A Twitter user recently noticed that Nintendo is forbidding players from discussing their experiences with the upcoming Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test. While something like this is not uncommon, there are a few reasons why players are confused about the decision.
The Play Test will feature five 45-minute sessions which will be spread throughout February 19 and 20. These sessions are open to any Nintendo Switch Online member who would like to register and they are able to do so here. The Online Play Test is exciting for players who are looking to test out the game before its release date on April 28. Although players are looking forward to the test, they are also confused about the decision to forbid any discussion on social media.
The decision comes as a surprise to many players since the test is open to a large community of Nintendo fans. While previous releases have featured similar stipulations about privacy, this test seems to be much more public. Additionally, fans are confused about why the company is hiding its product and not trying to build more excitement. Many believe the Online Play Test can demonstrate to skeptical gamers what to expect when the game is released in April. Fans are also unsure about how the company would even enforce the rule if it is broken. Since many users do not have their online switch accounts linked with their social media, it is still unclear how this breach would be handled.
One of the main theories for Nintendo’s inclusion of this condition is that the game still has some bugs to work out since it is still somewhat early in development. Nintendo’s terms and conditions also said “Online Play Test software is under development and may not be reflective of the full version of Nintendo Switch Sports.” This statement has led many to believe the game is not fully finished and Nintendo wants to prevent any fallout from potential issues during the Online Play Test.
The Nintendo Switch game is a sequel to one of the most popular Nintendo games of all time, Wii Sports. The game was released 15 years ago in late 2006 and allows players to engage in some of their favorite sports on the Wii. The game has seen many sequels but the soon-to-be-released Nintendo Switch Sports will be the first to come for one of the most popular consoles on the market today.