Nintendo teases new feature for Switch Online, playtest announced

While the world awaits the Nintendo Switch 2, the company has announced a closed playtest for a "new feature" on the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) service for the hybrid console. No concrete details have been shared about what this feature is. However, any player with an active NSO subscription can partake in it on a first-come, first-serve basis.

With the playtest airing soon, the iconic game maker has divulged public details, such as how to register for it. It has also revealed the schedules for both recruitment and the actual playtest.

Nintendo Switch Online feature playtest schedule announced

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Before we dive into the details, let's look at the requirements to apply for the playtest. To summarize, a user must:

Have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription as of October 9, 2024, 3 PM PT
Be at least 18 years old as of October 9, 2024, 3 PM PT
Have a Nintendo account registered to one of the following countries: USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain or Japan

The application window starts at the following times:

Pacific Time (PT): October 10, 2024 at 8 AM
Mountain Time (MT): October 10, 2024 at 9 AM
Central Time (CT): October 10, 2024 at 10 AM
Eastern Time (ET): October 10, 2024 at 11 AM
British Summer Time (BST): October 10, 2024 at 4 PM
Central European Time (CET): October 10, 2024 at 5 PM
Japan Standard Time (JST): October 11, 2024 at 12 AM

It will end at the following times:

Pacific Time (PT): October 15, 2024 at 8 AM
Mountain Time (MT): October 15, 2024 at 9 AM
Central Time (CT): October 15, 2024 at 10 AM
Eastern Time (ET): October 15, 2024 at 11 AM
British Summer Time (BST): October 15, 2024 at 4 PM
Central European Time (CET): October 15, 2024 at 5 PM
Japan Standard Time (JST): October 15, 2024 at 12 AM

During this period, interested users can sign up for the playtest on the company's official website.

The actual playtest begins on at the following times:

Pacific Time (PT): October 23, 2024 at 6 PM
Mountain Time (MT): October 23, 2024 at 7 PM
Central Time (CT): October 23, 2024 at 8 PM
Eastern Time (ET): October 23, 2024 at 9 PM
British Summer Time (BST): October 24, 2024 at 2 AM
Central European Time (CET): October 24, 2024 at 3 AM
Japan Standard Time (JST): October 24, 2024 at 10 AM

It will end at the following times:

Pacific Time (PT): November 5, 2024 at 5 PM
Mountain Time (MT): November 5, 2024 at 6 PM
Central Time (CT): November 5, 2024 at 7 PM
Eastern Time (ET): November 5, 2024 at 8 PM
British Summer Time (BST): November 6, 2024 at 1 AM
Central European Time (CET): November 6, 2024 at 2 AM
Japan Standard Time (JST): November 6, 2024 at 9 AM

Registered users will be able to download "exclusive software" to their Switch console when the playtest goes live.

With next-gen tech in the pipeline, it is surprising to see the existing Switch's online feature get additions and updates. Perhaps this is in preparation for Nintendo Switch 2? We'll have to wait and see to find out.

About the author

Siddharth is an esports and gaming writer at Sportkseeda. With nearly 10 years of experience in the industry, he also contributed to renowned publications like Gameffine (formerly IndianNoob), the British retro FPS magazine E1M1, and Gaming Purists, the latter being a passion project which he founded with friends.

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Siddharth's journalistic pursuits extend beyond reporting; he throws himself into the heart of gaming communities. His positive exploits in the industry have led him to interviewing Rohit Jain, a prominent Tekken 7 player from India.

Though he currently specializes in Nintendo, Overwatch 2, and RPG coverage, Siddharth's expertise spans a multitude of platforms and genres. He believes in doing extensive research across a mix of official, community-driven and diverse media sources for all of his article categories.

Siddharth has been an avid follower of Pewdiepie, which has also helped him expand his horizons to new gaming genres and titles. Beyond gaming, he indulges his love for literature with a particular fondness for horror and thriller novels. Moreover, Siddharth’s culinary enthusiasm for global cuisine enriches his palate.

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Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh