Nintendo Switch Online playtest leaks run wild as testers stream gameplay

After starting a “secret” playtest for an unnamed Nintendo Switch During the game on October 23rd, players have already started revealing actual gameplay, although Nintendo has made significant efforts to keep the game's contents as private as possible. Sign-ups for the playtest, available to Nintendo Switch Online members with limited availability, began on October 10, including Nintendo's requirement that successful applicants keep details of the playtest private. Predictably, however, these regulations failed to keep things secret even before playtesting began, with details leaking out as soon as they became available.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for an upcoming Nintendo Switch game]

To officially start the playtest Images and footage of the game have leaked onlinesome of which can be seen in this thread on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours. While many attempts to leak the game have so far been rebuffed by Nintendo, numerous leaks are still visible that show exactly what can be done in the unnamed Switch game. Currently, leaks portray the game as an MMO-like experience focused on building structures in a shared world, drawing comparisons to such games Minecraft.

A streamer receives a full DMCA strike, their entire channel is now gone

Nintendo quickly eliminates leaks from the ongoing Switch play test

Custom image by Brad Lang

However, while some leakers have managed to avoid Nintendo takedowns so far, others haven't been so lucky. Similar to pre-download leaks of the game, Nintendo quickly met players like Brettwils on Twitchwho later confirmed on Reddit that her channel “dead” after a DMCA strike. Other streams on popular platforms like Twitch and YouTube were shut down at similar speed, although images and even some short videos remained active elsewhere.

The Nintendo Switch Online leaks point to an MMO-style title

The unnamed Switch playtest game has drawn comparisons to Minecraft

The game's leaks, as reported by IGN, point to an MMO experience that involves building using blocks on a planet shared with other playerswith the added ability to swing from these structures using an attachable hook-like rope. While the game still seems unfinished and players have no choice but to build taller and taller buildings, there is at least some form of progression, as an in-game shop provides tools to help with construction.

Free Switch titles this week on Nintendo Switch Online, including A Little To The Left, Cursed To Gold and Vampire Survivors as free titles.

Three major Nintendo Switch titles are free to play for Nintendo Switch Online users this week

Three Nintendo Switch titles are free to play for a limited time, but those who want to try the game will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

While the leaked playtest gameplay is interesting in itself, it's not entirely clear at this point what exactly the purpose of the test is. The simplest answer is that the playtest is an early version of an upcoming Switch game, possibly for the Switch 2. However, other speculations include the possibility that Nintendo is testing a new online infrastructure, either for MMO-like games or a revised online system. Whatever the case, Nintendo will have an uphill battle ahead of them to keep leaks off the internet Nintendo Switch The playtest ends on November 5th.

Sources: ArcWardenScrub/Reddit, brettwils/Twitch, BrettWils_/Reddit, IGN