Key takeaways
- A Nintendo Switch Online Playtest program leak suggests that Nintendo is developing an MMO game.
- The Playtest program will be open to 10,000 Expansion Pass members from October 23rd to November 5th.
- The MMO game reportedly focuses on teamwork and customization as players shape the vast planetary environment.
Despite Nintendo's request for privacy, it appears Nintendo Switch Online Users have started revealing details about its upcoming Playtest event, 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 was testing a new feature for its Nintendo Switch Online service, and if these leaks are to be believed, it could be its first real stab at a massively multiplayer online experience.
The Nintendo Switch Online Playtest program is set to run from October 23rd to November 5th, and around 10,000 members will be able to participate in the expansion pass tier of the service. Aside from these details, Nintendo hasn't revealed exactly what will be tested, only describing it as a “new feature”. A lack of information hasn't stopped gamers from getting excited, and all spots in the Playtest program can fill up within a minute. In preparation for the test, Nintendo reportedly asked participants not to share any information about the feature being tested. As one might expect, though, this request has been largely ignored, and screenshots and other details of the playtest have started leaking onto social media faster than Nintendo can take them down.
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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 objective is for players to work together to “fully 'evolve' a huge, massive planet.” They do this by placing “beacons” that create regions and further develop environments, with the overall goal being to cover a spherical grid representing the planet with the beacons. In addition to these beacon areas, players can visit a social hub known as the “Dev Core” to upgrade their characters, obtain items, and interact with other players, which they will likely be able to test to some degree. Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program.
Switch Online Playtest Program leak point to Nintendo's first MMO
Customization seems to be a major 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' areas. Nintendo also describes features for sharing custom content, though players must pass an in-game test to show they “understand the importance of respectful communication” before they can access these features.
From the looks of it, Nintendo's MMO could be something like a massive multiplayer mix. Minecraft and RobloxWith potentially thousands of players shaping the in-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 pan out outside of the Playtest event.
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.
