Summary
Despite requests for secrecy from Nintendo, it looks likeNintendo Switch Onlineusers are starting to divulge details regarding its upcoming Playtest Program, suggesting that the Big N’s mystery project could be some sort of MMO game. Fans were excited earlier this month when Nintendo announced it would be testing out a new feature for itsNintendo Switch Onlineservice, and if these leaks are to be believed, it could very well be its first real stab at a massively multiplayer online experience.
According to reports from sources likeThe VergeandKotaku, these leaks reveal that Nintendo is working on a MMO game where the main objective is for players to work together to “fully ‘develop’ a massive, expansive planet.” They do this by laying down “Beacons” that create zones and further develop the environment, with the overall goal being to cover the sphere-shaped grid representing the planet with beacons. Aside from these Beacon zones, players can also head to a social hub known as the “Dev Core” to level up their characters, acquire items, and interact with other players, something that they will likely be able to test out to some extent during theNintendo Switch Online Playtest Program.
Switch Online Playtest Program Leaks Point to Nintendo’s First MMO
Customization seems to be a key aspect of thisNintendo Switch MMO, as players will be able to customize their Beacons to some extent, though they won’t be able to do the same in other players’ zones. Nintendo also describes features for sharing custom content, though players must pass an in-game test to show that they “understand the importance of respectful communication” before they can access these features.
From the looks of it, Nintendo’s MMO could be shaping up to be something like a massively multiplayermix ofMinecraftandRoblox, with potentially thousands of players shaping the in-game world together and sharing custom content with one another. Such a title would certainly stand out from the company’s usual selection of games, so it’ll be interesting to see how things pan out beyond the Playtest Program.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
