Nintendo To Run A Playtest For Unknown New Feature For Switch Online This Month

As someone who has been a dedicated Nintendo fan since the days of my NES, I can hardly contain my excitement about the upcoming Nintendo Switch Online (NSO): Playtest Program! The chance to get a sneak peek at a brand-new and unknown feature for the subscription service on Switch consoles is a dream come true.


The series of recent updates expands further with the revelation of Alarmo, Nintendo’s upcoming gadget set for release in 2025, and an assortment of Splatoon-themed Halloween goodies. Additionally, it was announced on October 9th, 2024 that Nintendo will initiate a playtesting program towards the end of this month, with registration opening soon.

The aptly titled Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) Playtest Program offers an opportunity for selected individuals to experiment with a novel and unannounced feature of the subscription service on Nintendo Switch consoles. To qualify for this exclusive playtest, potential participants must fulfill certain prerequisites, as only 10,000 players will be granted early access to the new Switch Online feature.

Starting next Monday, October 10th, 2024 at 8 am Pacific Time (PT) / 11 am Eastern Time (ET), I’ll be jumping into the NSO: Playtest Program registration window! Nintendo is aiming to welcome around 10,000 gamers like me for this exclusive event. The application page will go live with their latest social media post, where the playtest will commence on Nintendo Switch consoles from October 23rd, 2024 at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET to November 5th, 2024 at 4:59 pm PT / 7:59 pm ET. That’s a full two weeks of early access gameplay!

Starting at 8:00 AM Pacific Time on October 10th, eligible Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can sign up for the opportunity to take part in testing a brand new feature for the Nintendo Switch. This will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details, check out…

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 9, 2024

For potential participants, here is a list of essential prerequisites that must be met:

  • Participants must have an active NSO + Expansion Pack subscription as of 9th October 2024 at 3 pm PT / 6 pm ET / 10 pm UTC
  • Participants must be 18 years of age and older as of 9th October 2024 at 3 pm PT / 6 pm ET / 10 pm UTC
  • Participants’ Nintendo Account must be registered in one participating country and territory: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America
    • If there are too many applicants registering from Japan, participants will be selected via a raffle draw, while outside Japan, participants are selected on “a first-come-first-serve basis”

As a dedicated Nintendo Switch fan, I can’t contain my excitement as I’ve just learned that all participants must install special software on their consoles for an upcoming playtest. This exclusive software is part of the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program, and more details about it will be revealed after registration closes on October 15th, 2024, at 7:59 am Pacific Time / 10:59 am Eastern Time / 2:59 pm Universal Coordinated Time. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this page for updates before the playtest begins later this month!

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2024-10-10 11:13