Nintendo is reportedly making some significant changes to how they handle multiplayer on the Switch.

This report comes via several members of the datamining community, including Oatmealdome who has previously been involved in datamining Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Smash Ultimate, and other titles.

According to their findings, Nintendo is in the process of replacing their old NEX multiplayer server system with a new system called NPLN. In addition, the Monster Hunter Rise demo was apparently the first Nintendo title to use the new NPLN to handle its multiplayer.

[Switch Online]

Nintendo is replacing its multiplayer server system, NEX (used in most, if not all of their online games since 3DS/Wii U), with a new system called NPLN.

The Monster Hunter Rise demo was the very first game to use this in public.

More below 👇 https://t.co/7doZFl7sDK

— OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) February 1, 2021

An update for Nintendo’s multiplayer server system has been long overdue, as they have been using the current NEX system for at least 18 years, dating back to the 3DS/WiiU era. It is a little too soon to determine what possible improvements the new NPLN system might make to the Switch’s online multiplayer, but hopefully it will lead to a lot more stability moving forward.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.