Nintendo has announced that Wave 1 of Splatoon 3's Expansion Pass will launch on 28th February. This follows last week's details during the Nintendo Direct.
We don't know much about Wave 1 yet, but what we do know is that Inkopolis — the hub world of the original Splatoon — will be making a comeback along with the Booyah Base, where all of the products available will be the same as in Splatsville. But you might meet some new (and familiar) faces.
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Long-time fans will also be delighted to hear that the Squid Sisters will be performing in Inkopolis during each Splatfest.
Wave 2 of the Expansion Pass isn't due out until later this year, but it brings with it a mode called 'Side Order', which looks to focus on Pearl and Marina from Splatoon 2.
Will you be exploring the inky side of Inkopolis on 28th February? Let us know down below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 50
Oh ok….. I guess that’s cool
Wave 1 still confuses me. Nice throwback I guess, but it seemingly doesn't serve any unique function? If it does, then why they didn't advertise that I have no clue.
I just want to know if Inkopolis's single player campaign is included with this. Its final boss battle is the best in the series.
So wave 1 just adds a pointless new hub area that offers the same shops as the main area?
I think il wait to see what the mode side order is all about before buying this expansion.
Wave one is cool and all, but I’m not gonna buy it till I see what wave 3 and side order is about, wave one is literally just a lobby skin, is it cool and nostalgic yes, but it acts as a bonus for buying it more then anything, which I’m not saying is a bad thing,
I’m gonna get it for side order anyway, but I do want to know what the other waves are before buying.
@MS7000 +1000000 the Splatoon 3 dlc trailer was super confusing. Pay extra to visit storefronts from different games (wave 1) and something else (wave 2) wasn’t quite the hype they maybe thought it was.
Unless it includes new multiplayer stages I'm not interested. A new hub world doesn't qualify as paid DLC as far as I'm concerned.
I'm okay with cosmetics with some nostalgia but why wasn't this included in the paid membership?
I have to agree with the consensus. I thought I’d missed something during the Direct; there’s no substance to this. Disappointing so far.
I still have a feeling there's more to wave 1 than meets the eye. And even if not, then I see it as more of a bonus. I'm personally not complaining really, I'll be happy to see a lively Inkopolis again along with Splatfest vibes and all that. I understand the complaints from other people though.
All of this should be on the Nintendo Switch Online + expansion pack subscription.
Players who buy the Pass get also food and drink tickets to use in-game, I think, so there's that. I never played Splatoon 1, so watching the Squid Sisters perform during Splatfests will be awesome.
Agree that if stores had exclusive gear in Inkopolis it'd be a neat extra, though.
Well, that's certainly not Spring. Did Nintendo change their mind? I'm looking forward to it but I wonder what else it has. Can we change the hub between Inkopolis and Splatsville to "move" and stay there? How will the Squid Sisters cover the news, especially Splatfest announcements when there's more than two choices? Is there a general store like Hotlantis? What's the big lobby in Inkopolis like? Is the old arcade machine still there, and if so, what if we could play the arcade games from Splatoon 1? I miss those the most.
So many questions. At least I know there's a new Grizzco building so we could still play Salmon Run there. I feel this should've just been a big free update if it's mostly a cosmetic change, especially with stores selling the same stuff. Side Order seems to be the real deal.
I love splatoon a lot but I seriously don't get this!? Am I missing something?
Wave 1 seems like nothing... Wave 2 sounds fun though!
Now I'm just wondering why they were so vague about the release date in the Direct if they were just going to announce the date one week later.
As explained so far, wave 1 is awesome as an update to the $60 game I paid for. As paid DLC it comes off as a cash grab. I'm hopeful wave 2 is as solid as Octo but that's the impression wave 1 gives me.
I've never understood a DLC package less. Don't "get" this at all. Who's actually buying this and why?
@MS7000 fully agree with you.
I have Splatoon 1 on the Wii U so if I reeeeally feel the need to wander aimlessly through its hub world I am already covered.
While I will only get this when the Side Order debuts, it would be nice to be able to get to the tableturf battles quicker.
@koffing Part of me is still thinking I missed something, but yeah, definitely not as hype as they were first hoping. I am mildly interested in side order, but not too much info still. Maybe whenever we hear more, might be a good sell.
@metroid02 I haven't played Splat 1 in a hot minute. I might have to go do that; only real way I can play online in Splatoon now.
They're charging people for a rehashed hub? LOL... The Marina side story DLC should've been released first or just release them both at the same time.
I'm going to give Nintendo some benefit of the doubt on Wave 1. Surely there is going to be more to it. They're just doing the trickle marketing tactic. Right? They announced the expansion, but didn't give a date. Now they've given a date. I assume either Friday or early next week we'll another tweet with some more bit of detail. And then again the week after that, and then it will be the release on the 28th.
I think NOA is just testing different marketing tactics is all.
It's because the main DLC is in another wave, i.e. "Side Order". The DLC as a whole will feel more meaningful and like a complete package once they're out. So yeah, although maybe there is some surprise, this wave is just a small bonus from what they've shared.
Maybe that means Wave 4 for MK8 is also right around the corner
@abbyhitter So far, there's been no mention of the splatoon 1 single player. I think they'd be foolish not to bring it, though. I want!
if it is just the hub world then wtf? I don't get it
This is clearly just a bonus, the meat and potatoes of the DLC is Side Order which already seems quite interesting judging by its name, aesthetic and the snapshots seen in the teaser, looking forward to hearing more about that!
@Clyde_Radcliffe Why release them at the same time if this is already ready?
This is probably one of the worst expansion passes Nintendo has ever done (at least with wave 1). Nintendo is usually pretty decent with expansion passes but now every game has one and the content lately seems like either purposefully out content for the first few waves or just content that really should be free (like the sports titles)
Nintendo did a very poor job of communication and marketing of this DLC. Watching that trailer was clearly confusing for many as to what you were actually getting for what you were paying for. This isn't a "bonus". You are paying for it. There is literally zero content in this wave one that you are paying for - it's a skin. All of the exact same shops and content as the current hub world , now just in a reskinned environment that you are paying for for some odd reason.
If anything, Inkopolis could have been included as a pre-order of the DLC bonus item and not marketed as something you were paying for. I think that would've went over much better than how it did.
Clear miss on Nintendo's part here.
That being said, I loved the octo-expansion pass for Splatoon 2 and I'm sure side order will be fantastic and well worth the money.
@JohnnyMind not a bonus to pay for a hub world that serves no actual purpose and have them call it DLC.
Also we got next to nothing about "Side order" so who's to say that isn't going to be horrible as well.
FYI. Wave 1 does also include the following:
123,000 Cash (in-game currency)
3 double XP food tickets
1 of each drink ticket
@Rockmirth Because the only reason they included paid DLC for a few games was to entice people to sign up. Now that they've expanded the NSO+EP offerings, moving forward I doubt any new paid DLC will be included.
Love Splatoon 3. Side Order looks great. The first wave is a big miss; I barely spend any time in the hub world. If there's more to it than that, Nintendo didn't show it.
Wave 1 sounds kinda pointless. I mean it's cool that they want to do a throwback. But I'm not sure if I want to have it as a paid DLC. I'm more interested in the Side Order DLC, which looks really cool.
Lmao. Nintendo has lost their mind. Let's all help them find it quick!
This serie is the best. I loved the most with Splatoon 3. Great online play game.
Very strange... It's great to go back to the original hub world and a nice bonus to experience again as a novelty. But other than that after a few minutes perhaps what's next 🤣🤣
Well I'm excited enough about wave 1 to have just bought it. I see it as an extra on top of a larger package later. As far as cosmetics in games go, people pay way more than this without so much as a raised eyebrow!
What exactly is Wave 1? Is it just a new hub world? Does it have new maps and weapons? Does it have throwback levels to Splatoon 1? I'm really confused on what this is and why I want to spend $20 on it or just wait to see if it gets added to Expansion Pass.
I'm also confused. Feels like wave 1 should have been a bonus item that you get on purchase maybe? Also I don't like how you get a bunch of cash and boosts for buying the expansion pass. I tend to avoid that sorta pay to progress/win style crap.
I am fine with this. I am over my neglectence with off the hook and their silly puns. But I am just about for Squid Sisters. I’m fine with this.
To everyone complaining about wave 1: We're getting an entire hub as a gift to original fans + wave 2's story, for the same price as Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion which only included story DLC. Whether or not you're happy with what Inkopolis includes, it's a win-win situation.
Does this mean everyone on my NSO family plan will also have access to wave 1?
Wave 1 is like giving us nothing.
@RamenNumerals I can honestly say I’ve never been disconnected or penalized for that disconnect on Splatoon 3. It’s been a super stable online experience for me.
Am I crazy? I just downloaded this now. I didn't have to wait until Feb 28th
@Toothball @LXP8 Exactly what you two said, I don't see why people have to complain this much about this Expansion Pass and its Wave 1, if you don't feel like it's worth it just wait for Wave 2 to come out before buying it.
Notice that this is coming from someone who hasn't that much investment in it since I barely played Splatoon (although I'm interested in playing at least the single player content eventually so the little we've seen of Side Order is promising), I just find all the complaining confusing.
@montrayjak I think DLC gets downloaded as soon as you buy it (or at least that's my experience with Fire Emblem Engage's), but you can't access it before the actual launch date.
@MS7000 I literally preordered it announcement and have no clue what it is other than cosmetic change. Seems stupid to pay that much for that But I do love Splatoon so hopefully it is more than cosmetic.
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