Update: The Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test is now over. Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Nintendo Switch Sports is bringing back the Wii Sports brand on Switch at the end of April 2022, but before it launches proper Nintendo is running an Online Play Test of the game over a weekend to test its online network capacity, evaluate various technical aspects, and iron out any online multiplayer kinks ahead of the game's global release.
If you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription — or even just a trial one — you can register to participate in this multiplayer beta which begins on 18th February and finished on 20th February, with five 45-minute sessions available to join.
In this guide we have all the dates, times, and information currently available for how to sign up and get involved with the Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test.
Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test Dates and Times
When is the the Online Play Test?
The Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test will run across three days (or two, depending on your region) beginning on Friday 18th February and finishing on Sunday 20th February.
There will be five global test sessions in total, each one lasting 45 minutes. Below are the dates and times of each online play test session with corresponding time zone information (24-hour clock).
Please note that in two cases the European times occur after midnight, in the very early morning of the following day (marked below):
February 18
- 19:00-19:45 PST / 22:00- 22:45 EST / 03:00-03:45 GMT (19th Feb) / 04:00-04:45 CET (19th Feb)
February 19
- 03:00-03:45 PST / 06:00-06:45 EST / 11:00-11:45 GMT / 12:00-12:45 CET
- 11:00-11:45 PST / 14:00-14:45 EST / 19:00-19:45 GMT / 20:00.20:45 CET
- 19:00-19:45 PST / 22:00- 22:45 EST / 03:00-03:45 GMT (20th Feb) / 04:00-04:45 CET (20th Feb)
February 20
- 03:00-03:45 PST / 06:00-06:45 EST / 11:00-11:45 GMT / 12:00-12:45 CET
Which Sports Are Included In The Online Play Test?
Online matches against random players will be available in the following three sports from the game:
- Tennis
- Bowling
- Chambara (sword fighting)
It should be noted that this is very much a 'test' of the online service, so disruptions should be expected, especially in the earlier sessions.
How Do I Sign Up For The Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test?
Registration opens on 15th February at the following times:
- 5pm PST / 8pm EST / 1am GMT (16th Feb) / 2am CET (16th Feb)
Follow the link below to go to Nintendo's website and register for a 16-digit Test Download Code which you can redeem via the Nintendo Switch eShop on your console:
- Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test Download Code Registration (North America)
- Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test Download Code Registration (Europe)
The Online Play Test is set up like a Platinum Points redemption, except it costs zero Platinum Points. Simply log in with your Nintendo Account, 'redeem' the points and click 'Check details' to reveal the download code:
How do I redeem my Online Play Test download code?
Two options:
- Visit https://ec.nintendo.com/redeem#/ while logged into your Nintendo Account via Nintendo's website and input the code there
- Visit the Nintendo Switch eShop on your console and click 'Redeem Code' in the bottom left corner, then input your Online Play Test Code
Once redeemed, the Online Play Test icon will appear and download on your Switch.
Restrictions
The Nintendo of America page notes the following restrictions for participants:
The Online Play Test software is under development and might not be reflective of the full version of Nintendo Switch Sports. You may experience unexpected behaviors or errors while playing.
By downloading and participating in the Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test, you agree not to publicly share any details from this online play test, including on your social media channels.
The Online Play Test may be terminated without notice. Session times may also be shortened or be extended without prior notice.
Save data from the Online Play Test cannot be carried over to the full game.
The reward code expires on February 20, 2022 at 03:59 AM PT.
This offer is available for a limited time only beginning February 15, 2022 and only while supplies last.
Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test is not compatible with Nintendo Switch Lite.
Registration is only available to players with an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription, although that includes anyone currently using the service via a free trial.
Nintendo does note that "Registrations are limited", so if you're desperate to get an early look at the game ahead of its April release, make sure you sign up sooner rather than later.
When does Nintendo Switch Sports release?
The full game will be available on 29th April. Check out our pre-order page below for more details:
Let us know if you'll be signing up for the Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test with a comment below.
[source nintendoswitchsports.nintendo.com]
Comments (51)
Registrations are limited - so good luck Europeans..
1v1
Online Chambara
Pool Noodles Only
NOA has a site with the details on registration for the test.
I’m really up for this - I think the game looks great from what I’ve seen so far.
I hope when they add Golf, it's better than the Mario Golf they just released for the Switch. It just wasn't the same or as relaxing a Wii Sports Golf.
I want Boxing added in the game, please.
#voteforboxing 🤟
@TenEighty Do I have news for you.
Sadly this game can't be played handheld, so I'll be skipping.
@cmdrmarc most likely Europeans will have their own test servers, then they will connect worldwide at a later date
@sanderev probably not Multiplayer but they may integrate single player for handheld. With multiplayer it wouldn’t be fair for someone to use controls and another person using motion so I could definitely see multiplayer use with motion controls only and single
Player with regular controls.
It's cool that they're doing an online test. Hopefully, they'll be starting to take their online more seriously.
@Dirty0814 You think? Seems odd they'd tell everyone the same test dates without mentioning there would be more region focussed ones later
F europeans i guess if spots are limited
edit: european website mentions registration opening at 10am cet, not 2am
@Fizza What news?
@Dirty0814 It says so in the eShop, handheld play is not supported. It also gives a warning if you try to pre-order on a Switch lite.
@TenEighty https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/02/wii-sports-is-reborn-as-nintendo-switch-sports
Take a look at the second paragraph.
I thought everyone would be able to play within the designated time periods and that you didn't have to register.... I'll probably miss out then. Oh well. I wasn't too hyped for this anyway. Wii Sports was cool but wasn't THAT hype.
@Fizza Thanks!
Oh God Nintendo's online service is bad enough during non-peak hours while sitting on my router to ensure a strong connection...I shudder to imagine trying anything Nintendo online in beta.
Oh, wow, only for 45 minutes each day? Lol. I thought it would be a weekend long test. Although, I recall, I think that's how the Splatoon 2 test run went, if I remember, right.
I’ll give it a shot, I suppose. Might even give me a demo of the game to decide whether I want to buy it.
@TenEighty
It wont be better, but it should be more relaxing. Which seems like it should be better for you.
That's awfully tight for a beta test, especially looking at Splatoon 2 and Pokémon Unite for comparison. Regardless, I'm definitely going to sign up.
The real question is whether tennis/bowling/golf will be better or worse than Wii Sports Club.
Hard to compete with the Gamepad tee.
Wanted to play this but I'm not going to pay for online so I can test their game for them
I'm on the Nintendo website and I do not see anything about registration. A whole lot of articles through online searches like this one indicate that you have to register, NONE of them (including this one) detail how.
@IronMan30 Where's the link? I'm on NOA right now and I don't see it.
@DarthFoxMcCloud I tried to post it here earlier but was blocked. Try this one:
Nintendoswitchsports.nintendo.com
It appears NL has that as the source. They mention sign-up time in the source link, fwiw.
I wISH FRISBEE MINI GAME!!!! Maybe Frisbee Golf!
@IronMan30 Ok after having refreshed the page I see now they’ve put up that registration opens at 5pm PT, which is 8pm ET for me. Thanks for the link!
@DarthFoxMcCloud no problem, glad to help!
Wait so this game can only be played with motion controls? What about tabletop mode for those of us with a Switch Lite?
@McGruber buy JoyCons
For UK/EU users...
Registrations for the Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test are now open!
Nintendo Switch Online members can sign up now: https://bit.ly/33nLjl4
All registered, you do it on the official Nintendo U.S or U.K sites, not on the Switch's online app as I first thought.
Just click on the link then it will tell you to log in to your Nintendo account, then register.
This is going to be ace...
@Would_you_kindly,
Never looked at it that way, but already signed up to the online expansion pack, so might as well have a go.
From you point of view it's not worth it if you do not want to pay for the online service, and the game is not that far off and pretty cheap to be honest.
This is just free Game Testing, dressed up to make you feel like you are special and hand picked by Nintendo, its a farce!
They might as well just release the half finished game and keep on patching it, like most companies do nowadays.
@TenEighty from what I saw in the trailer, the golf is a huge step up from Mario Golf Super Rush aesthetically and I imagine it will largely feel similar to Wii Sports Golf.
Personally I'm relieved they announced it right before I caved in and bought Super Rush.
@Dirty0814 i have on the 19 and 20 to play and I on EU
I just realized something in the trailer. Chambara seems to offer a mode that uses 2 joycons.
So maybe there will be a sword and shield or dual wielding mode.
@Bunkerneath It's a playtest. Something actually quite normal for online focused games. And yes, with play tests you want to control the amount of testsubjects (players).
Thanks for the PSA. Completely lost track of time and didn’t realize it was this weekend… plus I didn’t know I needed a code! Got mine now and will play some online matches this weekend! The game looks really fun even if it’s lacking some of the sports I’d hope would be included. At least it’s got bowling, tennis, golf, and volleyball!
Update: the unlock time for the beta in Ireland was 9am, the time I go to work. Once I finished up for the day at 4pm, I rushed home to try and get in.
The result?
via GIPHY
I’ve done it boys
@johnvboy this is basically just a beta test so they should really compensate the players for helping them 😂 & well I know Nintendo online isn't very expensive but even so I don't think people should be charged to play online I have a ps plus subscription because I mainly game on my PS4 so it's the best value for me (still not happy about having to pay to play online though) if I wanted to play the odd online game on my Nintendo & Xbox then I'd have to pay for another 2 subscriptions
It seems is not as limited as one would think. Im in.
Now waiting for the servers to start working.
I kind of miss the Miis.... this new avatars look very generic... it lacks the "Nintendo Charm(TM)"
It was quite nice... wii sports tennis again.. soem weird things.. rookie was translaten... and bowling was too easy.. so it didn't really feel much as skill , and one time no spare was immediately fatal..
@Xiovanni yes you can choose 3 types of swords. Normal, Defense/Counter and 2-swords. I played the demo and a yhink its a $9,90 game. I won´t never pay $39,90. Too simple gameplay. Not so fun...
@romanista same here....bowling = no skill. The game is so simple to cost $39,90. This game is $9,90 content.
@Rykdrew I enjoyed the demo enough to get it for the local multiplayer. I do wish it had archery and baseball though.
One of the games I want to play the most is the golf, so I might wait till that's added before buying.
@Xiovanni I love my old Nintendo wii sports resort. But I think 2022 standart...a game needs to have much more content. This game has very superficial gameplay nowadays. Very gimmicky. The feeling is like playing Kinect Sports... but...I played Kinect Sports Online 10 years ago...so this game is not surprising at all. It's cool, fun, for $9.90, not $39.90. This is just my opinion, of course.
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