For quite a while eager Splatoon fans have followed the exploits of data miners and a more mischievous modder causing save data problems - the subject? Playable Octolings. For some they're an inevitability and we're just waiting for their arrival.
Are more clues afoot? Our very own Alex Olney - who's not shy of showing off his Splatoon skills on our YouTube channel - and a number of others believe that there are some interesting hints that Octolings may be getting ever closer. Of course a bucket full of salt is required, but there's definitely enough out there to make speculation reasonable, if not guaranteed to be correct.
First of all, this weekend's Splatfest in Japan is all about the choice between squid and octopus as food.
Then there's a follow-up tweet, with rough translations pointing to the 'conflict' between the squid and octopus species.
When you visit SplatNet, now localised for the West, the usual squid dancing around in the background has been replaced by octopi moving up the screen, which seems to reflect the invasion mentioned in the tweet above. It all seems more about the classic conflict in the game than the food choice of the Splatfest vote in Japan.
This is some harmless weekend speculation to kick off the weekend, but our man Alex and his fellow enthusiastic Splatoon chums don't recall seeing this animation on SplatNet before, while the Japanese Splatfest theme and all those previous rumours of Octoling code waiting to be updated has got minds whirring. Is a major Splatoon update with playable Octolings on the way soon as a pleasant surprise?
Perhaps, only time will tell. Do you think this adds up as a pointer towards the much-expected playable Octoling update, or is this just wishful thinking? Let us know!
Comments 32
Maybe they'll be unlocked just in time for the Europe Splatfest so that they can do Squid vs Octoling as the theme. Lol I'm joking, the Splatfest will likely be something boring like Stairs vs Elevators.
Eh. Not convinced by any of the 'evidence', though I like how dark that Japanese Splatfest choice is in the context of the game!
Even if Octolings arrive I don't see it as a big deal. Aside from the hair they look identical and there's no mechanical difference. To be honest I thought they were the least exciting of all the campaign's enemy offerings.
@crimsontadpoles Attic vs Basement
@crimsontadpoles Oak Trees vs Pine Trees
@crimsontadpoles Neon Green vs. Pink
Oh wait.
One of my favorite things on this site are the guesses for upcoming Splatfests for Europe. Simply amazing. The one for NA (planes versus cars) is hardly thrilling, but we did at least get some cool ones..... and none involving the North and South Pole.
For that matter, I'll join in the fun:
Oranges vs Tangerines.
I would feel like a trader to play as anything but a squid.
@MarioPhD Mimes vs Clowns. Anyways, I would like having the option to play as an octoling, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Well, i think we can assume they will arrive some day so why not? I'd rather have some new maps first but that's just me
If the male Octoling has a cool design like some of the fanart I have seen, i'll definitely use it. (assuming there will be one)
@crimsontadpoles Black zebras with white stripes vs white zebras with black stripes
...I like what's happening here. Someone should make a thread where everyone tries to come up with the most lame Splatfest idea!
Belly button lint vs. Pocket sand
I have to admit, the 'lamer' the Splatfest theme, the more hyped up I get. It's easy to get all tribal about conventional divisions of taste: Cats Vs. Dogs - (Yawn), Arts Vs. Sciences - (Snore), etc. But for absolutely bizarre concepts, you really have to use some imagination.
Finding it hard to identify with the concept of 'modest earnestness' when paired against 'mild frivolity'? THEN YOU'RE NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH!
Oak Trees Vs. Pine Trees? WELL I FOR ONE WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD TO DEFEND THE MIGHTY OAK!
Attic Vs. Basement? TEAM BASEMENT BETTER WATCH OUT, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOWN DOWNNN!!!!!
Stairs Vs. Elevators? I DON'T NEED NO FREAKING BOX!
The internet is full of enough inane arguments about things people take a bit too seriously. Let us instead to battle over the littler things! Celery Vs. Cucumbers, Lemons Vs. Limes, Beige Vs. Khaki, Standing Vs. Sitting, Here Vs. There;
TEAM TRIVIALITY WILL REIGN SUPREME! NO MORE SHALL WE BE SLAYES TO THE GRANDIOSE! THE TIME OF INCONSEQUENTIALITY IS NOW!
It would make sense... its already in the game and they can use it to keep people interested and playing.
I just want more single player missions and more 1 v 1 online modes...I'll even pay handsomely for it! Just give us more offline content, there are so many ideas left Ughhh I loved SP so much!
(Or launch next handheld/console with Splatoon 2... wishful thinking)
Garden peas vs petis pois
@MarioPhD Fish vs Chips
@crimsontadpoles At least it isn't Autobots vs Decepticons. Don't like Transformers? TOO BAD. WALUIGI TIME.
"Some harmless weekend speculation to kick off the weekend"
If playable Octolings, then as an unlock for, hopefully, more Hero Mode levels. The Octarians have the short end of the kelp when it comes to energy resources, so seeing them get on more even ground would be re f r e s h ing.
First, the unexpected maintenance. Now, this?! To add more hints to that SplatNet invasion, change the site's language to Japanese. They changed the logo, from Ika Ringu (Squid Ring) to Tako Ringu (Octopus Ring).
@Maxz brilliant!!
How about:
Turtles Vs. Tortoises
Donkeys vs. Horses anyone?
@Maxz +1
@NintyMan I think that is an interesting idea, but the problem I can see with that is that it'd ruin the single player campaign for new players. That's why I'm not entirely sure it'd work. Maybe you could unlock them by beating the campaign? Or maybe, in a truly cruel move, Nintendo would lock it behind yet another incredibly hard to find Amiibo? Then again, I guess it could make sense as rare/limited edition outfit components....
@MarioPhD I would expect new players would simply need to beat the final boss to unlock Octolings, and perhaps you could fight them but they don't appear in the plaza (explaining why they can cause save issues when running into hackers since they're not meant to appear as NPCS). Instead they would perhaps have a separate version of the plaza that you switch to as an Octoling.
Just what's the deal with the Octolings? They were made up like these big important rivals in the Story Mode and what happened to them - a boring enemy that dies just as fast as it appeared. I have no interest in playing as them at all. After all, though, the option to play as them, is always nice. Right ndCube?
Oh, and the european splatfest theme is Dogs vs. Cats. Seriously, it took them one more week to just copy from the Americans. When will I ever get the epic Super Mario versus The Legend of Zelda epic franchise splatfest!?!
I wonder if Octolings become playable if they will have some sort of gimmick or stat difference to them.
What if Nintendo released a new patch of Splatoon amiibo, with one being the Octoling? Completing the challenges set by the Octoling unlocks her as a playable character, or costume.
weather vs feelings
@the101
Unfair to people who don't do amiibo.
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