Reminder: The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire Starts Today, With Two Arenas Confirmed

Really looking forward to doing some Splatoon'ing again. Hopefully the release isn't too far into the summer season.

Well. Looks like I'm getting up for 3 in the morning, as I'm working during the 7pm time.

I don't know why they don't just do it for the whole weekend, like other betas

I went through a lot of droughts on wii u but I would say guys this is worth waiting for regardless if you buy MKD In-between. Splating happy fun gunning that's what this is,for those that haven't played it this is a must buy. Best you start exercising that trigger finger your gonna need it

First time trying a Splatoon game. I hope I end up liking it. It definitely looks cool, though.

Gonna have a good time this weekend, looks like!

I really wish I could find a Pro Controller somewhere. That's the way I want to play Splatoon.

Got myself a Wi-Fi extender today purely for my Switch and its weak WiFi. It's nice to finally be able get on the eShop, but more importantly, I'll be able to test out Splatoon 2 next weekend! Providing I can find the time...

@KirbyTheVampire I hope you plan on sharing your experience later on!!

darn it, looking at those times, 2 x 7-8pm is my daughters bedtime haha she's either going to bed super early or super late ... not that it really matters, as it's been pre-ordered since Day 1.

Yeah will be great to play this ! I've never played splatoon before so want to see if I like it . Nintendo should do more of these play tests

Why not just offer it for a full 48 or 72 hours? This tiny one-hour block business is silly.

@KirbyTheVampire It's bee described as the online shooter for people that don't like online shooters, and IMO it's a very accurate description. It may not click with some people , but overall it's the most distressingly addictive game in ages. My fear with 2 isn't if I'll like it, it's if it'll suck me in and create a backlog again just before the fall RPG laundry list hits and REALLLY gives me a backlog!

@Dr_Corndog My guess is the point of the beta is stress testing certain parts of the network infrastructure. And that they want to test those parts during scheduled structured test.

The point of a Testfire isn't about marketing the fun of the game, and it's only slightly about testing the game/weapon balance for tweaks. It's largely about testing the network infrastructure on the backend, testing the server software under a real world load, and in this case, testing how the switch platform as a whole handles a full-scale online setup for the first time. Technically it's probably as much a test for MK8D as it is for Splatoon 2. So those one hour windows let them test different configurations and collect a meaningful amount of analytics.

We just get to play little preview of splatoon2 for free as a reward for stress testing for them.

Its sure at 100% I'm gonna splat some dude. This game will be awesome.

@Nintendoforlife I'm not really a big shooter guy, so I hope I end up liking it, especially since I won't have a whole lot to play for the first half of the year.

Is it available on wiiu?

@sandman89 Splatoon 1 is available on Wii U. Splatoon 2 is only coming to Switch, and so the Global Testfire is only on Switch.

@KirbyTheVampire This was my first online shooter, and it's game I've logged a ton of hours on.

I am working during most of those, why can't Nintendo just have a normal beta like every other Developer.

Callie and Marie's difficult second album lmao

First time in a while I feel like I'll probably be more experienced/skilled than the majority of players of a certain game that I'll be going head to head with. mwahaha

Splatoon is awesome and I can't wait for this weekend, I can make everyone of the tests

This will be so much fun! Fingers crossed I find a Switch this week before the test fire goes live.

Ahh... I remember my first Splatoon global testfire. That one hour pushed me to buy the full game.
Have fun you guys and Stay Fresh!

@jayzzx there will be a restock (at GameStop at least) on the 22nd in the US.

What. I assumed it would just be playable all weekend not just for an hour here and there... Well I hope I can actually play during those times and they don't have any problems.

@NEStalgia RIP whatever free time I used to have when both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2 release. Not to mention Persona 5, which is on the more immediate horizon. I should be too old to play video games this much, but... NAH! Gotta have some fun between the crib and the grave.

@KirbyTheVampire It doesn't really feel like a normal competitive shooter. I mean, the shooting is important, but it's more about territory control and just getting lost in the moment-to-moment insanity of turf wars!

ready and willing !

@KirbyTheVampire You will 👍 Once you get use to how it works it's an amazing game! My partner and I still prefer it to Overwatch and simply can't wait.

@NEStalgia Well i was hoping for a simple one player tutorial while downloading splatoon 2

Hows new player gonna test it when we dont even know the basic XD

@Ralizah Gamers are never too old........

@ATZW1980 To get the hang of it, just go around painting the floor before taking on enemy players.

Nintendo made the game so that you don't have to get into fire fights with other players to be useful to your team.

I'm jealous! No Switch, NO DEMO!

@Dr_Corndog It's a global test run. Just like Splatoon 1, Splatoon 2's online lets all regions play together, so they have to test some prime time blocks against the load. For example, one of the wacky time blocks, 7-7:59 a.m. ET (where I'm at) is actually like 8PM in Tokyo, when a lot of Japanese players will likely be on. Actually, I can almost guarantee every Switch owner over there will be on. One thing's for sure, I'm going to finally unplug my Wii Lan adapter from the WiiU and hook it up to the Switch. Bring it, inklings!

I really wish I was home from school this week so I could go to my brother's place and try it out since I don't have a Switch yet. Splatoon is one of my favorite games of this... last... um... whatever generation! But I'm really excited to see gameplay and livestreams of this test fire. Hopefully it ends up being great!

They refused to give me Friday off work, so I will be missing the first session. But only that one!

@SnowFox "Here you go, good to go"?

if your worried about losing a few hours during the testfire god knows what your going to be like if they are to bring the Splatfests back. I lost whole weekends to those. im still enjoying the original Splatoon but im happy for the switch ownets that never got the chance to play the original, they are in for a treat.

i was looking forward to this since the first announcement, but sadly Nintendo has my switch for repairs atm and it looks like i won't get it back till late next week

@ATZW1980 It worked out ok for the original Testfire for the first game. The Switch news column did have a control layout pic yesterday for Splatoon 2. It was useful to me even as a veteran player since some controls have been bumped around. That map is going to confuse me!

The first Testfire didnt quite click with me. Gyro movement felt really strange. Cant play any other way today. Glad i didnt give up. Great IP.
And the best vibe you can wish for in the summer.

Yeah im looking forward to that Testfire. And my Switch is lonely.

@TJF588 "Nepyutunuuuu!"

@SnowFox Wü, Wü!

@KirbyTheVampire I actually hate shooters. I think they are boring and repetetive but Splatoon is actually really awesome! I think you'll like it!

These are some ridiculous times

I like the times of 11-11:59 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Those are brilliant actually, I might join. Other times don't work for me.

Tomorrow 3pm-4pm!

@EternalDragonX The joys of trying to find times the entire planet can play at the same time.....

@NEStalgia if they just had it it an entire weekend then no one would have any problems. Every other game betas do this.

@EternalDragonX True. I imagine there's specific reasons they're doing it this way. Specific tests or specific tweaks and adjustments between rounds as they analyze the logs.

I also imagine there will be another testfire in summer. I'm guessing this one is more about testing the Switch infrastructure to ready for MK8 than it is about testing Splatoon balance. Fine by me, I'd rather play Splatoon

I am excited to play this game with a controller layout that doesn't suck... That dual analog stick placement being above the buttons on the Wii U REALLY made me hate playing splatoon on the Wii u. Now that the analog sticks are offset and I don't have to hold a bulky ass tablet in my hands to play it, I'm super excited.

@Dr_Corndog IKR. It's reminds if those play limits on 3DS, there is no point.

Can't wait for this!

Sooo when is this in the UK? Lol I have no clue on region times

@Nik-Davies @EternalDragonX @NEStalgia Got to remember they only have around 1-2million Switces out there in the wild at the moment so they have to condense the play times so that they get a good idea of server load. If it was a PS4 or PC game there would be many more possible people running it so that's why it's normally a full weekend - in this case it's just after console launch so there's less possible people. Makes perfect sense.

Obviously the times are not rediculous because they have to cover the whole world so it's always going to be bad for someone.

@NintyNate GMT/BST mainly because the clocks go forward an hour on sunday

I still don't know what you do in splatoon, but will give it a go over the weekend for the first time

Finally it's time, even if it's only the testfire. I really can't wait to play this game in summer! Sorry if i will not be here for the live blog tonight but i'll be busy splatting people!

My first time splatting, can't wait!

Two maps? Damn, this is like 2/3 of the entire game you get to play at the test fire. The full game will lack content at launch anyway.

As with the Wii U testfire, the limited time slots don't work for me

@Dakt

Yes, I think you're right about that. It is likely to stress the servers.

@JasmineDragon

Oh man! You're in for a treat! I'm not gonna lie, Splatoon was my most played game on the Wii U. I played it even more than MK8 and Smash. So, so much fun. I hope you enjoy!

Annoyingly, none of those times are convenient for me due to work & family commitments so I'll have to pass (and I'm not getting up at 3am to play an hour session!). I'm gutted, I was looking forward to this.

@NEStalgia Yeah it's because it's Nintendo and they when they give us something we like they always deliver it in the most aggravating way possible.

@EternalDragonX Haha, true. Then again I'd chronically complain about Nintendo and their network all last year as I was splatooning, and then spent an extended stint on PS4 for a while and all its problems and was reminded the grass was always greener...

Maybe we gamers are just never happy with anything....explains our OCD tendencies in gaming

@Dakt Very likely. There's a pool of 1.5-2M people TOTAL that can even participate. Even if everyone played at once it still would only be a 30% load test of real production.

@invictus4000 yes, that's my thought too. Splatoon is a fun shooter, most people with find it amusing. It's suitable for most gamers compared to realistic shooters, that only targets a smaller group of gamers.

im taking vacation and leaving early tomorrow morning so i'll only get to play tonight

I'll only get to play today... great times Nintendo... 😑

@sinalefa
Take it to work!
SWITCH!!

@Jhena I had a similar experience. Really had trouble enjoying the test fire. I had trouble connecting and then was getting spanked left, right and centre. I decided to pass on Splatoon.

As it happens, my wife pre-ordered the game for me as a gift and I'm so glad she did because I would have missed out on an absolute gem!

@JohnSReid Im glad you got lucky in the end.^^ I was lucky that everyone was learning in my games. I feel bad for people trying to get into an online shooter after its quite some time on the market.
Tried this with Battlefront not to long ago. If you want to be humiliated thats the way to go^^ Splatoon is definitely worth it to overcome the first hurdles though. I wish you good fun with splatoon 2.

I don't mean to brag... Well actually, ok, I do.

I crushed it. 9 splats and zero deaths. I need this game now!

I had bad RNG, only got to play one stage

Played for about half an hour, then started having connection issues. Connection issues aside, I wasn't overly impressed. It didn't do anything wrong, but it looks and feels exactly like the original. So while I don't really have anything negative to say about my experience, I'm pretty sure I'll be giving this one a pass. I'm sure huge fans of the original will love it, but if I want to get my Splatoon fix, I'll just play it on Wii U. Subject to change of course if there is a ton of new content that we don't know about yet.

Played for over an hour, strictly Splat Charger, got an easy 5+ splats a match with Splat Bombs alone, please bring back a Luna + Splat Bomb kit...

Anyway, happy to report essentially no lag over a mobile hotspot and the data usage appears to be approximately half that of the original, if not more: ~120mb for an hour playtime, which is far more acceptable than the 200-250 in the first game. Hopefully the ranked modes will maintain a relatively lean data requirement.

I really want to love this game. (that commercial "kid now squid now" is so classic 90's commercials) and the music is awesome.....
.....but....... I'm just so bad at it

@ACK Data use really needs to be talked about more in online gaming. Even though I game on WiFi, thank you for taking a look at that.

I missed the first due to sleep for work.

Second what times tomorrow are they beginning again in NA? (I'm a little slow when it comes to reading time zone schedules)

Well, crap. I just downloaded this from the eShop and assumed it would run all weekend, not just in one hour slots. I logged in every day (attempted to anyway) only to be greeted by "hasn't started yet", so figured I'd try again tomorrow. After five days in a row with the demo not working, I looked it up online and realized it was only an hour each day...

Is there any chance they relaunch this?