Splatoon News
May2023
Random Sony's Upcoming 'Project Q' Is A Little More Wii U Than Switch
Lots of Qs, no As
Logging onto Twitter this morning after last night's PlayStation Showcase, you might expect to see trending topics from the likes of Sony, Spider-Man and Alan Wake. But what did we notice before any of these? 'Splatoon' and 'Wii U'. The former is in reference to
March2023
Update: Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 for Wii U taken offline
Update [Fri 3rd Mar, 2023 15:30 GMT]: Nintendo has announced that it has begun temporary emergency maintenance on Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. While unconfirmed, it's heavily speculated that the maintenance - which at the time of writing has no time frame attached to it - is...
February2023
News Miyamoto: "Other IPs" Like Splatoon Were Considered For Super Nintendo World
But it was "easier" to focus on Mario
Before Super Nintendo World decided on its Mario theme, there was apparently some discussion within the Japanese video game giant and Universal Studios about "other" Nintendo-themed IP being incorporated into the park. Speaking to Polygon, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned how Splatoon was one of the series...
News Nintendo Switch Is Closing In On One Billion Software Sales
Console has now sold more software than the DS
As part of its nine-month financial report today, Nintendo has revealed that the Switch has now reached an astonishing 994.30 million in software sales, putting the console well above the Nintendo DS with 948.76 million. Back in November when Nintendo released its Q2 earnings report, the software sales...
News Digital Sales Make Up Nearly Half Of FY 2023 Switch Software Sales So Far
Up 21.5% year-on-year
Nintendo has released its financial earnings report for Q3 of FY 2023, confirming that the Nintendo Switch has now outsold the Game Boy and the PlayStation 4 with over 120 million units shifted. In addition, the company has also confirmed that digital sales for the Switch were up by 21.5% during FY 2023 when compared to FY...
January2023
Soapbox After 10 Years I Finally Got A Wii U, Here’s What I Thought
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, following up on his piece from a few weeks back, Jim delivers his verdict on the ten-year-old console and how it holds up in 2022 ... Picture the scene. The year...
December2022
Feature Why Is Splatoon So Popular In Japan?
Nintendo is squids in
It happened almost overnight. One day in May 2015, Splatoon merch appeared everywhere in Japan. Baby inklings dangled from kids’ backpacks. Squid-girl stickers adorned pencil cases. Convenience stores advertised raffles for figurines, coffee cups, and Splatoon-branded bags. This explosion of Splat-swag was perhaps more of a...
Round Up Everything Announced At The Game Awards 2022 - Every Game Reveal And Trailer
What was your favourite announcement?
Another year, another Game Awards event. It was a pretty good one though, right? There were plenty of cracking game announcements for all platforms, including the Switch, and for your convenience, we've compiled them all for you right here. You'll find all relevant game trailers below along with a link to our...
November2022
Video Remembering 10 Years Of Wii U
Looking back on the console's launch and legacy
The Wii U is now ten years old. Crazy, right? The successor to the WIi launched back in November 2012 to - shall we say - lukewarm reception. Nevertheless, for fans of Nintendo, it remains a quaint and beloved entry to the company's console line-up, introducing the likes of Splatoon, Xenoblade...
October2022
Random Google's Splatoon Easter Egg Lets You Ink Your Search Results
Inkternet
It would perhaps be the understatement of the year to say that Splatoon 3 has been a big hit. The game has broken records with the sheer quantity of sales that it has made in Japan and the same can be said across the world. The game has been such a big hit, in fact, that even Google has got in on the action. Getting a Google interactive...
September2022
Guide Splatoon 3 amiibo Unlocks And Rewards - Full List
You lip-sync, we drip ink
If you've got your hands on a copy of the excellent Splatoon 3, you might be aware that there's a whole host of previously released amiibo that are compatible with the game. This includes the original amiibo released with the Wii U original Splatoon, as well as the shinier, newer amiibo released alongside Splatoon 2. There...
August2022
Talking Point Has Nintendo Done Enough To Justify Splatoon 3's Existence?
Let's break down the latest Direct
Over the past few months, there's definitely been a growing concern amongst fans that Splatoon 3 might not be able to justify its own existence. 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...
October2020
News Several Splatoon amiibo Have Been Restocked At The Nintendo UK Store
Fresh figures
Another day, another amiibo restock, and this time it's good news for Splatoon fans. Callie, Marie, Pearl and Marina have all returned to the Nintendo Official UK Store, giving amiibo collectors another chance to grab them for their collections. Pearl and Marina were originally released in a double pack, which has returned here, while...
Random Jet Set Radio Composer Hideki Naganuma Tried To Be An Employee Of Nintendo Twice
"Splatoon didn't need my music"
If you're a fan of funky fresh beats, you can't go past the famous video game composer Hideki Naganuma. He's best known for his music in the Jet Set Radio series back when he worked at Sega. For many years now, his fanbase has been begging Nintendo to allow him to compose some music for the squid shooter series...
September2020
News Japan Has New Splatoon Merch Including Cookies And Candy, And We're Not Jealous At All
An entire new line appears at Nintendo Tokyo
A whole new wave of Splatoon merchandise has appeared on the Japanese My Nintendo Store and at Nintendo TOKYO today, and yes, we're going to sit here and sulk about it for the rest of the day. Nintendo's Japanese shops don't ship worldwide, meaning you'll need to have a friend living in Japan or take to...
June2020
News Splatoon's Squid Kids Comedy Show Manga Is Being Localised This July
Based on Splatoon 2's characters and designs
Splatoon might only be up to its second game, but it's already become an insanely popular first-party series for Nintendo. As a result of this, the Japanese video game giant is eager to build on its success with clothing, toys and even manga. If you have read any of the Splatoon manga before, you might...
May2020
News Splatoon Players Celebrate The Series' Fifth Anniversary With Lovely Fan Art
Stay fresh!
Five years ago (well, five years and a day ago, actually) the original Splatoon inked its way onto the Wii U. It was an exciting and fresh take on the online shooter and a completely new venture for Nintendo - and boy are we happy that it was released. Splatoon and its sequel, Splatoon 2, have arguably been two of the most important...
January2020
Feature Game Of The Decade Staff Picks - Splatoon
Woomy
Following on from our reader-voted Top 50 Games of the Decade, Nintendo Life staff members will be picking their personal favourite Nintendo games between the years 2010-2019. Today, Alex recalls the growing pains of his first major step into his career, and how one squid and/or kid-based shooter made all the difference... “These controls...
November2019
News Goodsmile's New Splatoon Figmas Are Fresher Than Your Bed Linen On Laundry Day
Judd and Li'l Judd are included, too!
Japanese toymaker figma has announced some new Splatoon figures for 2020, and they're looking insanely good. A new 'DX' double pack – which contains two Inkling Boys, Judd and Li'l Judd and a whole bunch of accessories – is available for pre-order now. This pack comes with Splattershot guns, a...
July2019
News Nintendo's Lead Localisation Producer Leaves The Treehouse After "10 Incredible Years"
"Nintendo is a great place to work"
The name Eric Smith may not necessarily ring a bell, but you've likely seen him over the years during the Nintendo Treehouse Live broadcast events. After "10 incredible years" at Nintendo of America's Treehouse, Eric has decided to call it a day at the company. In fact, this was actually his last week. He started...
March2019
News Get Discounts On Zelda, Metroid, Splatoon And More With The Latest European My Nintendo Rewards
Some real greats included this time
The latest batch of My Nintendo game discounts for Europe has now gone live, giving players the usual chance to grab some 3DS and Wii U games at discounted prices. There are a grand total of eleven games up for grabs this time around, split into two groups. Nintendo describes the second group as a collection of...
September2018
Gallery Check Out The Splatoon 2 Ver.4 Update
Splatoon continues to stay fresh
During today's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo showed off a lengthy trailer for Splatoon 2's latest update, Version 4. In the trailer we got a glimpse at new weapons, stages and fashion items. We've put together a small gallery for you to feast your eyes upon below. Interestingly, one screenshot provided by Nintendo...
News Explore The Design Secrets Behind Splatoon 2 At A New London Museum Exhibition
Tickets available now
A new exhibition has opened in London, UK, exploring the work and design behind several modern video games including Nintendo's Splatoon. The exhibition, which has been titled 'Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt', aims to explore the medium of gaming since the mid-2000s, looking into how things such as increased access to...
August2018
News Splatoon 2's Producer Talks About Fresh In-Game Culture And Lore
Cool squid kids
The world of Splatoon has a very youthful look about it, and that’s not just because it’s a fresh IP. In a brand new Nintendo published interview translated by Nintendo Everything, Hisashi Nogami once again touched on the culture within Splatoon 2 following the release of the
March2018
News Nintendo Reveals Splatoon’s Original Prototypes At GDC
How different things could’ve been
Splatoon is the most notable new IP to come out of Nintendo in recent times, blending ink-blasting action with a bizarre sense of style to make for a memorable experience that’s unlike any other. Of course, the project was a long time coming, and went through numerous iterations and prototypes before arriving...
February2018
Art Check Out This Incredible Zelda: Breath Of The Wild x Splatoon Mash-Up
Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl, Inkling Bokoblin?!
As you are probably aware, we're pretty big fans of Splatoon here at Nintendo Life. Then Breath of the Wild came in to our lives, and - even though it was only one year ago - we really don't know how we coped without it. Imagine our shock and delight, then, as we stumbled upon illustrator...
November2017
Feature Take A Look At The Awesome NES Splatoon We Never Got To Play
"I caught them when they were probably very busy finishing the game"
Splatoon is fantastic in 3D, but what exactly would it look like in 2D? That's what former Vitei (Steel Diver, Tank Troopers) staffer Nathan Heckel pondered last year. "While I was at Vitei wrapping up work on Tank Troopers as a gameplay programmer, I wanted to start my...
August2017
News Nintendo Is Ending SplatNet for Splatoon Next Month
Don’t worry, the game servers will still be up
Splatoon was a landmark moment for Nintendo, marking its first major online multiplayer focused game and in a new genre for the company, too. The game was a smash hit (or at least as much as one could be on Wii U), but it’s been inevitable since day one that this online game would eventually see a...
July2017
News We All Need These Splatoon 2 Splat Dualie Water Pistols In Our Lives
Double up
Splatoon is a series which lends itself to irresistible merchandising opportunities, be they cute plush toys or themed towels. However, one line of toys which has done very well so far is the range of official Splatoon water pistols; released alongside the first ga
May2017
Gallery The Squid Research Lab Gives an Update on Inkling Fashion in Splatoon 2
Strike a pose
The original Splatoon immediately resonated with fans for its quirky look and outrageous fashion. Now with Splatoon 2 on the horizon the Squid Research Lab has discovered that there will be a new wardrobe available from day one. In this timeline two years have passed since the first Splatoon outing, meaning that fashion and styles have...
News Squid Sisters Stories Chapter 5 Brings More Sibling Secrets and Angst
"She was reminded just how much she loved the place where she'd grown up"
Nintendo's Squid Sisters Stories, a set of teen-drama chapters revolving around Marie and Callie from Splatoon, have been among the pre-release promotional efforts for the Splatoon 2 release on Switch. It's a cute nod to the lore of the young series and the popularity of the...
News Mysterious Meetings and Cancelled Recording Sessions in Squid Sisters Stories, Chapter 3
The Splatoon 2 story continues...
Plenty of Nintendo Switch owners are looking forward to Splatoon 2, but regardless Nintendo is utilising some quirky content to promote the game. Primarily published through its official sites, the Squid Sisters Stories have been used as a way to tell the tale of the performer's 'lives' since Splatoon on Wii U. It...
March2017
News The Splatoon U.S. Inkling Open Has a Trip to E3 Up for Grabs
Splatting it old school
A lot of the talk in the past week has been around Splatoon 2, but let's not forget that the original Splatoon is still very much active and a hoot to play. Now Nintendo of America has teamed up with Battlefy to promote an online tournament in the original with a cool prize - a trip for four to this year's E3. Battlefy is a...
News ESL Go4Splatoon Europe Grand Final to be Broadcast Live on 1st April
Splatoon 2 exhibition match also confirmed
Over a number of months Nintendo has been teamed up with ESL in a search for the best Splatoon team in Europe, a contest designed to boost the eSports credentials and popularity of the IP. There have been monthly events and contests at expos, and now we're gearing up for the grand final in Paris in which...
December2016
Talking Point Splatoon May Be Winding Down, But Its Legacy Could Be Significant
Modern trends with a Nintendo touch
In the remainder of 2016 we'll re-share some of our favourite feature articles from the year. This article from 4th August reflects on the end of an era after the final Splatoon Splatfest, and how the colourful shooter established a DLC model for Nintendo that's sure to return in the future. Recently we had the...
News Dark Horse is Bringing 'The Art of Splatoon' Book to the West
For squids or kids
Splatoon was a major success for Nintendo in 2015, generating significant buzz and establishing the IP as one that has a key role to play in the future. The gameplay is terrific, of course, but part of the appeal is also found in the hugely colourful environments and characters. Those that love the designs in Splatoon are now in...
November2016
Talking Point Ports vs. Sequels On The Nintendo Switch
A unique switchuation...
In this Talking Point, Arjun gives his perspective on the ports vs. sequels considerations for the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo NX - erm, Switch - has finally been unveiled, and it's arguably the lion's roar that the big N needed after troubles with its last home system. The Wii U has suffered a similar fate to that of the...
October2016
News Splatoon Showdown Series On the Way in North America
Battlefy hosts an online spin on eSports
It's evident that Nintendo is eager to make steps into eSports. We've seen the company improve its support for the Super Smash Bros. and Pokkén Tournament scenes, and the recent Nintendo Switch preview trailer featured a Splatoon-centric competitive scenario at the end. It's a growing industry, and Nintendo...
News Splatoon Producer Reflects on the Game's Popularity
A successfully launched IP
When Splatoon was announced at E3 2014, the game seemed to have been met with warm reception. Though there were some concerns over how online play would be handled, the game represented a refreshing new idea from Nintendo, and seemed like it would be an ideal killer app for the struggling Wii U. Now, nearly a year and a...
September2016
News Splatoon Version 2.12 is Now Live
Splatting those pesky bugs
Though the online community for Splatoon is still going strong, it's safe to say that the game has passed its prime. It got its last hurrah with the release of the new Callie and Marie amiibo this summer, and now that Splatfests are over, it seems that Nintendo has moved on (hopefully to make the sequel). That being said,...
News ESL Go4Splatoon Tournament Winners Will Get A Nintendo NX Console
The ultimate splatfest
This Sunday sees the start of the ESL Go4Splatoon Tournament, a six-month event which will end in a 2017 grand final to decide Europe's best Splatoon team. As if being recognised as one of the best Splatoon players in the world wasn't enough, the overall winners of this tournament will each receive a shiny new Nintendo NX...
August2016
Reminder The Splatoon Summer Testfire Demo is Now Live
If you're yet to ink in a purchase
We suspect that most with an interest in Splatoon bought it long ago, yet Nintendo is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to get as many Wii U owners as possible on board. A little while ago we shared the news that the Splatoon Testfire demo is returning for a Summer fling, so here's a reminder that it's live...
News Nintendo And ESL Team Up For Splatoon Online Tournaments In Europe
Prep those paint rollers once more
If you were sad about Splatoon Splatfest events coming to an end, then we have some good news for you - if you live in Europe, that is. Nintendo have teamed up with ESL, the world's largest esports company, to bring 6 months of Splatoon online tournaments for Euro gamers. At gamescom in Cologne, the top four...
News The Splatoon Testfire Demo is Coming Back for a Summer Fling
Another push for the inky shooter
Who remembers the Splatoon Testfire Demo? Released ahead of the main game, it gave eager fans an early look at the game's online play, while the timed windows gave Nintendo the opportunity to stress-test its servers. Surprising, the Testfire Demo is back, with multiple sessions planned during 25th to 28th August,...
Feature Ten Ideal Launch Year Nintendo NX Games
In one writer's humble opinion, at least
Just recently we ran a poll asking you which Nintendo games / franchises you'd like to see in the NX launch window, assuming that to be a period of around six months. Plenty of you pitched in, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and a 3D Mario title being the leaders, with a new Metroid Prime title...
July2016
Video Nintendo Wants You to Bask in Some Splatfest Nostalgia
There's a Squid Sisters song for every occasion
This past weekend Splatoon hosted its final Splatfest, the regular events that have allowed teams to put on snazzy virtual outfits and fight over topics such as pizza flavourings and favoured lifestyle choices. For plenty of Wii U owners the events have been a welcome regular routine, and their...
News With Splatfests Finished, Judd Is Now Your Source of Super Sea Snails in Splatoon
You have to earn them, though
The final Splatoon Splatfest ended with Team Marie victorious, with plenty of players taking off their team t-shirts, collecting their winnings and no doubt letting out a disappointed sigh. After more than a year of regular updates and Splatfests, the Wii U's colourful shooter is about to settle down and conclude its...
News Team Marie Triumphs in Splatoon's Final Splatfest
The end of an era
Since its release in May 2015, Splatoon has been a notable success for the Wii U. While the platform has struggled, those that do own the system have embraced Nintendo's colourful third-person shooter in a big way. The cultural impact - especially in Japan - has been significant, with amiibo, merchandise and even live concerts...
Gallery Nintendo's Favourites in the Art Academy "Splatfest Memories" Event
Ink-redible
Over the past few weeks Nintendo has been running an Art Academy event on Miiverse to celebrate Splatoon, encouraging fans to show off their skills in honour of the Wii U title. Plenty evidently did, and Nintendo has picked out some favourites to show off just how talented some Wii U owners are. The big N's Miiverse team has picked out...
News The Stages for the Final Splatfest Have Been Announced
Kelp Dome! Moray Towers! Walleye Warehouse!
A couple weeks ago, it was announced that the final Splatfest for Splatoon would be taking place later this month. The news was disappointing to many, but it seems like Nintendo wants to make sure that it goes all out with this final celebration. As a result, fans were allowed to vote on what three stages...
