Details of Nintendo's enigmatic Playtest start to leak.
The surprise has been spoiled, but many doubts still remain.
Nintendo has made an update on its official page regarding the enigmatic "Switch Online Play Test Program," providing more details to participants about what it entails. The tests will take place from October 23 at 9 PM ET until November 5 at 8 PM ET, and are restricted to the approximately 10,000 people who have already registered for the program.
The test software is now available for download before the game starts, requiring 2.2 GB of free space. Although participants did not sign a non-disclosure agreement, Nintendo requested in the program's terms that users refrain from sharing information about it, which has been somewhat predictable. Despite Nintendo beginning to issue copyright claims to remove leaked media, screenshots and information about the test continue to circulate on platforms like X and Reddit at the time of writing this article.
Regarding game updates, it seems that Nintendo is aiming to develop its first MMO-style game (massively multiplayer online). According to the game description, the goal is to collaborate with others to "develop" a huge and expansive planet using creativity and managed resources. As they progress, players will find "new lands, enemies, and resources," and use "Beacons" that create zones to develop the environment around them. These zones are personal, allowing players to "move, lift, or edit elements" only in the areas they have placed, with no possibility of modifying others' zones.
Additionally, there is a social hub called "Dev Core" where players can level up, obtain items, and interact with each other. Nintendo also mentions user-generated content (UGC) features to create and share custom content, although players will need to pass an in-game test "to demonstrate that they understand the importance of respectful communication" before they can unlock this capability.
At first glance, the game bears some similarities to familiar MMOs like Minecraft and Roblox. The intellectual property is entirely new (as it does not include iconic Nintendo characters) or it could just be a placeholder for the gameplay system itself, suggesting it might be part of an existing franchise at the time of release. The only thing that can be confirmed is that previous speculation about the inclusion of GameCube titles in the Nintendo Switch Online service can likely be dismissed.
