Nintendo has released a treasure trove of new information on Splatoon 3 has been released during the August 10 Splatoon 3 Direct Presentation, which was teased earlier this week. This includes a deep dive into the game’s mechanics, new characters, new weapons, new modes, new locations, the story mode, special upcoming events, and much, much more!
Splatoon 3 will officially launch on the Nintendo Switch family of systems on September 9, 2022, but keep reading to find out more info on some upcoming events to stay on top of the action as early as possible!
Splatoon 3 Direct: Gameplay, Stages, and Weapons
Splatoon 3 will reimagine the series staple feature: the Turf War! The gameplay will focus on intense competition where players must duke it out in with splashes of color in epic turf war battles to see who can cover the most ground!
The presentation offered a sneak peek at some of the battle stages and moves Inklings and Octolings will have access to in battle. Some Splatlands-specific locations include Eeltail Alley, Scorch Gorge, Mincemeat Metalworks, and Undertow Spillway, but there is also the new Hagglefish Market, a pier filled to the brim with vibrant street vendors that sell a variety of weapons, gear, fashion items, and more!
Several stages from Greater Inkopolis in Splatoon 2 also make a return, like Museum d’Alfonsino, Hammerhead Bridge, and Mahi-Mahi Resort. There will be a total of 12 stages at launch, with more planned for future updates.
In Turf War, two teams of four will compete to ink the most turf on the map within three minutes. Inklings and Octolings will make use of new techniques that have been introduced, like the Squid Surge which allows players to swim up walls in a single burst, and the Squid Roll to jump out of ink while turning around., in order to win!
There is a myriad of weapon and gear options available for all players as well, such as new Splatlands-specific weapons such as the bow-like Tri-Stringer that can fire in three directions simultaneously and unleash charged shots that freeze before exploding into a volley of ink!
Or the Splatana Wiper sends blades of ink flying with the centrifugal force generated by swinging it, and if swung after charging up, will transform into a charged slash!
All main weapon types from previous Splatoon games will be available in at the start as well, along with some new special weapons that can be unleashed after inking enough turf. These include the Tacticooler, which when activated, summons a fridge with stat-boosting beverages for the team, the Wave Breaker, which unleashes sonic waves around the area, and the Reefslider, a shark-shaped, ink-propelled float that charges forward and creates an ink explosion on opponents!
Special Modes and Story Details
Splatoon 3 will see the return of some special series modes as well as some new ones for players old and new to enjoy. There will be a completely new Story Mode called the Return of the Mamaallians, which will see players set out on an adventure to discover the secrets of Alterna and the Fuzzy Ooze. As Agent 3, they will battle with the Octarian Army, whose members are strangely covered in hair for some reason, along with their new Smallfry buddy!
In addition, Salmon Run is seeing a return! This mode allows up to four players to work together and collect Power Eggs from the invading Salmonids advancing on the city! It no longer available occasionally and can be played at any time. Two new Boss Salmonids, the new Slammin’ Lid, and the Big Shot will be introduced, along with the Cohozuna, a new King Salmonid-variant.
The tank on players’ backs will transform into an Egg Cannon when they encounter a King Salmonid, and they can collect Golden Eggs to deal massive damage! Big Runs are, an event when Salmonids invade the city in which Inklings and Octolings live, and are also coming in the future.
Next up, the Tableturf Battle will be available in the Tableturf Battle Dojo in Splatsville’s vacant lot. This new mode features a 1-v-1 competitive card battle spinoff of Turf War that allows players to ink different shapes with different cards, charge up power, and unleash it all at once with a special comeback attack, with over 150 cards to collect.
Finally, a new mode known as Anarchy Battles in which players compete for rankings in objective-based battles is also in the pipeline and will rotate between Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz. The Splatsville lobby will host a number of online features and make it easy to join as an ally or drop in as an opponent on Turf War battles. Players can see what friends are up to at any given moment by forming teams and can replay recent battles in the Memory Player.
Splatfests, New Characters, Online Tournaments, and More!
The final bit of information shared in the Splatoon 3 Direct showcased the debut of the Deep Cut Trio, who will be taking a similar role to Off the Hook in the previous entry, and host the Splatsville news program, Anarchy Splatcast! Frye, Shiver, and Big Man will provide information on battle stages and news bulletins, which can be read on the go while exploring the city.
When the game finally launches on September 9, a free in-game season catalog will be distributed every three months for the next two years, bringing additional weapons and gears with each update. The X Battle and League Battle are planned for future updates as well, which can be unlocked after attaining an extremely high rank in Anarchy Battle. Large-scale paid DLC is also planned for the future.
The recurring multiplayer events known as Splatfests will also return, and the first Splatoon 3: Splatfest World Premiere demo will take place on August 27, 2022, at 9 a.m. PT and run until 9 p.m. PT! The main them will be Team Rock, Team Paper, and Team Scissors, and will offer players the chance to play in a free global Splatoon 3 event before the full game officially launches.
They can show their support for the series by splitting it out in the newly introduced Tricolor Turf War battles, which feature three teams competing at once! They can download the free demo in Nintendo eShop starting on August 18, with certain parts playable by August 25.
The very last bit of news revealed during the Splatoon 3 Direct announced that North America’s first-ever Splatoon 3 Invitational will occur at PAX West on September 5, 2022. The top players from this summer’s Splatoon 2 Inkopolis Showdown 2022 tournament will be invited to Seattle to compete! Players are encouraged to follow the official Nintendo Versus Twitter account for all updates, and the official Splatoon North American Twitter account to keep up with the latest research findings and information.
