Talking Point: Has Nintendo Done Enough To Justify Splatoon 3's Existence?

It’s so interesting to me that so many people are disappointed by Splatoon 3- I’ve only played a bit of 1 and 2 at other people’s homes and I’m finally buying my first Splatoon game for myself this time around. And… I’m pretty excited. It seems fresh and fun, and I probably won’t be able to tell what’s old and new. Nintendo should obviously do more to appeal to longtime Splatoon fans, but I’m just glad it doesn’t ruin my hype levels for the game myself.

If the same same old sells then ppl will buy. Hopefully the whole Splat 2 base moves on over. Online will be split for a while.

Eh still don't think we needed a sequel even after what I've seen.
I believe splatoon could've been one of those 1 game per console series just supported with updates.

Heck they could've taken a page off of Mario Kart's book and just add another expansion even.

Absolutely, I do. There is definitely enough here to justify the game getting a sequel.

Replays! And with the LAN camera options from 2! That should be a choice, too!

i dont blame casuals for passing on it, but i still think its a very worthy sequel. the games just keep getting bigger and better, with new mechanics, weapons, customization, and refinements to the modes and gameplay. it'll be plenty to keep the game fresh for me. but definitely not everyone

As someone who was worried that this wouldn't warrant a full sequel instead of DLC for 2, I think it qualifies.

Weapons and gear aside, there's plenty new features that would have required a huge overhaul of the current UI design.

Also, what I'm very eagerly looking forward to is the "Big Run" event where you need to do battle in Splattsville Square to fend off the kaiju fish.

Haven't played splatoon 2 since I got my Oled, decided to play a few rounds to warm up. Didn't realize it didn't have cloud saves even though it's a mostly online game? So with all my save progress gone I guess I might as well buy 3.

They did what I wanted most, which was to improve the matchmaking, and tricolor sounds fun... still a bit mixed though. So much looks the same. But I'll withhold judgement and give the Splatfest a shot with an open mind.

Yes. It's only the 3rd Splatoon game in 7 years and plenty of new content. If you want to get mad about "new game doesn't justify a sequel" just look at all the sports games that are literally just basic roster updates and maybe a new mode every 5 years.

@RandomGamesAndStuff that’s the point, if you’d have played both 1 and 2 a bit more and owned both games, you’d be asking yourself why would you need to buy a third one. If it’s your own first Splatoon, I can be only happy for you, it will be awesome to play

Well, that was a bummer! All this content could have been added to Splatoon 2 via DLC.

This is the way I took this, maps look similar, but at least there are new ones. Weapons same, with some new ones. Gameplay roughly the exact same, as expected. Story mode, same thing again. Salmon run, just wow, I seen nothing new here, looked the exact same. Some crappy side game. Oh and 3 characters...dancing and stuff, kinda like the DJ characters in the second game. I should have been an easy sell on this, as I liked Splatoon 2, but other than a few tweaks, it just looks like an expansion, not a new game. I love COD zombies, so I was really looking forward to seeing a new PVE mode with improvements over salmon run. What I seen of that was a huge disappointment. So I think I will be skipping this. If I ever feel like dropping back into Splatoon, I will just play 2.

Direct was great, content was great, but I physically cringed at how bad the narrator was, especially during the big run and card game segments 🤮🤮🤮

People's desire for Nintendo to become more like Epic or EA is the most confusing thing about this new game.

On one side of their mouth people complain about live service and the other side they beg for it.

Nintendo is different. Let it be.

I still thought there would be more, but it looks very very good. Definitely getting it day 1

I’m still getting it day 1. If anything, I thought Splatoon 2 struggled more so with its existence than this one. I’m seeing Splatoon 3 as marrying 1 & 2 together with plenty of new features. Looking forward to this one more than the last one.

I think Splatoon 3 has more than enough new content to justify a new entry. A new campaign, new Salmon Run bosses plus Salmon Run in the hub world, tricolor turf war in Splatfests, new idols, squid surge and squid roll, new supers, etc.

If there can be a new COD every year I think a new Splatoon game after 5 years is fine I guess

I am fine with the changes and will likely get it day 1 since Splatoon is one of my favorite Nintendo franchises. However I was hoping for some more new modes. The tricolor turf war looks very fun, but if it will only be playable during splat fests it seems like wasted potential. Once there will be no splat fests anymore then the mode will almost be unplayable. I also miss the night stages in 2 which they should have added to random matches after the splat fests ended. The card game does not do much for me. I don't play Splatoon for the minigames.

Lazy lazy nintendo! Its just a dlc basically

Yes, pre-ordering, could've updated more however

The changes to the core gameplay and overall presentation are substantial enough that a significant overhaul to the game's engine would have been needed, and the game that was "updated" would cease to exist.

I much prefer this approach of releasing a separate entry, as anyone that favors one specific iteration can jump back in to experience it the way they preferred, if they feel the desire to do so (in this case, whether that is Splatoon 1 or Splatoon 2).

I've gotten invested into some other online-focused games in the past, where they changed the UI and presentation so much over the years it felt completely alien to me when I come back to re-visit them. Sometimes the fresh feeling is good, but other times...people miss the way it was enough to set up their own unofficial servers to bring the old versions back from the corporately-declared dead.

To me it was enough when they announced the easier system for meeting up with friends and being able to play on the same team. Sold.

I'd argue that they're doing more to justify Splatoon 3's existence than they did for Splatoon 2 at launch.

So, on one hand, this feels more like an incremental upgrade to me than Splatoon 2 ever did, despite the latter releasing so soon after the first game in the series. I won't pretend I'm not disappointed by the sheer absence of new content after five years. I also feel like the hosts are getting more bizarre looking with each entry, and none of the new characters really appeal to me so far. The only truly new feeling change is the way splatfests work. I'd love to see the tricolor turf war mode be added to the game to play freely.

But... if I'm being honest, I'm buying in anyway, because a new story mode + two years worth of content updates and splatfests is more than worth $60 to me.

I do think, going forward, though, that Nintendo should seriously consider a freemium model for the series, if it's going to remain this static from entry to entry.

The only 2 things I wanted in Splatoon 3 were: 1. The ability to skip the long, opening scene and 2. the option for 4-player couch coop. We might get the first 1, but definitely aren't getting the second one. Although the 2 player coop mode in Splatoon 1 was pretty lame, I enjoyed being able to play with my kids on the same console. I think not doing couch co-ops tailors the game to the rich who can afford to buy a Switch for each family member and encourages people to play with strangers, rather than family. The game just feels more developer-centered, rather than gamer-centered. I will still probably buy the game because I just love the art and style of the game so much, but I'm pretty sure I will be disappointed.

So glad to see Mahi-Mahi Resort return. That has to be the most fun map in the series so far

It all looks great to me. Plenty of content at launch, everything I've seen looks fantastic.
Pre-ordered it months ago, but this just solidifys it. I don't think we have anything to worry about, the game will be great.
For anyone saying it's just more maps, I disagree, you don't need to reinvent the wheel if it already works...
Changing the formula or deviating from what made Splatoon/2 great would be a wrong turn in my view.
The additions are good and just further progress the already working formula from what I've seen. I'm looking forward to it. 😄

Tbh, I think that there's nothing new about this 3rd iteration of Splatoon either then new costumes and new stages, which is just about it, so that's a pass for me, unfortunately.

I still want a male pair of announcers. Oh well.

For me it’s not enough. Hopefully I can find it cheap somewhere for story mode and Salmon Run, but it’s basically just more weapons and stages and I lose all my progress. But I guess that literally how all those battlefield games go so I shouldn’t be surprised.

Was hoping for a new mode like how part 2 had Salmon Run

Not really. The gameplay modes aren't different enough. 3 way Splatfests are... fine I guess, but they're probably not going to be a huge game changer. And recycling Salmon Run instead of coming up with something different also really hurts. In particular, I think they should start dabbling in larger, more open maps. Give us a Splattle Royale mode akin to Fortnite and/or a story mode with more open area maps instead of the same tired linear obstacle courses, that would be more along the lines of the kind of improvement that would justify a sequel.

@Djgoa How exactly is this "lazy"?

Splatoon fans will enjoy.
Non-fans will probably not be convinced.

More content MAY be added later. But never buy into something on the promise of what it may become, but what it currently is.

Without a shadow of a doubt. I can't wait to pick it up.

@Browny More content WILL be added later. They said so in the direct. New stages and modes are confirmed. Also new clothing, weapons, etc. of course.

@Solomon_Rambling One, two... five!

@OFFICIALMichi
For what it's worth, apparently there are perks for Splatoon 2 players moving to Splatoon 3, including but not limited to starting at a higher rank based on your Splatoon 2 save data ranks, and having some modes unlocked immediately. So you aren't going to start from square one.

No idea why they chose not to mention that in the direct, but they mention it on the Splatoon website.

"Regardless of your opinion on them, live service games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have proven that it's perhaps more beneficial to launch what is effectively a "platform" that developers can build upon for the foreseeable future."

The difference here is pretty obvious. Those are free to play games. As long as people still play the game and they release new stuff, they will make money on micro transactions.

After Nintendo has sold you Splatoon they don't make any additional money, so as soon as new players stop coming to the game, continuing to support it doesn't make sense. They can try to sell DLC, but if that includes multi-player content (aside from cosmetics) they run the risk of fracturing the player base, because not everyone will buy the DLC at launch (or at all).

Liked almost everything I saw.

My biggest complaint is that the 4v2v2 mode seems to be exclusively tied to SplatFests, when it should be its own separate (ranked) mode. Would have been nice if it was 4v4v4 (or 3v3v3) too.

There are plenty of live service games that have changed more through updates and expansions than Splatoon does between sequels. That being said, each game is still pretty well-made, and I enjoy the single-player enough that I might buy 3 just for that.

I mean, the new stuff looks good, but it a.so looks mostly like stuff that could have been DLC for the first game. Which was also the case for Splat2. For folks who really care about the game as a competitive online shooter — the folks who've been playing Splat2 regularly since it launched — Solat3 doesnt need to justify itself. But for everyone else? I'm not really seeing any compelling reason for anyone to get Splat3 if they've already got Splat2.

Which was also the case for Splat2 in relation to Splat1, so while it's disappointing the content is so marginal, it's also hardly surprising.

We get a new Fifa game every year. We get a new Call of Duty every year. We get a new Assassin's Creed every 2-3 years. And there are many more games that literally stay the same.

Splatoon 2 was released in 2017, that's 5 years ago now. Honestly asking a developer, any developer, to release DLC for a game that old is just not viable. So we'd either have:

1. No new content (weapons, modes, story, etc)
2. Expensive DLC that would've been somewhat disappointing (since you wouldn't be able to fit entire Splatoon 3 in Splatoon 2. Also this would've been expensive for people who didn't get 2)
3. A delay of Splatoon 3 until the eventual next gen console.

Splatoon is a game based on a single concept, and stays true to that concept. Then sure, the game sequals will be very similar.

And don't start with "But Mario Kart 8 DX got new DLC!!" because if you look at the sales. Mario Kart 8 sold TENS OF MILLIONS MORE than Splatoon 2. That it's actually understandable that they did. I also think Mario Kart 9 will be a launch title on the Next Gen Nintendo console.

Bottom line: I already pre-ordered Splatoon 3, and I will play the test splatfest as well. I can't wat!

Yes. 3-team splatfests sound awesome, and the Salmon Run additions sound great, too.
BUT, is anyone else super disappointed that of the 12 multiplayer maps, only 5 of them are new? Seems kinda ridiculous. I feel like for a new game(especially one based around multiplayer), the majority of the maps should be new

I really don't understand all the internet criticism for Splatoon 3. Of course it's more of the same! It's a freaking multiplayer game! Call of Duty, FIFA, Madden, all these multiplayer games have standardized more of the same, with new features, and a slice of new story content.

This looks to be just what Splatoon 3 will deliver: lots of new features, an interesting story mode that looks like Monkeyball X Splatoon, expanded features in Salmon Run, and etc.

If you guys really want Splatoon to turn into a Fortnite/Genshin-esque platform with endless content drops, then you can say goodbye to earning items and gear through normal gameplay, and say hello to ponying up for gacha torture and frustrating gameplay gating.

New sequels with paid expansions is Nintendo's way of still offering the traditional gaming experience in an increasingly scummy and money grubbing live service industry.

As someone who never played Splatoon before, Splatoon 3 looks like an amazing entry point. I know the Nintendo crowd is stuffed with Singleplayer-only gamers, but there's no need to complain about Splatoon 3 being light on story content. This is a multiplayer game. That's really all there is to it.

Maybe a lot of people online are just bitter because they only wanted to pay $20-30 for 2 more years of content, which just isn't realistic. Genshin, Fortnite, and etc., are all F2P and easy to jump into for a reason, because they gate so much new content behind paywalls, and gimp your experience behind artificial restraints. I could see Splatoon one day becoming an online "platform" like Genshin, but until that day comes, I'm going to enjoy earning items and gear through normal gameplay with a traditional retail pay model.

I don't think Splatoon is a series that really needs big additions or changes. New single-player levels, multiplayer levels, Salmon Run bosses and weapon types are enough for me to justify a sequel, though one thing I wish they'd added was a new multiplayer mode (I guess it might come later, like Rainmaker and Clam Blitz originally did).

@sanderev Honestly that kind of seems like backwards logic, if Mario Kart is more successful than Splatoon, aren't they shooting themselves in the foot with a $30 DLC than a full $60 game? Also, remember that Splatoon 2 got DLC as well, just much sooner than 5 years after release. They could've given MK8D DLC in 2018/2019 if they wanted but nope, they sat on the base MK8D for 5 years and then just gave us DLC instead of a new game. So Splatoon's actually gotten MORE than MK despite selling less, it's getting 2 full games with at least 2 DLC packs instead of 1 full game and 1 DLC pack.

Also creatively, I can think of many more improvements to justify a MK9 on the Switch than I can for a Splatoon 3 on the Switch. Mario Kart actually feels like it's hurting and being held back by waiting for next gen, Splatoon 3 could've waited.

My answer is inside the SANDEREV answer.

"So we'd either have:

1. No new content (weapons, modes, story, etc)
2. Expensive DLC that would've been somewhat disappointing (since you wouldn't be able to fit entire Splatoon 3 in Splatoon 2. Also this would've been expensive for people who didn't get 2)
3. No offline battle against BOTS
4. No splitscreen
5. No headset communication online against randoms = no tactics evolved.
6. On future, when the server is down, this $60 game will be dead.

Ok...not for me!

@Bolt_Strike I just don't think any game in the history of the game industry can be compared to MK8D. The only game that is relatively comparable is Minecraft. Mario Kart is genuinely the exception to the rule. It should not be used as an example of what the rule should be.

@Ulysses

GTA V...
Forza Horizon...
Rocket League...

@Ulysses Just because it can be the exception doesn't mean it needs to be. I'm seriously questioning whether the DLC is making them more money or is creatively worthwhile over a new game. And really having a second Mario Kart game on the console would also be an exception anyway. The argument is more a matter of was this the right exception to make more than whether or not they would make one. They kind of had to make some kind of exception because they already made the unprecedented move in 2017 of having the first ever port of a past Mario Kart game.

I reckon so. Multiplayer was bound to not deviate from what basically has become Japan's national sport! The game itself might not feel new, but the amount of creativity gone into it means the vibe certainly feels fresh. And that's a big part of what makes Splatoon so special I think. Good to keep seafood fresh.

@Ulysses Games like CoD and Madden get complaints about being too rehashy too, they're not exempt from the same criticisms. More of the same just isn't an enticing offer for a $60 game. If the next game is "been there done that", are you really getting $60 worth of enjoyment?

Still not £50 worth of new content, still got re used modes, maps, weapons etc, this could of easily be an updated to splatoon 2 over the years, but why do that if you can make people pay £50 for it

i remember this question of people in 2017: nintendo done enough to justify splatoon 2 existence?
i think that it's the same this time

@BananaMetallurgica My thoughts exactly.

I just commented at length in the last Splatoon article! But, in short, I'm happy with it. Can't wait for new Splatfests!

I really haven’t played much Splatoon. Should I sell 2 in order to buy 3?

@TrixieSparkle that is REALLY important information, wow. Thanks for the heads up!

@Tandy255 You probably won't get much for 2. The remaining playerbase will more than likely vacate to Splat 3 very quickly. The only worth for 2 afterward will become its single player stuff - Its own unique campaign + Octo Expansion.

@Bolt_Strike I'm not saying MK8D can be the exception. It simply is the exception, and does not warrant any wiggle room on whether it should or should not be exemplary.

Furthermore, it is exactly as @BartoxTharglod said. Every sequel for any franchise beyond a single title will always be "more of the same." So yes, what was shown in today's Splatoon 3 Direct was enough for a $60 game. If it completely flops, then more people may agree with your point of view. But I wouldn't bet on that. I would bet on Splatoon 3 selling very well.

Couldn't they just call it Splatoon 2 Legacy Edition.

If someone’s just not that much into Splatoon, then there could be a problem, but I think there’s more than enough for fans and newcomers to enjoy. Subtle gameplay changes like the squid rolls, QOL changes, and a glut of customization options and features should keep the experience fresh for those who are into the series and would obviously be brand-new to those who haven’t even played Splatoon before. It may not bring big change but change the game too much and it may not even feel like Splatoon anymore. What this does do is enhance and hopefully perfect the Splatoon formula, which is good enough for me.

Well seeing how there has been approximately an arse load of CODs, I think Nintendo is safe.

What is it with the Splatoon negativity articles on this site, first we are treated to an article stating people are concerned with the lack of information about the game, just how many people were affected by this was never made clear, and some minor YouTuber was linked to all this, so I am assuming it was not all that many in the first place.

Now we get a direct and lots of new information, but we now need a poll to see if we are still concerned, not that the opinions of us on this site are indicative of anything other than the core fans getting upset... so what is the point.

Apart from clicks that is.

The game will sell fine as usual, Splatoon is a popular franchise for Nintendo and I see this one selling the best so far.

So .. how come King Salmonid is only the size of a shed? I swear the first reveal made it look like it was gonna be like Godzilla.

Sounds nice. I hope tricolor stays in splatfests because the way turf war sits is already quite enough.

I just hope rage quitters get dealt with in this game

It looks great so far- and super fun for online players mainly. But for people who don’t play online, what they call story mode feels like a series of challenges and it felt super underwhelming. I was expecting a game on par with Ratchet and Clank. And it’s sad because all the concepts and gameplay would feel great if set into a great single player game. It is quite disappointing considering Switch has no AAA Third Person shooters of the same quality (not graphics) like Uncharted, Gears, Ratchet, MGS, Mass Effect… on the other hand, people who prefer online have a ton of options with-Warframe, Fortnite, and so on, but NOTHING for Singleplayer enthusiasts:(

I had absolutely no interest in this game… and then I saw the Direct.

I may have to Day One this one. Looks like a whole world of a game, and a really unique world at that.

@Bolt_Strike It seems backward, but it's not.

If Nintendo would release MarioKart 9 now on the Switch it would never sell as well as MarioKart 8D did. So releasing new DLC now for it is a smart move.

And no I wasn't talking about the Octo expansion for Splatoon 2, I was talking about "releasing Splatoon 3 as DLC for Splatoon 2", which is just stupid.

I was already pretty excited for Splatoon 3 before, but this direct has gotten me truly hyped. Many of the things that are being added are admittedly small, but they all add up to a seemingly far better package for me. For example, the new ways to play with friends like making a party for Turf War, Anarchy Battles with friends, and Salmon Run all the time is a huge deal for me, because it means I won’t be stupidly barred from playing with my friends like I sometimes was in Splatoon 2. That alone will greatly increase the longevity of the game for me and everything else is only bonus features.

@Ulysses No, not quite. Some sequels change things up more than others. Good example is to compare some of the 3D Mario games. 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, and Odyssey are all similar playing games, but they're also very different from each other in terms of gameplay mechanics that they each feel unique. Compare that to 3D Land and 3D World, which feel like NSMB 3D and aren't really terribly different from each other aside from a few minor changes like powerups, extra characters (which don't really play that differently from Mario and Luigi), and level gimmicks and feels more like a level pack sequel that could've been DLC. Splatoon 2 and 3 feel like the 3D World to 1 and 2's 3D Land, I'm looking for the Sunshine/Galaxy/Odyssey to 1 and 2's 64.

Another good example of a more impactful sequel that's more multiplayer focused would be Mario Kart Double Dash, Wii, 7, and 8. The double racers, tricking and bikes, gliding and underwater, and antigrav were major game changers to Mario Kart's racing mechanics. I'm not really seeing the same scale of change with Splatoon as some of those entries.

I loved the first Splatoon and thought Splatoon 2 could have just been an update but I bought it anyway and played it for 10 hours or so and kinda regretted the purchased. Definitely skipping 3.

It was the same with Call of Duty. Everytime the complaint that nothing changed. But people buy it. I am buying it because I like the game.

@FoxMcCloud,

People moan when things change too much, but then complain when the winning formula remains the same, to be honest some games can't win.

If the game is good and entertaining who cares if it's similar.

@Bolt_Strike Those are really bad examples to compare against Splatoon.

First of all, comparing Splatoon to Mario is apples to oranges. They're totally different genres, one being a singleplayer series and the other being multiplayer. Those two shouldn't be compared at all.

Second of all, your Mario Kart example can be picked apart pretty easily. All those sequel iterations, like double racers, tricking, bikes, and gliding all can be compared to the new weapons and features being added to Splatoon 3. Bikes and gliding could be compared to Splatoon's new main weapons like Splatanas and Crab Tanks.

And at the end of the day, you can literally flip your logic and criticize Mario Kart in the same way. Gliding is just a different flavor of pressing A to move forward on a track toward the finish line. It's just more of the same ultimately, and gliding should have been added into the last Mario Kart game. Gliding or bikes or double racers easily sound like Expansion DLC features that don't justify a new $60 game.

I'm not here to convince you that Splatoon 3 is worth your own money. If you don't like Splatoon enough to buy a new game then that's fine. I'm just here to point out the flaws in your perspective.

Considering they got a Splatoon Switch and Pro Controller version. I would say this justifies the Splatoon 3 coming out. I collect them but don't get enough time to game them.

I was excited for the first Splatoon, Nintendo dipping its toes in the closest it would get to a First-Party Shooter. It was fun in bursts, but still lacking and yet to be refined. It showed potential but couldn't quite compete with other games in the genre. But I assumed it was just baby steps to be careful.

Splatoon 2 was more of the same, with very few changes. It felt more like an expansion of the first game than anything. And from what they're shown of Splatoon 3... it's still gonna feel like an update or DLC to the first game. With how little they change it comes off more as it should be F2P with the campaigns and extras being optional DLCs like Destiny 2.

@RandomGamesAndStuff I’m in a similar boat, this will be my first Splatoon I’ll be buying so I’m excited to jump in. Looking at other forums and comment sections the vast majority of people are looking forward to this game, it mostly seems to be on here that some are less enthused, weirdly, and I wonder if that’s because this site has sort of laid the groundwork for that sentiment with their previous posts on how “people are worried” (when they’re not really).

I realized today that Mario Kart 8 (the Wii U original) is older than even the first Splatoon game. And during MK8's lifespan we got three whole Splatoons. Yeah, no, I'm not buying the same experience for the third time. I don't care for minor tweaks. If Splatoon was a smartphone then everyone would advise you to wait at least 2–3 generations before buying a new version lol.

@Ulysses No, being different genres does not mean they cannot be compared. There's certain generalities in gameplay mechanics that can be compared about for EVERY genre to compare them, such as what actions/abilities the player can use, what are the conditions for victory, etc. And the comparisons with Mario Kart fall flat for similar reasons. Mechanics such as tricking, gliding, and going underwater are new abilities. The new weapons and specials are new CATEGORIES of abilities. They're the same actions, using a weapon or special, but with different effects. At best maybe you could consider bikes as part of that, but for the most part Mario Kart does a much better job of expanding the range of actions you can take with Splatoon.

I love the splatoon series more than any other. But the designs for deep cut? Eww. They’re so bad in my mind that I’ll have to explain to people that you just have to ignore the weird talk show people because the game is actually really good…before the hosts were a cute addition. These are worse than ugly sonic. In fact, can we have ugly sonic be our announcer instead? I like him more.

> New story mode with new stages and bosses. I assume also new enemies and new Sunken Scrolls for more dark Splatoon lore.
> New weapons and Supers.
> New gear purchasable at stores.
> Customization options for player cards and lockers.
> New mechanic for unlocking weapon sets for purchase. Before it was dependent on level, now it seems you can unlock your chosen set at any level with the Sheldon tickets.
> New enemies in Salmon Run, including King Salmonids in Emergency Waves, plus the Big Run that will apparently take place every few months. New stages too I assume, SR in S2 also had new free maps such as the crashed bear habitat.
> New idols.
> Splatfests now divided in three options.
> Two years of free DLC content, such as stages, weapons, win poses I think and more, plus Splatfests, all of which should feature at least one unique temporary stage if they follow the S2 model.
> The card game, which apparently will let you challenge NPCs such as Sheldon. Here's hoping more characters can be challenged, such as new and old shopkeepers, Captain Cuttlefish, the Judds, DJ Octavio, previous Agents, Deep Cut, Squid Sisters and Off The Hook when the latter's DLC is released.

Plus I wonder if there's more stuff they haven't revealed yet. They said they'd share more about Big Run and the Card Game later. Awesome.

....Still looks like Splatoon 2 to me...and Splatoon 2 didn't look all that different from the first game to me either.

@johnvboy They do like poking the old hornet's nest in here...doesn't take much to be fair. Looks like they've put a lot into this game, some interesting additions.

@jcboyer515 They're a highly strung bunch in here at times.

A majority of the launch stages in Splatoon 3 are returning stages. That’s a disappointment, even if some of them are revamps.

I think maybe they should have switched approach and released a new Mario kart and gone dlc route for Splatoon 2. However with Mario kart 8 selling like there’s no tomorrow you don’t want to rock the boat there with a new release - guessing that factored into this approach for both

As a casual player, I'm annoyed that this will just make it even harder to find a match in Splatoon 2, and I don't play the game enough to justify buying 3. So essentially what the new game does is killing all the interest I have left in the franchise.

@RandomGamesAndStuff
i got on here to say exactly what you said in the very first comment 😊👍 cheers!

i might add that the locker feature sounds very cool!

@BartoxTharglod I think the problem with Splatoon is that we'll have 2 versions of an online game on the same system, which will compete with itself for the same player base.

Mario kart only has 1 version on the switch. Zelda and Mario are single player games so having more of the same isn't a problem at all because single player games end, whereas online games like Splatoon and Mario kart don't.

I'm hyped! Been playing since Wii-U and I'm excited for Splatoon 3! I think 5 years is perfect cuz they gotta keep it fresh. And this one certainly looks fresh! I haven't been playing Splatoon 2 for a while now cuz I kinda got everything out of it already. Got the game beat 100%, all gear unlocked, all outfits upgraded perfectly etc. So I'm ready and hyped to get back into it all next month! Ever so fresh!

@Bret @strollin_stu Thanks for the advice! I am actually interested in the Octo Expansion for 2. I’ll hold off on 3 for the time being and try 2 some more. 😊

It just seems odd that other series have been left in the dust for decades and stuff but this got a sequel on the same system hella fast like this.

Splatoon isn't my thing but I know it's popular. Just feels weird to me.

@BartoxTharglod And what's "not trivial"? This is starting to get into subjective territory, you call 3D Mario's changes "gimmicks" but they still make the game feel different to me.

@Bolt_Strike Uh, don’t include me in this. I didn’t bring up the Mario Kart thing.

It looks more like a refinement than a whole new experience. It's enough to justify the game's existence, but I also think it's fair enough if people want to skip the third game.

The tricolor turf war and big run could be enough to justify splatoon 3, but the fact that they are limited time modes kinda kills it. In my opinion, LTMs are STUPID. something like a splatfest I can understand, and very minimal LTMs like armed and dangerous in apex are reasonable, but Controll should be permanent. YOU MADE THE MODE, IT WOULD ADD VALUE AND VARIETY TO THE GAME, MAKE IT PERMANENT

@Lalivero
Usually series get left in the dust because sales fell off a cliff. That clearly hasn't happened with Splatoon and likely never will for the foreseeable future.

I feel the only important thing about Splatoon is the splatfests and the themes. This is what brings me back, the group competition. The fact that they've stopped these with the first two games is why I'll pick up the 3rd installment, plus my kids are getting big into gaming now and I'm sure they'll love it!

But I would love to see more splatfests and maybe have some sort of cool swag to win, I dunno maybe like stickers or trophies to place in the locker.

@HamKnight Sorry about that. Weird, I don't even remember replying to you in that Mario Kart post.

@BartoxTharglod It's not just a matter of feeling different, it's also performing different action. You have different sets of platforming moves between the different 3D Mario games. With the weapons it all still boils down to just pressing the weapon button all the same. That's why the different weapons don't feel as different to me.

Short answer is yes. There’s nothing mind blowing here and it looks like even less of a jump than Splatoon 1 to Splatoon 2 was, but there’s definitely enough here to justify the game’s existence.

I don't mind a sequel that isn't a huge step up from its predecessor, but Nintendo has used the "we couldn't think of a new way to play" excuse with denying titles like F-Zero a new entry. It feels hypocritical

i think this 100% boils down to the fact that 3 is on the same system as 2. theyre from the same generation so there no graphical leap people can point at and say "its different"

games like smash and mario kart rarely reinvent the wheel and usually play the same, but theyre landmark titles that come once a generation. and people expected that from splatoon

but where i do think it differs is splatoon is an fps thats more competitive than party-game focused. balancing and meta are a more delicate thing if splatoon 2 just piled on mechanics and ideas from 3, when they have diff design philosophies

getting a new game every 5 years where they have a change to rebalance and rethink the mechanics is not a bad thing at all for me. and its lets the overarching story continue, like the world is actually changing and characters get older

@westman98 Well some of them have a chance at getting good revivals like Kid Icarus now they only have one system to devote to and can be a lil 'risky'. We don't even get MK9 yet somehow Splatoon gets two sequels this suddenly? Why not just have kept 2 alive? Some of the blatant bs...er excuses have been 'oh we need the right hardware or whatever...is that code for crap sales putting a series on hold? Dunno.

Yeah still doesn't make sense to me but it is what it is.

While the tricolour turf war sounds good on paper if it's anything like fall guys the two winning teams will invariably gang up on the losing team bullying them so they have no chance. Not so much fun if you find yourself on that team.

I mean… I never really partook in the first 2 (just tried S-toon 2 for a bit on someone else’s Switch), but that Direct seemed pretty comprehensive to me without having those reference points to know what’s old, new, innovative or QoL of course.

I’m still on the fence about hopping into the Splatoon series. I’m not into shooters as in days long past. If I got this it would probably mostly be for story mode (Chase Kip on YouTube did a hilarious & awesome summary of the first 2 entries story) and on sale so like 2 years from now for $20 off knowing Nintendo lol *sigh.

… Wun can only hope.

@Lalivero
Mario Kart Tour is basically Mario Kart 9 with the amount of support Nintendo has given it and the fact that Tour courses are being ported to the Booster Course Pass.

If Tour didn't exist, then sure, a Mario Kart 9 on Switch would make some sense.

Nop, they are cashing in!

It’s enough for me

@Davzilla While Splatoon 2 does not support cloud saves, there is a way to transfer the data manually to a new Switch. Don't remember all the details but it wasn't difficult.

If you've already gotten rid of the old Switch or deleted the data from there... Well, too bad.

No I don't think we needed a Splatoon 3!

I mean... Nintendo proves it themselves with suddenly releasing a new Expansion pass for Mario Kart 8 DeLuxe!

Splatoon 2 was a new game on a new console, so it was justified. It was basically Splatoon 1 with improvements and new features/game modes.
Even the solo campaign looks awful similar to Splatoon 2, where the mobs now have grown hair and that's about it.

Splatoon 3 has so far not shown enough new and extra's that could not have been added as a 2nd expansion to Splatoon 2.

I just feel its a complete waste, where Splatoon 2 will be cast aside and become completely obsolete after Splatoon 3's launch.

The lack of split-screen and offline modes against bots still surprises me. Nintendo pushes the multiplayer of the switch but completely fails with this game imo. This game will be worthless once new hardware arrives and servers are offline. On that thought if you don't have internet available you can't play 90% of the game.

@Martijn87 Hence, exactly why Splatoon 3 should not exist on the Nintendo Switch and why this should have been a new expansion for Splatoon 2.

After Splatoon 3's launch, Splatoon 2 will be worthless and obsolete. Since 90% of the game will become unplayable due to lack of players.

@WiltonRoots,

They certainly understand their audience on here.

I actually enjoyed the direct and I think it will be a pretty good Splatoon but I voted for not buying it anyway. I posted my reasons in the splatoon 3 thread.

Still I can also understand that people feel this is not enough.

I feel like Splatoon makes more sense as a once per console series, but apparently I'm a Splatoon casual

@Martijn87 Couch multiplayer is a weirdly absent feature that could've easily justified this games existence

Feel like they should have gone all in on the 3 way Turf War and made it a new mode.

I feel like Splat 3 is a new coat of paint and some minor renovations on a nice house - probably just enough to get buyers interested. I’ll play for a little while, but competitive online games rarely keep me hooked for long. I wish there was a little more effort put into the single player experience. Splatoon has always been a mostly online multiplayer jam, though, so not surprised.

There is no justification needed. The notion that there is, is entitled and toxic and should not be encouraged.

I'm going to get it and that's because I haven't played Splatoon 2 for years now. I got what I wanted out of that game and moved on, so this will feel fresh again, whereas someone who played the second game through up until very recently might feel differently.

I'm sure it could have all been added to the sequel but for the number of hours I dare say a large number of the players get out of it, around £40 is not a bad trade at all.

Splatoon is always fun to pick up so I’ll for sure get it as this does have some nice new refinements but I’d be lying if I didn’t say this one feels a bit too similar to the last entry. I would’ve just liked some sort of new mode in this one. I know we get some new ways to play pre existing ones but like salmon run was added to 2, I’d have liked something brand new for 3. I don’t believe the 1 on 1 tabletop game will get me, but I’ll give it a shot. I guess the lockers are sort of like the apartments that were wanted.

Meh just looks like more Splatoon to me. I'll be buying it day one, I love Splatoon, please never change. We don't need another Paper Mario or Star Fox situation on our hands.

I'll admit, I stopped playing Splatoon 2 years ago, even before they stopped updating the game. I didn't even finish the Octo Expansion. I might pick it back up again and try to finish the Octo Expansion if I have time on my upcoming vacation.

Still, I'll pick this up too, but it might be a little while until after launch. For starters, I will be paying off the entirety of my student debt in one lump sum (over $31,000 worth), which will eat up most of my bank account.

But also, miHoYo will be releasing the Sumeru region for Genshin Impact in a few weeks, and since that's the game that's taken up most of my gaming time in the last year, I want to play through the Sumeru chapter of the Archon Questline first.

@Vivianeat Do you thing so? people who re still playing splatoon 2 after 5 years will be the first to jump over... and people like me who stopped playing after a year or so will rejoin splatonity and buy nr 3

I like how people are saying a new game is great for newcomers but long time fans won't see the need. It's the exact opposite. I put like 300 hours into Splatoon 1 and 300 into Splatoon 2...basically stopped playing it a few years ago. A new iteration with all the little extra features, even if it was just going to be maps and weapons, has always had me excited to buy and put 300 more hours into it.

Instant buy. This ain't no Call of Duty where you have to buy every stage and story's not included.

Nevertheless, I hope the splatfests go longer than 2 years. Splatoon 2 easily could've gone one more year so when the splatfests stopped it just felt barren.

Also they need stop that Japan exclusive gear. It was very annoying not being able to get the milky eminence jacket just because some magazine in Japan was the only one giving away a special code to obtain it.

I'm just gonna come out and say it.

Splatoon is boring. Great design, but execution is lacking.

The design is great, it's fresh and fun, and funky, but I find the gameplay so repetitive, in a way that I don't with games like Rocket League, or FIFA, or Mario Kart.

Turf war was a great innovation... in Splatoon (Wii U), but by Splatoon 2 I just couldn't maintain enthusiasm. Sure, I could hop in for 30 minutes once a week or so and have some fun, but I've never been able to play it for hours like I can any of the others mentioned above.

And sure, there are other modes, but I've never found them as accessible as Turf War and never played more than a few games in any of them. Just the constant inking... It's constant! And boring. And there's far too many instances of a player being absent from a team or just ****ing things up for your team, or you're waiting ages for matchmaking.

Splatoon obviously has a healthy audience, but I'll be surprised if 3 sells as well as 2, seeing as they're on the same hardware. I see too many people bouncing off 2 and not being bothered about 3.

@johnvboy Oh yeah I love the expert analysis in here even though 9 times out 10 it makes no difference whatsoever, the biggest difference this time between Splatoon 2 and 3 is they've got an extra 100 million+ people to market this game to who likely didn't have a Wii U or played the second game, the opinions of about 40 people (at a push) in here isn't going to change that even though they think they speak for everyone.

@WiltonRoots,

So True.

And considering the Wii U only sold around 13 million consoles, it's pretty much a given that there will be a lot of people who own a Switch that never played the original game, and as Splatoon 2 was released pretty early into the consoles lifecycle, the latest entry has a much bigger potential for sales.

@johnvboy Plus it was the first year coming off a massive flop. They sold about 5 million on the Wii U, nearly half the console base, they're now selling to almost a 10x bigger market, they'd be fools not to seize this opportunity with a bigger and more fleshed out sequel to that formula.

I think I might give this game a miss this time. Really loved Splatoon on the Wii U and then I couldn't reisist the sequel for the Switch. But I found myself dropping it very quickly and played it the exact same way as I played the first game. I think if I was to buy this one, I'd only end up doing that all over again. I'm trying to cut down on my spending too so I just don't see myself throwing money at it this time.

The Tricolor Turf War sounds very interesting and I'd like to try it. But I know rightly I wouldn't be fully committed to the game for very long.

@KoopaTheGamer yeah, I didn't realize that so many games weren't cloud saves. It's no big deal, I just don't get how my online multiplayer data isn't on a server?

I don’t really understand why people get so cross. How many versions of Tetris have there been that iterate on what’s gone before?

I put a good amount of hours in splatoon 2 (but probably under 100) and loved it, but gradually stopped playing. The new stuff is enough to get me excited to dive back into the splatoon world again and if I get 40 hours enjoyment from it I’ll consider it money well spent. I suspect I’ll get more from it than that.

If you’re bored of the splatoon gameplay then I can see that you wouldn’t want to splash out again, but you can’t realistically expect Nintendo to just keep adding to the one game forever for free, especially as interest wanes over time and a new release draws new and renewed interest.

This is looking like a lot of content, even compared to the fully updated previous game. But there's not yet that super-innovative new feature that seemed only possible in this latest entry like say, some kind of MMO element. They say they're working on large-scale DLC, yet there's also the story mode which is shaping up to be something special, but still...

Honestly they couldn't bait me enough to jump on Splatoon 2 so soon after I played the first game. But enough time has passed that I've been looking forward to jumping in to Splatoon 3 with somewhat fresh eyes.

I kinda think this is the type of game where I tell myself that I will pass….but end up getting….I am not very good at it, but l do think the series is cool.

I think this is definitely warranted and I am super hyped for the game, but I think in future I would prefer splatoon stay a 1 per console kind of series.

@RubyCarbuncle I understand what you’re saying there.I was really hoping for a few new game modes other than table turf(mini game).I am going to get it day one since I really like splatoon.

@Znake yeah, Splatoon 3 had the potential to become better than fortnite and couldn't take that approach