Nintendo has announced a second mysterious online playtest for its Switch console, inviting users to test the “same service” that was previously hinted at being an MMO-style game. This new playtest, part of the “Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program,” follows a similar, undisclosed test conducted late last year.
Applications for this upcoming playtest are open to individuals aged 18 or older with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription as of Thursday at 6 PM ET. Eligible participants must also possess a Nintendo Account registered in one of the following countries: Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Brazil, or Mexico. Applicants can register individually or as part of a group of up to four, provided all group members meet the specified qualifications.
We will perform another test in the #NintendoSwitchOnline: Playtest Program. From 8:00 AM PT on July 21st, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can apply to participate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Find out more: https://t.co/xed7zzwzBb pic.twitter.com/JfnMRd9eoH
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 17, 2025
The application process is structured in two phases: preparation and submission. Users can begin preparing their applications on Nintendo’s website starting Friday, July 18th, at 6 PM ET, until Monday, July 21st, at 10:59 AM ET. The official submission window opens on Monday, July 21st, at 11 AM ET, and closes on Wednesday, July 23rd, at 10:59 AM ET. Nintendo emphasizes that applications will be accepted on a “first-come, first-served basis.”
Nintendo aims to accept “as many as 40,000 participants worldwide” for this iteration, a significant increase from the 10,000 participants in the October test. Notably, individuals who participated in the previous playtest are eligible to join this new one. The playtest itself is scheduled to run from Monday, July 28th, at 9 PM ET, through Sunday, August 10th, at 8:59 PM ET.
