It’s official, we’re getting anotherNintendo Switch Online Playtest Program. Announced byNintendo, this playtest period will be a lengthy one, kicking off on Monday, July 28. Nintendo notes that they are accepting “40,000 participants” for this test, which is 30,000 more than the last round.
Interestingly, Nintendo is being coy about what the playtest actually is, butwe have full confirmation based on the publisher’s playtest site: “This is a test of the same service for which we performed a test in October of 2024.” As a refresher, that’s theRoblox-esque game that Nintendo tested back in October, while we wait for the title, theme, and many more elements to take shape. If you want to try it out for yourself, you need to act fast.
New Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Starts July 28
It’ll Run For Quite A While
The full Nintendo Switch Online playtest will run from Monday, July 28, at 6:00 PM PT through Sunday, August 11, 2025, at 5:59 PM PT.It will involve the “secret” building game, which has been described as “MMO and Roblox”-like by leaks. Nintendo is asking participants not to talk about the contents of the playtest, which is why details are so vague.
Thankfully,original Nintendo Switch owners willstill be able to participate, alongside Switch 2 users, ensuringfull parity with the last testing period. This particular test is not exclusive to the Switch 2. While the actual testing period during which you get to play the game will run for a decent chunk of time, the application period is a bit more crunched.
How To Apply To The New NSO Playtest
You Can Start The Process On July 18
To apply for the playtest, you need to wait until Friday, July 18, at 3PM PT, when applications will open. Nintendo explains that the application period will technically remain open through July 21 at 7:59 PM PT.Prospective players can, which will require a designated “group representative” to complete the registration.
Here are all the hard requirements, straight from Nintendo:
As for when the actual application process will begin: July 21 at 8AM PT through Wednesday July 23, at 7:59PM PT. Do note that in the last October playtest run, 10,000 applicants swarmed the system immediately, causing it to fill up in minutes.Nintendocould easily get 40,000 applicants this time, meaning the “first-come, first-served” application could fill out as early as a few minutes after registration goes live.
