Update: Nintendo Announces Switch Online: Playtest Program Starting October 23, Sign-Ups Now Closed
Posted on October 10 2024 by Kristen G. Rosario
Update: Within roughly seven seconds of the application link going live, all the participant slots have been taken. Nintendo posted the following in regards to the sign-ups.
Registration for this test is now full. Thank you for your interest and participation!
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 10, 2024
Original: Just as we became perplexed by the announcement of an official Nintendo alarm clock, it appeared that the company had one more trick up their sleeve yesterday. Not too long after the reveal of Alarmo, the Big N announced on X that they will be hosting what they’re calling the “Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program,” starting on October 23rd at 9pm EST and ending on November 5th at 7:59pm EST.
Sign-ups for the playtest begin today at 10:59am EST by going to the following site right here.
We will be performing a test related to a new feature for #NintendoSwitchOnline on #NintendoSwitch. Starting 8:00 AM PT on Oct. 10, existing Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members will be able to apply to participate on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/PKAz20oD5G
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 9, 2024
Unfortunately, not everybody will be able to participate. According to the qualifications listed on the official Playtest Program page, you must have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership as of October 9th at 6pm EST, be at least 18 years or older, and have a Nintendo account in one of the following countries: Japan, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, or Spain.
The site also says that as many as 10,000 participants will be selected; however, it is a first-come, first-served basis for any participating countries outside of Japan. For those in Nintendo HQ’s neck of the woods, they will be entered into a raffle if there are a lot of Japanese entrants. The Big N even states on the page that sign-ups will be closed early if the 10,000 participant limit is reached.
As of this writing, we currently do not know what the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program is supposed to entail. Speculation is running rampant online with those thinking this is either to test the long-anticipated GameCube collection, while others believe this is to test the Switch Online’s backwards compatibility possibilities for the upcoming Switch successor. My personal guess is that Nintendo is going to be finally updating their online services considering how they’re currently being run.
What do you think of the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program? What do you believe/hope the program will be for? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Nintendo
Kristen G. Rosario is an Editor who joined Zelda Dungeon back in September of 2015. His current goal is to become a full-time video game journalist, hoping to eventually gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. While he pursues that dream, he not only takes care of his adorable dachshund Angel, but also helps run a YouTube channel with his brother. The Zelda series is a quest he hasn’t fully completed yet, but hopes to get there one day.
