Nintendo’s mysterious Playtest is starting to leak

The trial software is now available for download prior to game launch and requires 2.2GB of free space. Participants didn’t sign an NDA, but Nintendo asked in the playtest’s terms and conditions that users refrain from sharing any details about it, which has gone about as well as could be expected. While Nintendo has already started issuing copyright strikes to take the leaked media offline, screenshots and information about the playtest are still available on websites like X and Reddit in time to write

This appears to be Nintendo’s attempt to develop its first MMO (massively multiplayer online) style game. According to the game’s description, “the goal is to work with others to fully ‘develop’ a massive, expansive planet using creativity and framed resources.” Players will encounter “new terrain, enemies and resources” as they progress, and use “Beacons” that create zones to develop the environment around where they are. These beacon zones are personal: players can only “move, lift, or edit items” in the zones they’ve placed, and can’t edit anything inside someone else’s beacon.

There is a separate social hub called “Dev Core” where players can level up, get items and interact with each other. Nintendo also describes “User Generated Content (UGC) features” for creating and sharing personalized content, but players must pass an in-game test “to demonstrate that you understand the importance of respectful communication” before this ability can be unlocked.

At a glance, the game shares some similarities with familiar MMOs like Minecraft i Roblox. Either the IP is entirely new (since it doesn’t feature any recognizable Nintendo characters) or it’s a placeholder for the game system itself, meaning it could be part of an existing franchise at launch. All we know for sure is that earlier speculation suggesting that the playtest would bring GameCube titles to the Nintendo Switch online service can probably be put to rest.