Later this month, Nintendo plans to hold another Playtest Program for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
However, unlike next month’s Global Jam for Drag X Drive, the company behind Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World has not publicly announced the purpose of this playtest.
Nintendo performed a similar playtest for Switch Online subscribers last October and has confirmed that the impending one will be “a test of the same service for which we performed a test in October of 2024.”
Going off rumors from the previous playtest, which suggests this is for a new multiplayer game experience, even though Nintendo won’t come out and say that itself.
When will the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program take place?
And what is it for?
This second Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program will run from 9 p.m. ET on July 28 until 8:59 p.m. ET on August 10, according to its official website.
To qualify for it, North American players must have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription and be 18 years old as of July 17.
It will be possible to apply individually or as a group when sign-ups open at 11 a.m. ET on July 21, and Nintendo says it plans to accept up to 40,000 participants.
While information about how to participate in the Switch Online playtest itself is plentiful, Nintendo is being less public about what players are testing.
Nintendo goes as far as to “request that you do not discuss or disclose content from either the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program test software or website with others,” when outlining the application process.
We do have a general idea of what players will be testing now, though.
The October 2024 playtest was similarly shrouded in mystery and non-disclosure agreements, but some information still emerged.
Reporting from Game Rant highlighted that the Playtest was for some sort of MMO game where players work together to develop and customize a planet.
It could be the company’s very Nintendo-like take on popular multiplayer games where people create content, like Fortnite, Core, or Roblox.
We won’t know for sure until Nintendo announces the game and releases official videos and screenshots publicly. Hopefully, that won’t be too far off because it’ll be hard for Nintendo to not get 40,000 to share anything about what they’re playtesting.
Whenever it does finally emerge, it seems like this playtest Switch Online game won’t be like any other Nintendo-published game already available on Switch or Switch 2.
Spots will surely be filled quickly, so keep an eye on the website when sign-ups go live on Monday, July 21.
