Splatoon 2 was a superb launch title for the Nintendo Switch, following up on the first game with an expanded roster of paint-based weapons to offer oodles of online battling fun.
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The next game in the series has taken some time coming, but we’re now on the cusp of finally being able to play Splatoon 3, a game that some worried might never get made. Find out all the key details, right here.
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Splatoon 3 trailer and release date
Splatoon 3 came as a real surprise, dropped right at the end of a nearly hour-long Nintendo Direct presentation in February 2021 with the three-minute trailer you can see embedded above.
It was an atmospheric look at the upcoming game and ended with the all-important information that it was coming in 2022. That date was then officially narrowed down to Summer 2022.
Now we have a confirmed release date at last – Splatoon 3 will launch on 9 September 2022, as the trailer below made clear.
Splatoon 3 platforms
The first Splatoon game came out on the lesser spotted Wii U, and wasn’t a huge seller, which is why Nintendo was smart to revitalise the franchise by bringing the sequel to the Switch pretty quickly.
It’s earned a big fanbase there, with its fun story mode and relentlessly enjoyable four-on-four multiplayer online. The third game has been announced for the Switch as well, and being a Nintendo exclusive there’s no chance it’ll appear anywhere else.
Enjoyably, Nintendo has also shown off a limited edition Switch OLED that will be launching to tie in with the game, and it looks really funky, so that’s one to keep an eye out for.
Splatoon 3 gameplay
We got some welcome glimpses of actual gameplay in the final minute of that first trailer, comprising a bit of a four-on-four match that is sure to be Splatoon 3’s signature mode as usual.
Rounds seem to begin a bit more explosively than before now, with players divebombing into the map after aiming for an area, which is a welcome way to get things off to a more action-packed start.
There are also a host of weapons shown off in short glimpses, from bows and launchers to cannons, and dedicated Splatoon 2 players will know that experimenting with different loadouts is part of the fun of the game.
After the good reception for Splatoon 2’s singleplayer and coop modes, we’d hope that there’s going to be another full campaign in Splatoon 3, but the trailer doesn’t confirm anything on that front. However, we do now know that a new coop experience will be included – Salmon Run Next Wave. You can see more about it in the trailer below:
Still, you can safely assume there’ll be a bunch of new maps to play on, and the start of the trailer also makes it clear that customising your Inkling will be as varied and fun as ever. There are loads of options to pick from, including your own little fishy pal – that’s a new feature for the series, and we’re keen to find out more about how the little guy might impact on things.
Splatoon 3 story
We don’t know a huge amount about how Splatoon 3 will take the baton on from Splatoon 2, but we do have some indications. For one thing, it’s introducing a whole new area called the Splatlands, which is a dry and arid desert locale that evokes cartoony Mad Max vibes that we really appreciate.
Our Inkling eventually boards a train to cross that landscape, passing the visually arresting sight of an upside-down Eiffel Tower on their way, before arriving back in the Tokyo (sorry, Inkopolis) hub that’s so familiar from Splatoon 2. It’s looking a little less colourful than usual, though, so there might be something going on.
Beyond that, we really don’t have much to go on, but we’d assume that our favourite radio hosts will be back in town to help organise Splatfests, and that there’ll be plenty of fun to be had.
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