Nintendo has announced a mysterious playtest for the Nintendo Switch Online service, generating excitement and speculation among fans. Sign-ups have quickly filled up, leading to theories ranging from a potential return of the Miiverse to the streaming of GameCube games. The playtest will be taking place on October 20, 2024, coinciding with the anniversary of the original Switch reveal. Participants must have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and are required to play in docked mode with a strong internet connection. This raises questions about whether the playtest might be testing a cloud service or related to the rumored Nintendo Switch 2.

What is the Nintendo Switch Online playtest about?

The Nintendo Switch Online playtest is a mysterious program that may involve testing new features or services associated with Nintendo's online ecosystem, sparking speculation about the return of Miiverse or GameCube game streaming.

The Miiverse was a social platform launched with the Wii U that allowed players to share content and engage with each other in various creative ways. It was beloved by the community but was shuttered in 2017. With the current resurgence of interest, fans are eager for its potential revival, especially in light of the upcoming playtest.