Looks Like Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program Has Received Another Patent
Including a little bit of speculation from us
Well, that's certainly interesting. If you all remember, back in July the Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program was brought to the Switch 2, and now it seems the program received another patent.
The mysterious NSO Playtest Program got another patent. US20250312694 describes a system in which the player can intuitively select multiple objects in a virtual space by walking around them. image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-pu...
— Nintendo Patents Watch (@ninpatentswatch.bsky.social) 2025-10-09T20:45:09.756Z
It's not exactly uncommon for Nintendo to patent certain functions within their games ahead of release, so we're not surprised this made it to the USPTO. The playtest program was likely done to see how these features performed when multiple thousands of people were online at the same time. At this time, however, it is pure speculation as to what this playtest program could be for.
It is worth noting that Kakariko Herald has reviewed screenshots and videos of the playtest program, and is speculating based on what was "leaked."
If you'd like to see the abstract, alongside any other documentation shared by Nintendo to the USPTO, click or tap here.