Nintendo has released updates for its Nintendo Switch Online classic game applications, with preliminary datamining suggesting that a new challenge-based feature may be in development for select retro titles.
According to dataminer Yakumono, the NES, SNES, and Game Boy Nintendo Classics apps recently received a major version update. After examining the update files, the dataminer said the changes appear to be more significant than a routine patch.
“So for some reason: NES, SNES, GB Nintendo Classics apps have been updated to a major version bump. I have looked very quick, please wait a bit for me to look deeper, but it is worth the major update,” Yakumono wrote.
Further investigation reportedly uncovered references to a challenge system that shares similarities with Nintendo’s NES Remix series. “They have implemented challenges. Stuff akin to NES Remix (not the Remix kind, from what I can tell though). You cannot access them yet, you have to wait until the NSO app updates,” the dataminer said.
Yakumono later clarified several details regarding the feature, stating that no new games have been added to the services and that the challenges are only available for specific titles. The dataminer also noted that the instructions reference access through the Nintendo Switch Online Home Menu application rather than through menus inside the individual retro apps.
“Just to be clear about certain things: – There’s no new games added. – The challenges are only for specific games. – The instructions clearly mention to use the NSO Home Menu app to access them, there is no in-app menu to access them. – I have no idea what rewards they would bring.”
Additional findings suggest the challenge system is internally referred to by the codename “CYCLONE.” Yakumono also emphasized that the feature does not resemble an achievement system. “And also to make sure: No, this is not an RetroAchievement style system. I specifically compared with NES Remix for reason: They’re challenges that start from a specific point in the game with a fail state and success state.”
At the time of writing, the feature remains inaccessible to users, and Nintendo has not officially announced any challenge-related additions for Nintendo Switch Online. However, the update files indicate that the company may be preparing a new way for subscribers to revisit select classic games.
