Here’s how to apply for Nintendo’s mystery Switch Online playtest

Do you want to be one of the 10,000 people who participate in Nintendo’s mysterious new “Playtest Program” for Nintendo Switch Online? If you meet the criteria, you can apply for the playtest from the “To application page” link on Nintendo’s website starting today at 11AM ET / 8AM PT.

Applications will stay open until October 15th at 10:59AM ET, though Nintendo says it will stop taking applications early if it reaches capacity.

I imagine you’ll be up against a legion of hopefuls, but if you want to throw your hat in the ring, here’s what you need to know:

Perhaps most importantly, is the fact that only people with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership as of October 9th (that was Wednesday) at 6PM ET can apply. So, if you didn’t already subscribe to that tier, you’re out of luck.

You’ll also need to be at least 18 years old and have your Nintendo account registered in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the US, or the UK.

Nintendo will choose people on a first-come, first-served basis — unless you’re from Japan, where participants may be selected from a raffle “if there are many Japanese applicants.”

If you’re lucky enough to get in, the playtest will run from October 23rd at 9PM ET to November 5th at 7:59PM ET, and Nintendo says that you’ll have to download “exclusive software.”

I don’t currently subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, so I’m unfortunately out of the running. Good luck to everyone who tries to get in. Tell me how the playtest is — whatever it is!