reason why all Playtest slots were taken in less than a minute. In preparation for the test, Nintendo reportedly asked participants to refrain from sharing any information about the feature being tested. However, as you might expect, this request is largely ignored, and screenshots and other details of the playtest have started leaking onto social media faster than Nintendo can remove them.
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According to reports from sources like The Verge and Kotaku, these leaks reveal that Nintendo is working on an MMO game where the main goal is for players to work together to “fully 'develop' a massive, expansive planet.” They do this by placing “beacons” that create zones and further develop the environment, with the overall goal of covering a sphere-shaped grid representing the planet with beacons. In addition to these beacon zones, players can also head to a social hub known as the “Dev Core” where they can upgrade their characters, acquire items, and interact with other players, which they will likely be able to experience to some degree. Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program.
Switch Online Playtest Program Leaks Point to Nintendo's first MMO
Customization seems to be a key aspect of this Nintendo Switch MMO, as players will be able to customize their beacons to some extent, although they won't be able to do the same in other players' zones. Nintendo also describes features for sharing their own content, though players must pass an in-game test to demonstrate they “understand the importance of respectful communication” before they can access these features.
From the looks of it, Nintendo's MMO could be shaping up to be something of a massively multiplayer mash-up Minecraft and Robloxwith potentially thousands of players collectively shaping the game world and sharing their own content with each other. Such a title would certainly stand out from the company's usual selection of games, so it will be interesting to see how things develop outside of the Playtest program.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017 that can be played in handheld mode or connected to a television. The Switch Lite, a manual-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh in 2021.