Nintendo is inviting people to apply to play test a new feature for Nintendo Switch Online — though the company isn’t specifying what the feature is.
Considering that this company just launched a gesture-controlled alarm clock, this could mean just about anything up to and including a preview of features for the much-anticipated Switch 2. Guesses from Verge staffers ran the gamut of bringing GameCube games to Switch Online to a preview for a Wii mini retro console or perhaps another long-lost Star Fox game. Feel free to leave your best guesses in the comments.
Applications will be open from Thursday, October 10th, at 11AM ET to Tuesday, October 15th, at 10:59AM ET. You can apply by clicking the “To Application Page” link on this page. People from outside of Japan will be chosen “on a first-come-first-serve basis,” Nintendo says, while participants from Japan will be chosen by a raffle “if there are many Japanese applicants.”
Users can apply if they meet the following criteria as of Wednesday, October 9th, at 6PM ET, which was the exact same time this playtest was announced:
Have a Nintendo Account
Be an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member
Be at least 18 years old
Be registered in any of the following countries: Japan, US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain
Nintendo says the playtest is “expected to accept as many as 10,000 participants.” The company says it will close applications early if “the number of accepted participants has reached its limit.” You’ll have to download “exclusive software” to your Switch to participate in the test.
The playtest will run from October 23rd at 9PM ET to November 5th at 7:59PM ET.