Nintendo has officially launched the participant portal for its upcoming Nintendo Switch Online Playtest, offering returning users a chance to continue from where they left off in last year’s session. The playtest is scheduled to begin on July 29 at 1 a.m. UTC, with servers going live for those who have successfully registered and downloaded the necessary software.
According to Nintendo, this test uses the same software that was featured during the October 2024 Playtest. Returning players can use their original save data, allowing them to resume their progress without needing to start over. Participants are required to have either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 system, and must download an exclusive test application made available through a code.
Access to the test is limited to those with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Registration closed on July 23, 2025, at 7:59 a.m. PDT. Eligibility criteria also required applicants to be 18 years or older and reside in one of ten specified countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and others.
Participants who joined the previous October 2024 session were automatically eligible to rejoin, assuming they maintained the required membership tier by July 17, 2025. While Japanese players were selected via a raffle, applicants from other eligible countries were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with the program reportedly capping at 40,000 global participants.
Despite the structured rollout, users have encountered technical issues related to code redemption. Several players on social media are reporting that their download codes are currently unusable, receiving the error message that the software is “unavailable to download.” Error code 2813-0042 has also been mentioned, suggesting that access to the eShop or test software may not yet be fully enabled.
Twitter users shared their frustrations, noting they were unable to redeem the codes and speculating whether high server traffic might be contributing to the issue. One user wrote, “Redemption codes currently don’t work as it says the software isn’t available to download,” while another added, “I can’t even access the eShop.”
This Playtest is part of Nintendo’s continued evaluation of online infrastructure for both the current and upcoming Switch platforms. Although the company has not confirmed the project’s full scope, the inclusion of NDA clauses and recurring test cycles suggests a significant online initiative may be underway. Last year’s test was marred by leaks, with gameplay footage and details surfacing online, despite confidentiality measures.
For now, the exact purpose of the test software remains unconfirmed. Whether this signals Nintendo’s interest in building out its online service offerings or merely reflects internal experimentation, it is clear the company is putting serious effort into preparing its digital ecosystem for what lies ahead.
