Playtesters Leak Details From Nintendo Switch Online Program Against Nintendo’s Terms & Conditions
by Anna Cheek
OLED Nintendo Switch (Photo Courtesy Of Nintendo)
A few weeks ago, Nintendo announced an upcoming playtest for a new feature for their Nintendo Switch Online platform. Within minutes, all 10,000 playtester positions were filled and, almost immediately, information on the playtest was leaked.
When the playtest was announced at the beginning of October, Nintendo did not say much about the project other than it would be part of a new feature to be released on their Nintendo Switch Online platform. The playtest has been set to run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4 but even before playtesters had access to the actual gameplay, they began leaking information from the document sent to them by Nintendo about the program as well as Nintendo’s Terms and Conditions for the playtest.
One of the requests Nintendo asks of playtesters in the Terms and Conditions is to not “discuss or disclose content from either the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program test software or website with others.” In a world where thousands make a living by streaming and discussing video games, expecting playtesters to keep quiet about this project might have been wishful thinking on Nintendo’s part. Perhaps to no surprise, come October 23, when playtesters finally received access to the program, many began streaming their gameplay and sharing screenshots online. Nintendo has since been active in removing these leaks and copyright-striking streams and videos released by playtesters.
Even with gameplay and images of the game program leaked, it is not completely clear to fans outside of the playtest program what the objective or purpose of the game is at this time. From the looks of it, this new Nintendo Switch Online game could be a third person MMO. Players in the game are stationed on a small, blocky planet with a Beacon at its core. Based on images and discussions online, these Beacons appear to be an important tool in the game. Players move blocks around the surface of their planet to build on to it. Because of the blocky graphics, many people have begun comparing the developing game to Minecraft.
Players are able to level up in the hub area of the game and can even buy new tools from an item shop with in-game currency. It appears that the gameplay is a little basic in its current form but seems to have potential for greater development as playtesters are reportedly having fun with the game so far.
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