Recent reports suggest that the Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program was led by former Splatoon directors. A newly published patent lists Yusuke Amano, Tsubasa Sakaguchi, Masaki Wada, and Shinya Yano as inventors. Amano and Sakaguchi previously directed the original Splatoon game and later contributed to the Nintendo Labo project. Wada and Yano served as programmers for Ring Fit Adventure.

The Playtest Program, conducted between October 23 and November 5, 2024, involved a select group of Nintendo Switch Online subscribers testing a new feature. Despite Nintendo’s request for confidentiality, details about the playtest surfaced online, revealing a sandbox-building game reminiscent of Minecraft and Roblox. Players collaborated to develop planets, utilizing creativity and resources, with features like personal “Beacons” to edit specific areas and a social hub called “Dev Core” for interactions.

This information aligns with the patent’s description, suggesting that the Playtest Program was led by these veteran developers.