Leaked Nintendo Switch Online game whose name and soundtrack were datamined

Not understanding Nintendo is a completely normal state, but the confusion surrounding their “Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program” is baffling even by their standards.

It was announced earlier this month that it is “related to a new feature for the Nintendo Switch Online service for the Nintendo Switch system” and is said to include up to 10,000 game testers – all of whom are sworn to confidentiality.

But of course, many of them leaked information about the test the first chance they got, and it seems that Nintendo had no plan for this eventuality other than trying to remove screenshots and music clips from social media. But as you can imagine, that doesn’t work and today even more details have leaked.

The test doesn’t begin until Wednesday, October 23rd, but it’s already been fully datamined and back before anyone has had a chance to play it.

Many of the leaks are on Bluesky, not Twitter, and Nintendo hasn’t had them removed yet, although we can’t show them here for legal reasons.

We can tell you that it is codenamed Rockstock, but an actual final name is not yet clear. It appears to be from Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) Production Group No. 4, previously responsible for 1-2-Switch, Ring Fit Adventure, Nintendo Switch Sports and the recently announced Alarmo.

Judging from the files and code references of how most Fortnite leaks work, the game appears to be focused on PvP (player versus player) competitive action – although the first leaks on the help screens suggested that Collaborating with other players, to create an entire planet.

The game also appears to include a character creator, various mini-games and mechs, among other things, which again suggests a very ambitious and extensive game.

Releasing something like this as the Switch inevitably reaches its final Christmas as Nintendo’s primary format is extremely strange and implies that the game, whatever it is, will also be released for the Switch 2.

The seemingly entire soundtrack has also been leaked on Bluesky and features a number of tunes reminiscent of a more laid-back Splatoon style, with what we’re guessing is an alien warbling in the background.

When people play the game tomorrow, you can be sure that the internet will be flooded with videos of the game in action and Nintendo won’t be able to do anything about it.

You should know that this is going to happen, but if they have any plans to pre-empt the issue with an official reveal, they certainly haven’t hinted at it yet.

Not only is the game a mystery, but also its relationship to the Switch 2 and its reveal, which Nintendo says will take place before April next year.

Many leakers have claimed that the reveal will happen later this year, but as October approaches, that seems increasingly unlikely.