Details about Nintendo’s “mysterious test” revealed

A few days ago, Nintendo left many of its fans curious by announcing the opening of registration for a mysterious test called “Switch Online: Playtest Program”. Many speculations began to circulate the internet, and now it is possible to find out details about what the test is about.

Only 10,000 people were selected for the program, which will take place between October 23 and November 5, 2024. These participants did not need to sign an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement, which in Portuguese means Non-Disclosure Agreement or Confidentiality Agreement and Confidentiality), but they were instructed not to share information about the test. Still, some details ended up leaking.

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Nintendo’s first MMO?

The trial software is now available for download and requires 2.2 GB of free space on the console. The game, which has not yet been officially named, appears to be Nintendo’s first MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online), aimed at a wider, family audience, as is the case with most of the company’s games.

According to the initial description, players aim to work together to “develop” an expansive planet, using creativity and shared resources. The game’s central system revolves around so-called “Beacons”, which allow players to create specific zones in the game world, where they can modify the environment.

These zones are personal, meaning only the player who created them can edit or move objects within them. Other players can enter and even explore these areas, but cannot interfere with them, a rule that seeks to bring more balance to the game.

A social center and the test of respect

One of the interesting new features is that the test has a social center called “Dev Core”, where players will be able to interact, exchange items and level up. This indicates that the game will have a very strong social part, with the aim of bringing together and bringing players together and encouraging large-scale cooperation.

Furthermore, Nintendo intends to include “User Generated Content” (UGC) features, allowing players to create and share their own creations within the game, something that already happens with other titles, such as The Sims.

But, Nintendo being Nintendo, the document states that to unlock this creation functionality, players will need to pass an internal test that will ensure they understand the importance of respectful communication. This is because the company is known for its more family-friendly games, so it needs more than ever to take measures to avoid toxic behavior online.

Comparisons with Minecraft and Roblox

The game’s description and focus on creativity and collective construction end up making it compare to other family titles of this style, such as Minecraft and Roblox. Both are games that allow players to create virtual worlds and interact with a large global community. However, Nintendo’s project appears to be striking a balance between individual customization and a more guided approach, where players have defined goals in a shared universe.

Unlike other Nintendo titles, this game does not appear to feature characters already known to the company. This raises the question of whether we’re looking at a completely new intellectual property or whether Nintendo is simply keeping the suspense going, with plans to reveal a connection to an existing franchise later.

Speculations and false rumors

Before the playtest began, there was a lot of speculation that the program could be related to the inclusion of GameCube titles in the Nintendo Switch Online service or even something to do with the Switch 2. However, these rumors now appear to be unfounded, as that the focus of the test is clearly on a massive, collaborative online experience.

Nintendo has always maintained an air of mystery around its releases, and this playtest is yet another example of how the company prefers to surprise its fans. Even with attempts to protect the test content, information continues to leak on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, where players have been discussing the news.

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