Registration Open for Nintendo Switch Sports Play Test

Players looking for a chance to play Nintendo Switch Sports early are in luck: Nintendo's opened registration for online play tests.

The online play test is scheduled to take place this coming weekend, running Feb. 19-20, to make sure the game's online capabilities are up to snuff ahead of the official release April 29. The test is available exclusively to Nintendo Switch online users, and won't be compatible with Nintendo Switch Lite consoles.

Exact timing for the tests are as follows:

• Friday, Feb. 18: 10:00-10:45 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Feb 19: 6:00-6:45 a.m. ET
• Saturday, Feb 19: 11:00-11:45 a.m. ET
• Saturday, Feb 19: 7:00-7:45 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Feb. 20: 6:00-6:45 a.m. ET

The test will include online matches for bowling, tennis and Chambara, also known as swordplay. Testers will only be able to find matches through matchmaking; no inviting friends to private matches.

As is standard for these advance tests, Nintendo has reiterated that the gameplay testers experience may "not be reflective of the full version of Nintendo Switch Sports," and testers may run into "unexpected behaviors and errors."

Full launch will add soccer, volleyball and badminton to the lineup of sports, and an update planned for fall will add golf.

Players can register for the tests on Nintendo's site.