Nintendo has announced a second round of testing for a yet-to-be-revealed feature tied to its Nintendo Switch Online service, significantly increasing the number of participants from 10,000 in the initial phase to 40,000 for this latest round. The company is inviting applications from eligible users in selected countries, as it continues to test what appears to be a social or creative gameplay experience.
Wider reach and eligibility requirements
The new playtest is open exclusively to current Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members and will now include both the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2 systems. This marks an expansion from the company’s first Playtest Programme in October 2024, which focused on a smaller group of users and an unannounced service feature.
Interested participants must be at least 18 years old and have a Nintendo account registered in one of the following ten eligible regions: Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Brazil, or Mexico. Applicants can register either individually or as part of a group of up to four people. According to Nintendo, partial data sharing will occur between group members.
While Nintendo has not disclosed specific details about the activity testers will undertake, the company did confirm that this is a continuation of the same service tested during last year’s programme. Previous leaks and participant reports suggested that the earlier test involved a block-based, Minecraft-style game. Players were said to build structures within a shared world, either solo or collaboratively — a feature which could explain why group applications are encouraged.
Application process and regional selection
Nintendo opened applications for the test on 18 July at 6:00 PM Eastern Time and will close the registration window on 21 July at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. In Japan, testers will be selected through a lottery system, while applicants from the other nine countries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
This approach differs slightly from the first Playtest event, which was more limited in both scope and scale. By expanding the tester pool to 40,000 and introducing the Switch 2 platform, Nintendo is intensifying its preparations for a broader rollout of the service in the near future.
Speculation continues around an unannounced feature
Though the company has kept details under wraps, many fans and commentators believe the test is for a collaborative building game designed to boost the online interactivity of the Nintendo Switch platform. The earlier version, reportedly tested in October 2024, resembled Minecraft in both aesthetic and functionality, allowing users to manipulate blocks and interact in real-time.
Nintendo has made no official comment on whether the mystery game or feature will become a permanent fixture of its Switch Online service. However, the return of the test and its growing scale strongly suggest that the company is laying the groundwork for something more substantial.
As anticipation builds, players worldwide will be watching closely to see what Nintendo reveals next.
