Update: Splatoon 3 is now available! Below, you'll find all the best deals available at launch.
Original Article: Kids and squids alike will no doubt be looking forward to Splatoon 3, the latest game in Nintendo's family-friendly shooter series that's headed to Switch later this year. If you're super keen, you'll be pleased to know that pre-orders for the title have started to appear at a number of retailers.
Nintendo has now confirmed that the game will hit stores on 9th September 2022, and more and more pre-order options are now available as a result. If you're wanting to secure your order in good time, keep on reading.
On this page: Where To Buy Splatoon 3 On Nintendo Switch
Buy Splatoon 3 In The US & Canada
Pre-orders are now live at all the usual major retailers across North America:
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Buy Splatoon 3 In The UK
The game's also available at a number of retailers in the UK, some of which are offering very tempting prices indeed. Here are your options:
Buy Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Console
Nintendo has revealed a special Splatoon 3-themed Nintendo Switch OLED console, which is available now. A gorgeous new Splatoon 3 Pro Controller and carry case are also available.
You can find all purchase options for the console and controller right here.
Pre-Order Splatoon 3 amiibo
Three brand new amiibo have been announced to coincide with the launch of Splatoon 3: Inkling (Yellow), Octoling (Blue) and Smallfry. The figures are set to launch "this holiday" and we'll provide all the links you need right here as soon as they appear.
For now, a triple set can be pre-ordered from PlayAsia, but it's pretty pricey!
Were There Any Pre-Order Bonuses For Splatoon 3?
Note that pre-order bonus stock may now be sold out. Check with your chosen retailer before purchasing.
If you pre-ordered the game from GameStop, you received an exclusive sticker set as a free bonus (pictured above).
In the UK, pre-orders made at The Game Collection came with free squid and octopus keyrings. ShopTo also offered the octopus keyring. Orders from My Nintendo Store UK came with a free gym bag and squid pin, pictured below, and orders from Smyths Toys included a free pencil case.
Are you getting a copy of Splatoon 3? Let us know with a comment below.
For more on Splatoon 3, check out our Tips, Tricks, And Hints guide packed full of fresh advice on how to splat with the best of them. We also have a Weapon List With The Best Pick For Every Weapon Type, All Sunken Scroll Locations, a Full List Of Splatoon 3 amiibo Unlocks And Rewards, and Every New And Returning Turf War Stage in the game, plus info on How To Unlock Alterna Logs and How To Transfer Your Splatoon 2 Save Data, if that's causing you trouble.
Elsewhere, find out Where To Buy The Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Console And Pro Controller, and if you haven't picked up the game itself, you can check out our review along with the best deals and find out Where To Buy Splatoon 3 On Nintendo Switch.
Comments 67
This is definitely a day 1 buy for me. I just hope that the story mode is half as good as Octo Expansion was.
@StarPoint The story mode has progressively gotten better in each game so I'm sure this will have the best one yet!
Now because of pre orders, does that means the release date is soon? late may early June?
Ehh, I'll wait to see what they add. Can't believe they used footage of a mode that's literally already in Splatoon 2 to advertise a new $60 sequel during the Direct.
Awesome box art!!
Anyone know if this has co-op mode for battles? Like a player signed in as a guest like other consoles allow?
I can’t find anything other than co-op for salmon run
@Ralizah I have a feeling that was just a teaser and before release we'll get a massive blowout trailer showing off the new stuff, but if I'm honest I'm just glad to know Salmon Run is definitely returning as it's my favourite mode in the game.
Guess that means it gonna release soon.
@gameboy-x I couldn't imagine this one releasing in late summer. Definitely feels like a late May/ early June release to me.
I still haven't even finished the campaign of Splatoon 1 (which to be fair is just way too basic, as fun as the core gameplay is) and I have Splatoon 2 still sealed, but I'm going to buy this day one because ... I don't know? But I will.
For anyone wondering, ShopTo gives you the option to delay payment until the game is dispatched. Great for making sure you've reserved your copy at the best price but keeping your options open for any better offers later!
Guy with woomy username is tempted by pre-order.
Still waiting for definitive edtion Splatoon 2+Octo on cartridge, like japan got last November-ish.
I am a huge Splatoon fan and a huge physical collector, but I think I am going to go digital this time. I want Splatoon 3 always ready to launch on my Switch.
Since it's a first party game, I'll wait a little while to see what Nintendo UK Store has to offer for bonuses.
365games have had pre-orders open for ages now though!
I wish Nintendo would offer a discount to those of us who'd like to buy both physical and digital. Rather than paying $60 usd twice, how about $100 for both?
I'm still wondering what exactly they're going to do with this one to warrant a new entry on the same system, Nintendo usually doesn't do that unless they have a lot of new ideas for the next entry.
@WoomyNNYes Why do you want to buy both physical and digital games?
@gameboy-x Summer this year doesn't start until June 21st and we already have Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes coming on June 24th so Splatoon 3 will be July at the earliest.
Please add me to the 'Wait and see' list. I like Splatoon. I have 1 and 2, but to-date I've only managed about 60 hours across the 2 games, so I don't feel I find myself getting enough out of them to get in early with 3. Really wanting some local multi-player (off a single purchase of the game), either offline or on.
@gameboy-x So I have one for my Koenigsegg and one for home. Jk, looked at your page. Just messing with you.
For my most favorite games, I buy physical, so I'll always have them. I'm not a collector type, so, that's not a lot of games. But with games that I play very often, like Splatoon 2, I also really like the handiness of having Splatoon stored digitally, so it's always ready to go - no fumbling with game cards.
With physical ownership, in the long term, your game won't die with the console or nintendo switch eshop.
Anyone else dreading another wave of amiibo?
@WoomyNNYes Lol you had me confused for a minute. That is a good idea not going to lie.
@Otoemetry Yeah, I expect they'll highlight new stuff in a specialized presentation as well. I'm just amazed they chose to highlight Salmon Run to promote a new game. I know it's a popular mode, but it's already fully accessible to people who own Splatoon 2. It's cool if they include it in the new game, but if I'm buying it, it'll be for new and unique content I couldn't access in the older games.
To that end, I hope S3 has at least one new mode that's genuinely fun like Salmon Run and not just aimed at high-level competitive play.
It still amazes me how Splatoon games handle all of these below just by implementing ink in the game:
And the list could go on…
OFFLINE battles against BOTS this time? No? I won´t buy.
Can't wait. I just hope there's a new ranked mode in there from the off, rather than having to wait for it to release like Clam Blitz.
As for the map rotation, I'm fine with 2 hours but I'd like to see maps/modes overlap so you've always got a choice of 2 modes to play. They each stay up for 2 hours but one rotates out every hour. If there is a new ranked mode, then we'll have 5. So it would really suck having to wait 8 hours for your favourite mode to appear again.
@Ralizah I think with how universally beloved Salmon Run is across the Splatoon community I would be surprised if they didn't iterate on the concept somewhat, co-op battles like that appeal to more people than the ultra competitive ranked modes so I reckon we'll see other forms of co-op.
If I'm totally honest I think I might just have preferred another large DLC like the Octo-expansion, but I'll wait to see what else is included within the game before I come to any conclusions.
I'm going to need to see more info personally.
This still just looks like Splatoon 2.5 to me.. maybe even less.
@gameboy-x Nintendo already has two games in June so definitely not June.
I played the hell out of 2 so looking forward to something new in 3. Not interested in the story, I'm there for the multiplayer. Love it.
@Clark2k I agree. Splatoon might be one of the most cleverly designed games I have ever played. I find it amazing that the game wasn't even originally intended to have squid characters, they fit so well with the game.
defo gonna pre-order from gamestop soon. can’t wait to play splatoon 3 in the summer! ♡
@Troll_Decimator Shame.. Splatoon 1 has one of the best final bosses of all-time.
@Clark2k It’s one of the most elegant designs for both mechanics and resource management in modern gaming and for all of Splatoon’s success and popularity it still doesn’t get enough credit from that perspective.
It has more depth than any shooter I can think of, particularly with movement, and pulls 95% of it’s actions off with two buttons.
@Spiders I have enjoyed the bosses quite a bit, but the other levels are mostly terrible to be honest. And it's a shame because the gameplay is great but the level design is just too basic.
Splatoon 2 came with a T-shirt or baseball cap from the Nintendo uk store so will wait and see if they do the same this time. I’ve also bought a couple of unofficial splatoon tees from Redbubble based on some of the in game brands - so cool.
@Troll_Decimator I actually really like most of the levels but I hate the overworld where you have to "find" the levels... when I can get into a match in seconds I don't have the time to putz around looking for the stages. Octo Expansion does a really good job getting you right into the action and has tighter level design and hopefully Splatoon 3 considers this.
1,200+ hours in I've literally only played the single player in Splatoon 2 when I had internet outages and have been very lucky:)
This will make a fine addition to my collection.
Feels like this basically swapped places with Xenoblade in the release schedule but I'm really looking forward to both so I'm fine with it.
@Clark2k I couldn't agree more. My son and I just played a few hours ago and he remarked similarly. Verticality and "chase" are two I would add. Good eye and Good Inking!
I need splatoon 3!!!!
Will wait to see if there's a special edition.
waiting for the negative comments asking why anyone would pay $60 for just DLC 🙄
I'm super hype for this game. This is a day one buy for me, and I'm getting super excited just playing through the Octo Expansion on Splatoon 2.
Mine arrived years ago.
I mean, it was called 'Splatoon 2', but still.
Wish they sold the joycons separately from that OLED set, me likes.
@Franklin OK thank you for the information.
Easy pass. Nintendo cash grab yet again 🙄 shame so much potential as the ideal is great. Look how many cool unlockables are in fall guys to keep u playibg then look at splatoons. S3 eill be good for a week then stale
I hope they handle their 2 years of updates promise better than they did with Animal Crossing...
I know that Nintendo has their ups and downs
That is fine, but Splatoon 3 feels like it could be a update to Splatoon 2, nothing more and nothing less.
@Wordbonder aside what will happen, AC on Switch really lacks a ton of content without the DLC.
They've still not allowed preorders for the Splatoon 3 themed OLED in NA? Come on...
I already pre-ordered it on the Switch eShop. I want games like this to be always available without needing to switch a game card.
And I used vouchers so I got a nice discount as well.
@ryancraddock Smyths Toys in the UK has a pencil case as a pre-order gift
Not sure if it's all Smyths toys in the UK but theirs one close to me that sells games between £5 and £10 cheaper in store than online so it's always best to check in store before online purchasing.
I wonder if Splatoon 2 will become an instant ghost land or if it will be fairly well populated. Supposedly even last year, there were still people playing the WiiU version
Haven’t been this hyped for a switch game in a good while. My body is ready.
Local shops already sell the Splatoon 3 + console bundle...
There were absolutely no decent preorder bonuses for the game in Canada so I just downloaded off the eShop to use up Gold Coins to make it cheaper (and get the bonus Gold Coins for ordering early). I'm kind of glad I'm going digital because I did buy the Splatoon 3 OLED (my first OLED model) and I have to say, Nintendo made the game card flap on these models way more difficult to open than the standard Switch to the point where swapping game cards is becoming quite the pain. I'm a typical guy with no nails and there's no groove so I have to grab a paperclip every time or just kind of leave the flap off (which defeats the purpose because I'm sure it's meant to prevent dust). I miss the good ol' days of N64/SNES/NES cartridge slots. Or the PSP disc system.
Remember guys that if you are in the UK there is a postal strike on Thursday AND Friday this week! Should be ok for retailers like Amazon but check on others. I’m waiting for reviews first, but may go digital on this one.
Went digital so I wouldn't risk raging and trading it in and rebuying it 5 times like I did with 2. XD
I know this article is from February but I really hope no one is buying Splatoon 2 for $50 the week of the S3 release. Don't forget it will cost you an extra $20 to get the rest of the game. 🤑
Best Buy (US) has a cool looking key chain so I bought it there.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/splatoon-3-nintendo-switch-oled-model-nintendo-switch-nintendo-switch-lite/6414120.p?skuId=6414120&ref=E10C18R004_OrderConfirmation&loc=BODY&CampaignID=NES_OrderConfirmation&eut=2330057516
I'm lucky enough to have been playing Splatoon 3 for several years now. Its called Splatoon 2.
I’m excited, I don’t wanna preorder so I’ll probably run over to gamestop as soon as I get off school on Friday to pick it up
Pre-ordered at Best Buy (US), game and key chain were supposed to be delivered today. They can't seem to find the game, said it may get here by Tuesday, but they'll refund me if they can't find it by Thursday. It says the key chain will get here today but the Fed Ex website says tomorrow. 😝
Don't know who to contact but it seems all the old Splatoon Amiibo are available on Nintendo Store UK
Splatoon 3 joins my Day 1 video game purchases shortlist. My list includes: Super Mario Bros. 3 (I remember my mom and I hunting it down!), Mario Kart 8 and now Splatoon 3.
Plenty of Day 2, Day 5 or Week 1 but Day 1 are these. 😎 💯
@Uncle_Franklin
Mine arrived just before yours. It was called Splatoon!! 😅
I got my copy from Tesco for £40.
Cheapest i have seen.
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