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Yesterday, the internet was dumbstruck when Nintendo, as they do, randomly dropped a five minute trailer for an alarm clock (Alarmo) and a webpage announcing a playtest within hours of each other. We all learned from this webpage that applications would be available today October 10th at exactly 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET) and that 10,000 applicants would be let in. 

But let in to what? Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? The only hint we received was that this was a Playtest specifically for existing Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak subscribers. Curiously, there is a full two weeks between the announcement and the start of the playtest as well.

Well, whatever this playtest was regarding I knew I was interested. So at 10:59 a.m. ET I logged in to my Nintendo account on the Playtest application webpage and immediately clicked the big red “Apply” button. Surprisingly, I was selected! Even more surprisingly, I was one of two team members (Congrats Daniel!) on our big happy Nintendo Wire family that made it in. 

 

 

The frantic chaos that ensued between 11 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. in our group chat was quite frankly hilarious. 10,000 applicants were selected within seconds. If an application was put in at even just a few seconds after 11, you were most likely denied. That was the majority of our team’s experience. Not since the PS5 went on sale have I witnessed such a frenzy. Perhaps a preview of the much-anticipated Switch 2’s pre-orders will look like online. 

I’m left to assume when this Playtest period begins on Wednesday, October 23rd, and ends on Tuesday, November 5th, whatever feature is being playtested through a software download has to do with Nintendo’s next iteration of Nintendo Switch Online. Whether this will roll out on Nintendo Switch and carry over to the next Nintendo console remains to be seen. But this is certainly an exciting, and ambiguous, prospect. 

The playtest begins at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, October 23rd, and ends at 4:59 p.m. PT (7:59 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, November 5th. 

Be sure to stay tuned to NintendoWire for updates regarding our experience with the Nintendo Switch Online Playtest from its beginning, ending and whatever happens in between.

 

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Written by Matthew Powers

Nintendo has been Matthew’s preference for fun video gaming since 2004. In addition to his love for all things Mario, Metroid and beyond, Matthew also enjoys heavy metal, roller coasters, pinball machines, and being a proud cat dad.