After months of relative quiet, we finally found out when we would get to paint the town in Splatoon 3. On 9th September, the third entry in the ink-based shooter will be splatting onto the Switch. Before this, we'd only got a few glimpses of the Inklings and Octolings' upcoming sequel — only finding out in February about the return of Salmon Run.
Last Friday's new trailer dropped some fresh new gameplay footage from Turf Mode, which includes some aggressive new weapons, specials, and a little bit of death cam so you can taunt your friends when playing with them online even more than before.

Our lovely Alex has pulled apart the trailer and picked out everything new that he's spotted. Some of these you might have missed, while other things are worth going over with a fine toothcomb. But this gives us even more of an idea of what to expect when the game drops this September.
Give the video a watch at the top, then let us know what you're looking forward to in Splatoon 3 in the comments and on YouTube!
Comments 53
Nintendo's FIFA
I think what we all need is a Splatoon 3 Direct. It would (hopefully) put a lot of doubt to rest on whether this needed to exist (maybe showing off a new mode?) and it would just be a great thing to have.
A testfire in July/August would also be awesome.
Dont see any difference with 2, should have keep updating the second game
I still don’t really think this game has to be massively different from the 2nd one in order to warrant a purchase. Splatoon’s formula was already fantastic in 2, and I think slight improvements and changes are probably the way to go here. And it’s not like there are no differences here, there’s stuff like the Ink Dodge or the Wall Jump thing, along with a lot of interesting new specials, maps, and customization.
Splatoon 3 doesn’t have to rewrite the book, I think it just has to improve it. It looks like that’s what they’re doing here, and I’m super excited for it.
@HenHiro It's been almost five years since Splatoon 2.
@Bret still 80% the same. The amount of new stuff Splatoon adds in five years is about the same as FIFA every year, new story mode, some new gameplay features, it's very comparable.
@HenHiro is Contra comparable too? Those were basically all the same and I play/ed them all to death.
@CammyUnofficial did you pay for all Contra games? Well, I guess it's your money (or your parent's back in the day?)
I just think it's funny how Nintendo fans have double standards some times. Splatoon 1-3 it's literally the same game on the same engine with some added content that could easily be 20 dollar DLCs, correct me if I'm wrong not a hardcore Splatoon player, but I haven't noticed anything in 2 that would've made it incompatible with 1 and 3 at least doesn't look like it needed to be a new game either.
@StarPoint soccer?
@HenHiro What about it?
@HenHiro No, it's not comparable. FIFA is an annual money grab. Splatoon is not. No, it's most likely not a brand new, game-changing experience. But by the time 3 comes out, it'll have been over five years. Even if the amount of content added in five years is comparable to what FIFA adds in five years (not likely in my view with the addition of new weapons, expansion to Salmon Run, a new 1P mode, new stages, plus whatever else they haven't even announced yet... versus what, updated rosters and new microtransaction modes?), the fact that they didn't release a game in each of those years makes that comparison silly.
@HenHiro considering we know so little about it, it's hard to quantify how much of it is the same as the previous titles; I think we need to wait for a proper direct before anyone gets too pessimistic. What we do know is that there will be a new campaign, new weapons, new MP levels & new gear, whilst improving some elements of Salmon Run. I think it's safe to say there's a lot more information to be shared as there's likely to be all sorts of new stuff added (hoping a better lobby system for friends)
I do wish Splatfests in the second game could have gone on a bit longer, even it was once a quarter.
@StarPoint you didn't get it 😏
@Bret apologies, I think we were writing more or less the same thing at the same time heh
@HenHiro I missed the part where Splatoon games release yearly.
@Bret no, the amount of new content is comparable to what FIFA adds in just one year. Splatoon 3 has new story mode, some features and weapons right?
FIFA has a new story mode every year, multiple features every year.
So it IS comparable. You could even argue Splatoon is worse in it's incremental evolution.
@BTB20 the point is that they don't change much, like FIFA. With the difference that with Splatoon you wait 5 years for improvements that could've been DLC.
@HenHiro ha yeah that was mom n pop's money way back when. In terms of comparing eras, my comparison isnt fair because nowadays with DLC and such it's not the same structure obviously. I just mean a lot of ppl (me ) might not hold too high a standard on explosive differences in games that offer the amount of content Splat does. All 2d zelda/castlevania games are the same to me, just a couple new gimmicks/weapons and revamped graphics. So definitely not dissing your thought, but I myself dont care and will get my moneys worth from this
@CammyUnofficial I understood what you meant, but I don't think you would've bought all Contras knowing they're basically the same thing if it was your own money.
@sikthvash ha, no need for apologies to me!
@HenHiro is FIFA's story really new every year? how many ways can you really tell the story "young player rises to the top"? besides that, they dropped the story after FIFA 20 and it still isn't back in 22.
@HenHiro hard to say, so I cant argue there but the motorcycle stage for Contra 3 is worth the admission price alone, my sweet mother did my family a favor bringing that into our lives
@Bret they did not drop the story, it's in VOLTA street football mode now.
It's a new story with new characters, it's basically a movie with a budget that's probably higher than some minor Nintendo games for that mode alone.
@HenHiro a movie?! I... honestly don't know how to respond to that. watch better movies probably
@Bret you don't know how to respond because you actually don't have any arguments. From a production perspective it's like an animated movie, what's hard to understand about that? Other games stories, including Splatoon are no different from a production perspective.
@HenHiro Splatoon hasn't got a game in 5 years, has got new weapons, stages, an expansion of Salmon Run, a completely new story mode and tons of details yet to be announced.
FIFA is released every year and adds no new ideas other than updated teams.
@chapu2006 that's not true, you clearly don't play FIFA.
@HenHiro It's a licensed sports game made by EA, man. I've seen their "stories". Thinking they're like a movie is wild. A truly good create-a-character story is definitely not being made by Electronic friggin' Arts every year.
@Bret I'm not talking about the story itself, but the animations, the assets. You need, who would've guessed, money and effort to do that, like Splatoons story mode.
Why can't you just admit that you didn't knew FIFA still has a story mode instead of farfetching arguments that have nothing to do with what I said?
@Nico85 therefore you could argue Splatoon it's worse, because you wait 5 years for some new content that could've been DLC.
This might be unpopular but I think splatoon should be one game every generation. I feel 2 will hamper 3’s sales due to how similar the game will be and potential confusion around the game.( if it is dlc or not.) With how multiplayer focused the game is you can’t innovate through story as well as a single player game can. And yes this is from a person who prefers single player games so take that as you will.
@blindsquarel SPlatoon 3 only exists because money money money tss tss tss
@HenHiro
Doesn’t every game exist to make money? What is even the point of your reply. If anything being on the same console as splatoon 2 will hamper sales so that goes against your idea of it only being about money. Maybe it will Be one of the most creative games out there maybe it won’t. All predictions that it could have been dlc are just guesses after all. I have my thoughts about the game but won’t make final judgements until it releases. Judging by your profile pic I assume you don’t mind the yearly Pokémon releases tho.
@HenHiro Ok then, what does it improve?
@chapu2006 as I wrote above, new story modes and new mechanics, features. So basically the same stuff Splatoon 3 is doing, the only difference is FIFA makes it every year, Splatoon every five.
All I want is for that stupid map rotation system to go away - just be a normal Shooter and have all maps in rotation all day, where the players vote between 2 choices before each match. That's it. It can still more like Splatoon 1.75 than a true sequel like Splatoon 2 (multiplayer-wise, obviously the campaign was completely new), just get rid of that. And maybe don't lock all but 1 Game Mode behind Ranked.
@HenHiro I think your last sentence is where ppl are saying your argument falls apart. Every 5 years vs 1 year doesnt make it comparable to Fifa in the sense of well Ninty isnt chugging this out year by year. If you bought 5 years worth of fifa that's what 300 bucks? Vs 2 splatoons at 120. Whether it's a true sequel (really having a hard time how you're defining it) is almost separate at that point
@CammyUnofficial I never made the argument of the cost, neither have I said that Splatoon is EXACTLY as muchas a bad deal as FIFA, but people want to turn my argument into a scientific discussion apparently. I just said both games cost full price every time despite don't changing enough that justifies a new game, and if you know both games, you can't deny that.
People saying FIFA only updates roasters don''t play FIFa (or they only play the switch version I guess?).
And at least with FIFA, you have to option to just wait until it drops on Game Pass, which is what I do, so I don't spend multiple hundred dollars on FIFA.
So, they are definitely comparable to some extent, and imo, are both used as cash-cows by their publishers.
@Nico85 wanna discuss fa cts? Both games add the same type of content, like I have been saying. Fact. The rest are just personal opinions.
@HenHiro okay sure. I think I just respectfully disagree with you then, but I get what you're saying. Hopefully splat3 is a pleasant surprise of new treasures in the end for any player
FIFA Soccer:
Multiple games every year since almost 30 years - people only since recently are questioning this.
Splatoon:
Three games in seven years - see comments on Nintendolife. 🤨
Really don't understand all the negativity over Splatoon 3... So many game franchises just iterate upon a winning formula. In fact, that's the foundation of a successful IP. Of course it looks pretty similar. It's the subtleties that look so much better, like the impressive fashion and customization that has been featured so far.
Honestly just seems like the worst of the negativity is coming from faceless astroturfers, on this site at least, which is odd to see.
by the time this argument is over splatoon 3 will be out
@Ulysses yes, maybe we should question more games for doing that?
I read people saying MK8 and SBU are perfect and Nintendo can't improve on them, they're not perfect. I still think Mk could have chars from all Nintendo franchises, and open-world story mode like Forza Horizons (no this is not asking too much from a game that sells 40 million copies and diddy Kong Racing did similar things). World of Light is literally the worst story mode I've ever seen in any game, it's pure torture.
People just need to stop sucking everything up Nintendo does for our own sakes as customers, there's nothing wrong in enjoying a game like I enjoy MK8 and SBU and still see that they could be more since Nintendo has so much money.
@Ulysses and other games like MK and SB at least upgrade the engine with most releases, Splatoon 3 is now the third installment on the same engine with features that could've all been DLC, no one can deny that.
Don't be soccers people 😉
@Dragwhite oooh you optimistic child, the discussion will only end when Splatoon 4 is released on a new engine in 2027, for the first time justifying it's existence as a sequel in the series 😁
@Nico85 see, you realized you have no arguments anymore. Thus, my criticism is probably justified, you're just not willing to admit it.
Good to see all the user reviews for Splatoon 3 coming in lately. Apparently it’s more of the same. In which case, looking forward to a new season Splatoon!
@HenHiro you nailed it! Splatoon is indeed a sports type game. Necessarily, a number of structural elements don’t change which is good news for dedicated players. As for DLC vs sequel, I don’t think there’s some universal pronouncement to be made there in terms of the content.
@HenHiro I recommend watching videos from splatoon fans and competitive player before making judgement on if splatoon 3 could have been dlc
I wanna play Splatoon with my Wife. Wait, I need to buy another switch to play with her. Forget...i won´t buy a Splatoon game.
Another reason: i don´t like to play online, i prefer to play against bots. I can play Unreal Tournament forever because the IA is perfect. But..splatoon? NO BOTS in all game modes. So...forget again...i won´t buy this game. I´ll buy Advance Wars 1+2 because in that game i can play against the CPU...i can create a MAP and play against the CPU. So much better.
Anyone noticing how we are having the exact same discussion before splatoon 3 that we had before splatoon 2? 5 years ago people also heavily discussed if there is enough content to warrant a sequel (and in my opinion in the end it absolutely did). So maybe let‘s just wait and see for once?
@Ensemen the problem is that splatoon is a new game franchise and people are way harder on it because they don't have any sort of nostalgia for it where they might be more lenient with mario or zelda but that's just my opinion and it could be wrong
@HenHiro that's true for nearly every non single player game
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