Key Takeaways
- Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program leaks suggest Nintendo is developing a MMO game.
- The Playtest Program will be open to 10,000 Expansion Pass subscribers from October 23 to November 5.
- The MMO game reportedly focuses on teamwork and customization as players shape a massive planet environment.
Despite requests for secrecy from Nintendo, it looks like Nintendo Switch Online users are starting to divulge details regarding its upcoming Playtest Program, suggesting that the Big N’s mystery project could be some sort of MMO game. Fans were excited earlier this month when Nintendo announced it would be testing out a new feature for its Nintendo Switch Online service, and if these leaks are to be believed, it could very well be its first real stab at a massively multiplayer online experience.
The Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program is set to run from October 23 to November 5, and around 10,000 subscribers to the service’s Expansion Pass tier will be able to take part. Beyond these specifics, Nintendo hasn’t divulged what exactly will be tested, only describing it as a “new feature.” That lack of information hasn’t kept gamers from getting excited, and could very well have been why all of the Playtest Program spots were filled in under a minute. In preparation for the test, Nintendo has reportedly requested that participants refrain from sharing any information about the feature being tested. As one might expect, though, this request is largely being ignored, and screenshots and other details of the playtest have begun leaking onto social media faster than Nintendo can have them removed.
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According to reports from sources like The Verge and Kotaku, these leaks reveal that Nintendo is working on a MMO game where the main objective is for players to work together to “fully ‘develop’ a massive, expansive planet.” They do this by laying down “Beacons” that create zones and further develop the environment, with the overall goal being to cover the sphere-shaped grid representing the planet with beacons. Aside from these Beacon zones, players can also head to a social hub known as the “Dev Core” to level up their characters, acquire items, and interact with other players, something that they will likely be able to test out to some extent during the 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, though they won’t be able to do the same in other players’ zones. Nintendo also describes features for sharing custom content, though players must pass an in-game test to show that 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 like a massively multiplayer mix of Minecraft and Roblox, with potentially thousands of players shaping the in-game world together and sharing custom content with one another. Such a title would certainly stand out from the company’s usual selection of games, so it’ll be interesting to see how things pan out beyond the Playtest Program.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
