Key insights
- Leaks in the Nintendo Switch Online Playtest program suggest that Nintendo is developing an MMO game.
- The playtest program is open to 10,000 Expansion Pass subscribers from October 23rd to November 5th.
- The MMO game reportedly focuses on teamwork and customization as players design a massive planetary environment.
Despite Nintendo's request for secrecy, it looks like it will Nintendo Switch Online Users are starting to reveal details about the upcoming playtest program, suggesting that Big N's mystery 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, it could very well be the first real attempt at massive multiplayer online -be an experience.
The Nintendo Switch Online Playtest program runs from October 23rd to November 5th, and around 10,000 subscribers to the service's Expansion Pass tier are eligible to take part. Beyond these details, Nintendo hasn't revealed what exactly it's testing, only calling it a “new feature.” This lack of information didn't stop players from being excited, and may well have been the reason why every spot in the playtest program was filled in under a minute. In preparation for the test, Nintendo reportedly asked participants not to reveal any information about the feature being tested. As you might expect, however, this request is largely ignored, and screenshots and other details from the playtest are 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 huge, sprawling planet. They do this by erecting “beacons” that create zones and evolve the environment. The overall goal is to cover the spherical grid that represents the planet with beacons. Aside from these Beacon Zones, players can also go to a social hub called “Dev Core” to level up their characters, acquire items, and interact with other players, which they can probably try out to some extent through the Nintendo Switch Online playtest program .
Leaks in the Switch Online Playtest program point to Nintendo's first MMO
Customization appears to be a key aspect of this Nintendo Switch MMO, as players can customize their beacons to some extent, but not in other players' zones. Nintendo also describes features for sharing custom content. However, players must pass an in-game test to demonstrate that they “understand the importance of respectful communication” before accessing these features.
From the looks of it, Nintendo's MMO could be evolving into some kind of massively multiplayer mix Minecraft And Robloxwith potentially thousands of players co-creating the game world and sharing custom 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 released in 2017 that can be played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh in 2021.