Nintendo is bringing back its secretive Switch Online: Playtest Program later this month, and this time it’s officially compatible with the upcoming Switch 2.
The program, which caused a stir back in October 2024, gave a limited number of users access to an early test of a mysterious game that resembles a Nintendo-style version of Minecraft.
This new round of testing is again open to Switch Online + Expansion Pack members, though participation is capped at 40,000 users worldwide. Nintendo has emphasized that participants must keep all information private. As before, the content being tested remains under wraps – but leaks from last year still linger across Reddit and fan forums.
Applications open today for those in the US, Canada, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. You can apply solo or with a group starting today through July 21, and Nintendo will accept submissions until July 23. If selected, you’ll be able to jump into the test from July 29 to August 11. Participants must be 18+ and hold an active subscription tied to one of the supported regions.
According to Nintendo’s updated disclaimer, testers are not to disclose anything from the game or related materials. Group communication is allowed, but only within the team. Last year, Nintendo aggressively pursued takedowns of leaked footage and images, although clips and screenshots from the test game – featuring block-based construction in a shared sandbox – are still accessible if you know where to look.
While Nintendo hasn’t officially commented on the game’s content, the sandbox-style mechanics hinted in previous leaks sparked excitement about a fresh direction from the company. If history repeats itself, more leaks are inevitable – and fans are eager to see what’s new this time around.