Nintendo Switch Onlinehas always been a fairly straightforward service, but the newest Nintendo announcement has added an extra layer of mystery and anticipation. Available since 2018, Nintendo Switch Online provides online multiplayer for Switch games at a monthly subscription cost. It also includes some bonuses like access to a digital library of classic games, and over time, the service has expanded with new perks and options, like an Expansion Pack that adds Nintendo 64, GameBoy Advance, and SEGA Genesis titles into the mix.
The Playtest Program Is Nintendo’s Newest Surprise
October Is A Busy Month For Nintendo
With so little available information, it’s hard to get a good idea of what the Playtest Program might be testing, but it comes in a week that’s been packed with Nintendo surprises.It could have something to do with the Nintendo Switch firmware update released on October 7, which featured a new version number — 19.0.0 — but noted no changes beyond stability improvements. The other interesting reveal was theannouncement of the Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo, an expensive alarm clock that uses Nintendo music and sounds to rouse sleepyheads in the morning.
Our Take On The Switch Online Playtest Program Mystery
A Clearer Answer Should Come Soon
Nintendo fan and software expertOatmealDomenoted on Twitter thatthose accepted for the Playtest Program will receive a code for a download that requires 2.2 GB of space, which might be too large for a test of a cloud gaming client. With theSwitch 2 expected to launch in 2025, Nintendo could be testing some new online infrastructure, but how that would qualify as a distinct “new feature,” as mentioned in their official material, seems unclear.
Nintendo Switch Online Is Getting A Classic Game Never Released Outside Of Japan
Two new titles coming to the Nintendo Switch Online catalog are from a beloved franchise, but many outside Japan have likely never played one of them.
There isn’t really any obvious answer to what Nintendo might be experimenting with, and I’d say waiting a few days to see what news rolls out as people get their hands on the Playtest Program is the wisest course of action. Nintendo is requesting secrecy, but information will inevitably leak with a playtest of that size. Even with the lifespan of the Switch as Nintendo’s primary platform nearing its end, it’s a surprisingly exciting time to be a fan of the console, and the mystery of theNintendo Switch OnlinePlaytest Program is yet another interesting update.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.
