When the Switch was first revealed late last year, it was interesting that a portion of the video showcased Splatoon 2 being played competitively in a stadium setting. E-sports continue to grow in popularity each year, and it seems that Nintendo is taking the scene a bit more seriously going forward. Tatsumi Kimishima spoke a bit on this in the latest financial results briefing, talking about how Splatoon 2 will play into the competitive scene.
Obviously, one of the biggest features this time around is that voice chat will be supported to supplement team communication, but the plan seems to be to create a larger buzz around the Switch by development of games such as this which could have greater clout in the competitive scene. Here's what was said:
Splatoon 2 in particular will offer voice chat, a much-requested feature from our overseas fans, using smart-devices and the ability to bring eight Nintendo Switch systems together for eight-person local multiplayer. In this way, we are working to create titles and environments to invigorate the competitive gaming scene so that a wider demographic of customers can enjoy, talk about, and continue playing the Nintendo Switch.
What do you think? Will Splatoon 2 capture an even wider audience than its predecessor? Do you think it'll do well in the competitive scene? Drop us a comment in the section below.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 53
I feel like ARMS will be a game that really lights up the competitive scene.
you know i kinda didnt think it would have voice chat since its nintendo, but boy is that good,
from names we can't read and pronounce, we can now listen to chat we can't understand. i'd prefer voice activated chat instead. several preset lines that get uttered in the language of the receiver's console, activated by a voice command. say 'thanks' and the receiving switch hears 'domo arigato mr roboto'. say 'good game' and the receiver hears 'you were the reason we lost'. things like that.
@MitchVogel certain circles would likely be more into that milking game for all their own reasons. arms needs more characters with more depth, i think. personalities, backstories, etc, would go a long way into distinguishing them from just teh schoolgirl, the robot girl, the office guy, etc. also, dhalsim, jack, the guy from one piece, mister fantastic, plasticman, all sorts of guest stars would be fun, or at least their costumes.
I'm kinda hoping Nintendo says before launch "Just kidding about using smart devices for online chat. We'll have normal voice chat just like Sony and Xbox. We were just messing with ya".
Well I don't like voice chat too much, but I still feel that voice chat is needed. I am worried that Nintendo will make voice chat similar to Triforce Heroes rather than true voice chat, and that will make it worse.
@Bgr4u2 I can understand why some people are concerned, but I think what they're doing is a good idea. Hopefully they release a headset at some point, but the app will remove the need to have one on hand.
Wish they worded that statement better; I can't tell if they're saying you'll need smart-devices for voice chat, or if the game supports the use of smart-device (for who knows what) along with featuring voice chat and bring 8 systems together..
smart device voice chat, if this is as bad as it sounds (hopefully this was just nintendo being awful at wording their switch features explanations) then Nintendo really tried to damage their otherwise awesome console just to balance things. uh....
oh yeah and when anyone says competitive I don't particularily think about splatoon.
Funnily enough Arms looks to be a strong contender for a EVO or something match.
Can't wait, i don't care if a smart app is needed for voice chat, i'm just happy they did it. Loved Splatoon on Wii U, surely gonna love Splatoon 2 on Switch!
@Jamotello I don't believe for a second that Arms' roster is only five characters. More will be revealed.
Why did the link mention twitch. Damn it
@MitchVogel I keep seeing this said but I don't know what it is supposed to mean.
@Bgr4u2 you cant help but feel Nintendos answer to online voice chat is making a phone call.
"We've done away with friend codes! You already have their phone number...."
@PanurgeJr i think they mentioned that it's jsut five at the start, so yes there will be more. but we barely know who these starting five are to begin with. no reason given to care, either. if they're just placeholders for our joycon fists, then that's alright. but they gave them distinctive designs, they ought to make use of them.
I wonder what this app will be like.
Competitive games from Nintendo ?
Hm...
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Splatoon 2
ARMS
Smash Bros Switch
The app gives you anonymity. Sometimes you game with people online but maybe you don't want to give your personal info to them. Maybe you only know them from gaming. Or maybe .....
I don't know what the hell im saying.
Yeah, it doesn't sound more convenient to use an app to voice chat no matter how you explain it to me.
Ugh... maybe I'm just seeing how it could be better this way?
They need to speak up about this online stuff as well as VC and back catalogue purchases because the system releases in 31 days and i feel like I'm left wondering some important details.
@Jamotello I get the feeling there's a lot they have left to show us about ARMS. I mean, as a fighting game, there'll obviously be a limit to the depth of content on offer, but I see it as going down the Splatoon post-launch route, where tons of new content will regularly show up over the following weeks and months.
@MitchVogel I'm with you,I think Arms is going to surprise a lot of people when it comes out.I think we've got a major new IP on the way that can stand beside Smash,Kart and Splatoon.
I do wish voice chat wasn't included ,at least in random matches.Squads I understand but I have no interest in talking to strangers when I just want to play some Turf Wars and ranked matches on my own.I've played plenty squads matches with NL members and when we've come up against teams that are obviously communicating through other means,we got our asses kicked big time.Match over in under 30 seconds.No fun at all.If the only way to win in Splatoon 2 is to communicate with strangers I can see myself hardly playing it.
eeespoorrtss! eeeespoorrtss!
I remember a time when everyone would scuff at the idea of competitive gaming. Now that Nintendo is in on it, everybody is suddenly on board too.
I really hope ARMS has a single player campaign, the characters look really well designed so would be nice to have a fully-realised world for them.
Splatoon 2 will probably grow a niche competitive scene, the first game was impractical to run tournaments for(no lan support, 1 Wii U per player, low interest, limited online features etc). Carrying a Switch for local play and easy setup will increase the viability of more competitive matches to actually happen.
The biggest problems I see are Nintendo actually supporting competitive, and overall low depth to their games. Nintendo needs to pump some cash into tournaments for people to show up, which they've never really been known to do.
Modern Nintendo games also aren't very technical either. The top E-Sports right now are stuff like CSGO and Dota, games with huge skill ceilings and lots of intricate mechanics. Games like Splatoon, Pokken and Arms are shallow in comparison. Seeing high level play needs to be impressive to watch otherwise you get no viewers and your scene slowly dies off.
F Zero with 8 player local and online leagues please.
Also the same with Wave Race and Excite Bike.
@3MonthBeef to carry the metaphor too far. it's the first chapter that hasn't even been released yet.
@KiWiiU_Freek If F--Zero online is to happen,I would love it if it allowed up to 32 player races.It would be absolutley mental.Possibly game breaking too though haha
Read the otherday that the first esports event on record across all platforms was 1990 Nintendo World Cup, I think it would be great if they brought that sort of thing back.
Nintendo Moba coming... most likely based on Fire Emblem
@duddy I'm pretty sure one of the few clear things they've said about Switch's online service is that chat and setting up games with friends will all be handled through an app on your phone. So that means every game, not just Splatoon 2. It seems a bit odd to me. I mean, I know a lot of kids have phones these days, but I don't plan on giving my kids phones until they're a bit older, so what about kids that don't have phones? I don't know. I don't like it.
They do seem intent on pushing Splatoon 2 as a proper E-Sport, at least in Japan. Splatoon's popularity is still going up over there, if the recent turnout at the Tokyo finals of the 2nd Splatoon Koshien was anything to go by. 192 teams played across 2 days for the final stop of the tour: https://youtu.be/f_X-EH-_5ms The grand finals will be held in a couple weeks. They really need to push that better in the west if they really want the competitive scene to take off.
Also, more focus is needed on the Ranked Battle modes which, in my opinion, are far more interesting and easier to keep track of than Turf Wars. Tower Control (a payload mode), Rainmaker (capture the flag), and Splat Zones (domination-ish). All the action is funneled into contested points, and in the case of TC and Rainmaker those points are moving. Sure matches can end early if one team completes the objective, but that's the point. Those modes are more serious.
Also, Nintendo may have something else to help Splatoon along with watching the game, a possible Spectator Mode. At the Switch event a couple weeks ago, I noticed on the handheld side of the Splatoon 2 setup, there was a separate monitor that was rotating between showing the map and the teams' ink coverage and then to mirroring individual players' screens. I don't know if it could be controlled manually or if it was connected to a separate Switch console. But it really seemed important because we were not allowed to take pictures or video of that monitor at the NYC event...although someone managed to get some footage at one of the other events: https://twitter.com/splatoonswitch/status/820303293163380736
The groundwork is definitely being laid down and I'm hyped to battle again this summer!
@OorWullie
That would be amazing!
I remember playing F Zero X recently thinking it would be insane if they remade it with HD visuals and an online component.
@Grawlog I guess I just don't see the issue here. I think smart devices have reached enough market saturation that it's a pretty safe bet that anybody who's seriously buying a Switch will also have at least one smartphone or tablet. In this day and age, it's almost a given.
@MitchVogel Spot on. People are too busy focusing on the "me too" mentality of Switch following Xbone/PS4. I think they are smarter going this route, allowing more freedom of use and also allowing you to take your friends list and chat wherever you are - even without the Switch.
It holds a lot of promise - something Microsoft knows and are trying with their smart app.
@Bgr4u2 why? It's smart to make a games console about actual games and not wasting system resources on non game stuff.
Voice chat would be nice, but their system of using a smartphone app just makes things too convoluted.
Honestly, I already use Discord for game chat so using a mobile app seems smart and convenient. I like that it doesn't try to shoehorn a feature that I've already left behind in games and that it is clear: if I want voice chat, grab the phone. Easy!
@Bgr4u2 ""Just kidding about using smart devices for online chat. Switch will have 4G capability, starting at 19.99€/month."
So much better.
In my brain the smartphone isolation of chat and online makes perfect sense. In no order:
1. delegates responsibility of online controls to the owner of the smartphone, fulfilling Nintendo's desire to be instantly kid friendly
2. allows people to use their existing headsets and so forth, noise cancelling and bluetooth support is alot better and dynamic on smartphones you'd imagine
3. allows organisation of online games away from the switch so you always in essence have the switch with you.
4. traps you in the Nintendo infrastructure on your smartphone, so another screen for eshop, promotions, friend requests etc etc..
5. concedes that if you are desperate to online game out and about you might actually have your switch tethered to your smartphone, so why not use that smartphone for chat too.
The only downside I can imagine is that the game audio won't be in the headset simultaneously, but when I PC game I usually have the voice chat in the headset and the game audio from proper speakers hoping the noise cancelling does the job.
My opinion is that the decision to split voice chat from the console to a smart device is purely down to Nintendo's desire to be able to sell the console as child friendly. A non-technical parent may find it difficult to disable chat features directly on the console, or prevent their child from enabling them.
I'm sure you can imagine the bad press and the 'sad face' photo of a parent saying that their innocent 7-year old was sworn at & verbally abused until they burst into tears on Splatoon 2 'a brightly coloured cartoony game designed to appeal to children'.
Might just be me but I think the odd voice chat and online fees will keep some from the competitive scene.
Although I think I need to wait and see how the smartphone app plays out to see if its good or not.
As long as I can mute the voice chat, I'm fine with having the option. Since they keep mentioning mobile devices, I think that will be the case. Don't want to hear the chat? Don't use the app.
I am pretty shy, so I never take advantage of voice chat, and hearing everyone else talking really pulls me out of the game. I prefer communicating online using either text or by actions. Like the lobbies in Mario Kart 8, or preset messages in Water Warfare. Even just how you move/gesture in-game can communicate a lot.
The whole app thing sounds so inconvenient. Having to fiddle with my phone and controller simultaneously just for voice chat just seems like a bad idea imo. On my ps4 if I want to voice chat, I plug my headset into the controller and bam there I go. If I don't want to voice chat I don't. Easy, simple, convenient. Of course we need the whole story from nintendo but personally not a fan of the strategy.
People seem to be taking the confirmation that "Splatoon 2 will offer voice chat" as confirmation that it will feature across all modes - including those with strangers. Is there any evidence to support this?
It seems unlikely in my eyes, especially with the player-base heavily divided between solely Japanese-speaking and Non-Japanese-speaking players.
I assume it'll be an option for matches with players on your friends list, but not supported outside of that.
But that's just an assumption and I'm waiting for it to be proved otherwise.
@Maxz https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/02/nintendo_details_how_voice_chat_and_multiplayer_lobbies_work_in_splatoon_2
Well, adding voice chat is certainly great. Not entirely sure about the particular solution yet though, but I guess well see how that plays out soon enough. . . .
PS. Yeah, I expect Splatoon 2 will probably do better than the first game, seeing as the Wii U's user base was so small and I expect Switch to absolutely sell more, so that's all good. Hopefully the surprise success of the first game will really push Nintendo and the dev team to make the second game even better and more "AAA" than the original too—such as having an even more fleshed-out single player story mode for example.
I mean, just imagine if a new Splatoon game was giving the kind of resources that the likes of every major Zelda, Mario Kart, and Mario game gets. . . .
@Loui Haha. I'm not usually very good at predicting things, so please allow me this moment to feel like a smug prophetic genius.
@Maxz Yeah, I'm guessing Private Battles only, and the app pretty much implies it's between friends on your friends lists, not random chat in a lobby.
Splatoon would be really awkward otherwise....random 7 year olds in TW, and a bunch of Japanese eSports otaku in S+ with one lone English speaker in the room.
The phone app think is incredibly odd and awkward to use, but I think for me personally it's the best answer to giving the people that want voice chat a way to do it, while keeping perma-mute on for everyone else and not becoming creepy hardware like a Kinect.
Though I can't help but think, if you're really just using a phone for it all, why not just use Discord still anyway?
@Bgr4u2 I am worry but at the same time we don't know how will be it. I just hope is not like people is imagining.
Psyched. A decent spectator mode and Splatoon is eSports material for sure.
I used to love watching tournaments and twitch streams.
@JibberX @redd214 @impurekind
Does everyone complaining about the smartphone app realize there's no way to do it otherwise: there's no jacks in the controllers. There's no feasible way to support all of Switch's possible configurations with a traditional heasdest port in any single place on the system that is not as or more cumbersome than the smartphone app solution. It's actually pretty elegant.
My REAL fear is app bloat. Miitomo shredded my phone. Still waiting on the Android releases, but if I need a new phone I'll be pissed.
@Spiders Bluetooth...?
And yes I get what you're saying but not having one AT Least in the "PRO" controller is a mistake to me
@Spiders yeah on my Android phone using Skype is like juggling chainsaws, if its not open and on the screen during a chat it'll just crap out after a bit of time.
I think voice app stuff is quite clever stuff for smartphone apps, but then they did buy that company that did Wii Speak for them didn't they?
@redd214
Maybe it's an engineering issue. Do we know if the joycons are using Bluetooth? Maybe they abandonded Bluetooth?
I still don't understand the point of the pro controller unless that D-pad is the GOAT' are they're not going to release a D-pad joycon with Street Fighter II FC and/or the inevitable VC announcement. Otherwise the layout is identical to the grip, and for 10 dollars more you get a proper second set of controllers.
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