Key points
- Leaks from the Nintendo Switch online testing program suggest that Nintendo is developing an 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 planetary environment.
Despite Nintendo's requests for secrecy, it seems Nintendo Switch online users are starting to leak details regarding its upcoming playtest program, suggesting that the mysterious Big N 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 its first real attempt at a Massively multiplayer online experience.
The Nintendo Switch online testing program will take place from October 23 to November 5 and approximately 10,000 subscribers to the Expansion Pass level of the service will be able to take part. Beyond these details, Nintendo hasn't divulged what exactly will be tested, describing it only as a “new feature.” This lack of information hasn't stopped players from getting excited, and could very well be why all the Playtest program spots were filled in less than a minute. In preparation for the test, Nintendo reportedly asked participants to refrain from sharing any information about the tested feature. As you might expect, however, this request is largely ignored, and screenshots and other details from the playtest have started leaking onto social media faster than Nintendo can remove them.
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As reported by 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 “develop” a huge, expansive planet. by establishing “Beacons” that create zones and further develop the environment, with the overall goal of covering the sphere-shaped grid representing the planet with beacons, players can also head to a social hub known as the “Dev Core” to level up your characters, acquire items, and interact with other players, something they'll likely be able to test to some extent during the Nintendo Switch online testing program.
Switch Online testing program leaks point to Nintendo's first MMO
Customization appears to be a key aspect of this Nintendo Switch MMO, as players will be able to customize their Beacons to a certain extent, although they won't be able to do the same in other players' zones. Nintendo also describes features for sharing personalized content, though players must pass a play test to demonstrate that they “understand the importance of respectful communication” before they can access these features.
Apparently, Nintendo's MMO could be configured as a mix of massively multiplayer games Minecraft AND Robloxwith potentially thousands of players shaping the game world together and sharing personalized content with each other. A title like this would certainly stand out from the company's usual selection of games, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out beyond the Playtest program.
NintendoSwitch
Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, which can be played in handheld mode or connected to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED update coming in 2021.
