News Articles
Wednesday3rd Jun 2015
News Splatoon Producer Inks Out Reasons For Lack Of Voice Chat And Staggered Content Roll-Out
"We really do understand the fun that can be had with this"
Nintendo caused quite a bit of heated discussion when it confirmed that online shooter Splatoon would lack voice chat. The ability to communicate with fellow players is a staple of other online shooters, but Nintendo decided against including it in this ink-covered offering. Critics...
News Splatoon Storms to Top Spot in Japanese Charts With Six Figure Sales
Wii U sales more than double to lead hardware chart
It's that time of the week, once again, for Media Create Japanese chart results, and there are some strong sales for the latest Wii U exclusive, matching up to chatter that stock had been scarce due to demand; Wii U hardware sales jumped, too. We're referring, of course, to Splatoon, the colourful...
Video We Check Out The Squid amiibo Challenges
We have an Inkling you're having problems tracking these amiibo down
We have yet more Splatoon videos coming your way. By now you should be aware of the amiibo challenges available in Splatoon, and thanks to a lack of stock - or certain unscrupulous folk spoiling the fun for UK GAME shoppers - you may be struggling to obtain all three...
Weirdness Man Gets Inked In Splatoon, Literally
Don't try this at home, squids!
We're no stranger to seeing Nintendo fans getting "inked up" here at Nintendo Life. Over the years we've seen the worst ever Charmander tattoo, a ink-covered gaming comedian and even someone who adorned his wrist with a 3DS AR Card tattoo.
News Splatoon 1.2.0 Update Promises A More Pleasant Gaming Experience
Party on squids
Splatoon has been out for less than a week, but it doesn't appear that Nintendo is resting on its laurels in fine-tuning the online multiplayer experience for it's ever-growing fanbase. The much anticipated Ranked Battle mode was unlocked only yesterday, along with the all new Port Mackerel map. Today brings the first patch in the...
Tuesday2nd Jun 2015
Video A Guide to Splatoon's New Weapon & Map
Zapper-de-doo-dah
In a surprisingly bold move Nintendo has already begun to drip-feed us new content for its acclaimed new shooter experience Splatoon, despite the game having been released less than a week ago. This takes the form of the new shooter-style weapon called the N-Zap '85 styled after the NES Zapper, and Port Mackerel, a new map for both...
Monday1st Jun 2015
News Splatoon Ranked Battle Mode and First Free DLC Go Live Today
Or very early tomorrow, depending on your timezone
For Splatoon fans waiting for a little extra content to shake up the online action, today brings good news. Very soon there'll be an extra mode, map and gun available for extra ink splatting action. Included in today's Nintendo Direct Micro video, it's confirmed that the following will all arrive...
Gallery Let's Take A Look At The Incoming Splatoon Maps And Weapons
Squid seen with a Rapid Blaster Deco at Camp Triggerfish
Splatoon is out now and thrilling Wii U owners as we speak, but the game we're playing at the moment is a long way off being the finished article - Nintendo has plenty of other content planned, including new modes, maps and weapons. Thanks to the Prima official game guide to Splatoon, we can...
News Splatoon Ranked Battles Creep Closer as the 'Splatometer' Fills
Server stress testing nearly done, then
Nintendo likes to make a game of everything, that's a key strength of the company. With Splatoon, our theory is that it's made a game of server stress testing, which perhaps explains the ongoing wait for the Ranked Battle mode - it was always expected, but is still slightly odd. Earlier this weekend Nintendo...
Video Ever Wondered What Happens When A Splatoon Turf War Ends In A Tie?
Judd doesn't play fair
Splatoon launched last week and has already become something of a smash-hit with Nintendo fans. The game's Turf War mode is addictive online fun, with the goal being to cover as much of the map as possible in your team's ink. However, have you ever wondered what happens when the match is tied and neither team has an ink...
News Splatoon Grabs Second Place in UK Chart Début
Biggest ever new IP launch on Wii U
Splatoon has just had its first big weekend on Wii U, with plenty of players hitting the online servers to splat the ground and each other with ink. It's a new IP that's had a fairly substantial marketing campaign, too, so the question has been whether all of that promotional activity would pay off at launch. We...
Saturday30th May 2015
News Splatoon's Ranking Battle 'Splatometer' is Supposedly Creeping Upwards to Unlock Mode
Sure, Nintendo, the 'Splatometer'
Splatoon seems to be rather well received so far by many that have been splatting each other online, but it's arguably somewhat light in online content at launch. There's the single player campaign, yes, but in online matches we're currently limited to one default mode in the 'Regular Battle' category - 4 vs 4 with...
Weirdness The Second Player Can Have Motion Controls in Splatoon's Battle Dojo Mode
Erm, OK
Splatoon may be gracing plenty of Wii U systems worldwide, but the official Tumblr account is still rolling on, and has shared a rather peculiar and fun trick. It seems that both players can use motion-based aiming controls in the local multiplayer Battle Dojo mode, with a bit of bizarre customisation. By quite literally strapping a Wii U...
Friday29th May 2015
Out Now Splatoon Brings Some Colour to the Wii U
Like Platoon, but less grisly
It's been eagerly followed since its surprise reveal at E3 2014, and now Nintendo's colourful, creative and chaotic shooter - Splatoon - is in stores. There are already players running around at level 15+, courtesy of a) lots of free time, b) getting the game early through pre-order deliveries or c) a mix of both...
Video Nintendo UK Takes Over Skate Park To Celebrate Splatoon Launch
Get your skates on
To mark the launch of Splatoon, Nintendo UK has teamed up with Adrenaline Alley skatepark in Corby to offer a pretty unique promotional event. Adrenaline Alley has been "splatted" with Splatoon art and 4 Wii U pods - complete with the game, of course - have been installed for the Summer months. Nintendo UK has released a video...
News Amazon Confirms US amiibo Pre-Order Times for Wave 4, Splatoon and Silver Mario
One per customer, speed is everything
With more amiibo waves comes great pressure for collectors, with pre-order stock typically disappearing within moments of arriving. With scalping being particularly problematic Various retailers have tried to even the score and help dedicated fans get hold of the figures, and now Amazon in the US is joining in...
Thursday28th May 2015
News Miiverse Splatoon Sweepstakes Gives Artistic Fans in the US a Chance to Win the Game
Best Buy also hosting a special StreetPass event this weekend
Nintendo of America occasionally throws some extra details into its Nintendo Download Update press release, one of which is promoting a current Splatoon sweepstakes on Miiverse. It's one for creative gamers that fancy sharing a drawing for the shooter on the social network, and it's...
Nintendo Download 28th May (North America)
Splatoon, Double Mega Man, Don't Starve, Nicalis discounts and more
The information has come through a little later than normal, but we now have the full Nintendo Download Update run-down for North America. There's a big-name retail arrival on Wii U that's been inked in for some time, a critically acclaimed indie release, two doses of classic Mega...
Wednesday27th May 2015
Weirdness Lorry Thieves Make Off With Splatoon Special Editions in Europe
These guys were pros
Update: Nintendo UK has now provided the following statement: We can confirm that the lorry transporting the Splatoon stock from Nintendo's European warehouse to GAME UK has been stolen. Included as part of this delivery was GAME's allocation of the Splatoon + Squid Inkling amiibo and as a result we are unable to honour...
News Cool Down With a Splatoon-Inspired Froyo This Summer
No food fights please!
No doubt you'll be joining us in playing the excellent Splatoon throughout the Summer, and if you are lucky enough to live in Canada you'll even be able to cool off with Splatoon-inspired frozen yoghurt and sorbets - courtesy of a team-up with Nintendo Canada and Yogurty's and Yogen Fruz. Starting on the 1st of June until the...
News Be As Stunning As A Squid With This Fashionable Splatoon Attire In Girls Mode 3
Fabulous, inkling!
It appears the latest entry in the Girls Mode series (known locally as Style Savvy or New Style Boutique depending on where you live) will be borrowing outfits from the fashionably streetwise inklings featured in Splatoon. With a large list of clothing and accessories already available in Girls Mode 3: Kira Kira Code, this latest...
Tuesday26th May 2015
Nintendo Download 28th May (Europe)
Splatoon, Fossil Fighters, Strangeness, an imported retro treat and more
Much later than normal due to a public Holiday, we finally have this week's Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. There's a hotly anticipated Wii U retail exclusive, of course, while there's also a retail arrival on 3DS. Wii U owners have more options with an intriguing...
Weirdness Find Out If You Are A Squid With This Splatoon Infographic
We’ve got an inkling you might not be
Nintendo's squid-based shooter Splatoon arrives later this week on the Wii U. After a series of online-stress tests and adverts doubling as music videos, Nintendo now wants to know if you are a squid, or if you're ju
Sunday24th May 2015
Check that guitar solo
It's been a bit of a Splatoon weekend, so we thought we'd wrap it up with a couple of neat little snippets based on the game. Well, one is particularly cool, one may get a mixed reception. First up we have some outfits for those of you still checking into Animal Crossing: New Leaf on a regular basis, with some user created...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Suffers Major Problems in Final Pre-Launch Session
Splatoon Global Backfire
Update: Surprisingly, servers re-opened shortly after the session was due to close, with connection issues initially intermittent before performance improved to near-perfect levels. Nintendo formally extended the session to 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am UK / 2am CET, with that extra hour largely running as smoothly as the...
Saturday23rd May 2015
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Final Round!
The actual last hurrah
We thought the last Splatoon Global Testfire would be on 9th May, but Nintendo is treating us to one more session with the colourful shooter before launch. We've embedded a guide to the demo and will be blogging and chatting live. Let the splatting begin! [ [liveblog=live_splatoon_global_testfire_-_final_round]#Splatoon
Fashion A Young Reader Shows That Style Matters in Splatoon
"Splatoon Rocks"
Splatoon has various strengths to appeal to gamers of all ages, from its colourful aesthetic to hugely effective controls, and also its blend of shooting for kills and covering the ground. Another strength is fashion. There are clothes, hats, sneakers and even trendy glasses so you can look good when splatting opponents. Fashion...
Friday22nd May 2015
News Nintendo UK Planning Massive Marketing Push For Splatoon
Get ready for a campaign that will rival that of Mario Kart 8
Nintendo UK has big plans for forthcoming Wii U shooter Splatoon, and has confirmed that it has a marketing push in the works which will match that of Mario Kart 8, one of the console's most successful games. Plans include digital billboards, cinema ads ahead of Tomorrowland and Mad Max,...
Thursday21st May 2015
Reminder The Final Splatoon Global Testfire is on 23rd May
One more session before launch
Splatoon is creeping ever closer, but Nintendo is giving everyone one more chance to try out online matches for free. If you missed the news last week, here's a reminder. The final one hour Splatoon Global Testfire is on Saturday 23rd May at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK / midnight CET; not great times for those...
News Splatoon's Iwata Asks Interview Considers Its Origins of Tofu, Rabbits and More
Iwata: "Well, I guess ink-an't be helped. (laughs)"
Splatoon isn't far away, arriving on 29th May on the Wii U, bringing its own blend of chaotic and colourful shooting. It's also a new IP, which is rare enough from Nintendo to be something worth mentioning, and there's certainly hype around the exclusive. Nintendo has now published a new Iwata...
