Watch: Is Five Years Between Splatoon Games Too Short A Wait?

I think 5 years is more than enough.Splatoon needs to stay fresh.

Good mention in the video, I'm surprised Splatoon does not have any spinoff game media.

It's absolutely not too soon. I think a lot of it just comes off of the idea that Nintendo generally releases only a single game on a console within a multiplayer series usually, so it feels a little weird when it does happen, but then you look at other companies who do the same with their multiplayer games and it's like... no it's fine? So long as it's not yearly and the series starts to become stale as a result, releasing multiple on a single console is perfectly fine. And five years is perfectly fine.

It's less the time, more the amount of entries on a console.

Like with Mario Kart, I don't think we need more than 1.

If they can poop out Call of Duty, Fifa, Assassin’s Creed and a countless number of other sports games every year, then I think we’re due another Splatoon by now.
And having said that though, I do also think Pokemon needs to take a break now and again.

Maybe a few years ago I'd agree but longevity of a game seems to be everyone's focus now. If each iteration only seems a few new weapons and a few modes then I'd say no. That doesn't warrant a new game. Just tack it onto the game that is already there. Like how Warzone and Fortnite do it. I don't play those games but I will say that that solution is probably better than making a new game every couple of years where it feels like you need to "start over" with content when the basic idea of the game is still the same. In other words, unless there are some wildly new mechanics that would warrant the change and couldn't be added to what's already there, yes, five years is probably too short a wait.

The amount of time doesn't matter. Its how many improvements it has made.

If its different enough I'll buy it, if its like the incremental changes made to some football or call of duty games each year I won't bother.

I hope no one's going around saying that it's too short of a time. That's half a decade. That's longer than the different between the releases of the Wii U and the Switch. That's literally a full console generation.

Way too short.

I was still playing Splatoon 1 when 2 came out... skipped 2, now 3 is out...

IMO:
Spatoon should be Nintendo's answer to Fortnite, etc.... free with their online membership.

Zero problem with another Splatoon on switch, especially as there’s five years between them (can’t believe it’s been that long!). But after five years peoples expectations would naturally go up and I don’t know if Splatoon 3 is winning over enough people. So far there’s been no mention of a new game mode which is a shame as I think that would have won a lot more over. But we’ll see, no doubt it will get it own direct or overview trailer before launch. Plenty of time to win everyone over.

I fully believe that they could have just kept adding on more to Splatoon 2 and kept with semi-regular Splatfests.

Alas, they did not. When they announced Splat3 I felt like it was too soon, but in the months since I have started to feel the itch for a new Splatoon game after all. I now welcome the game with open arms/tentacles.

@msvt ABSOLUTELY NOT! I hate microtransactions and lootboxes, I rather pay once for a game than 100x the game later.

Way too short of time. Imo they should have waited a year longer and just put it out on the Switch Pro.

Not really. 5 years between entries is acceptable. For any series, really.

I mean if there's a fandom willing to buy the game, plus a bunch of new features/modes to justify it, then I don't think five years is too soon.

The real question is, where's Super Mario Odyssey 2 at?

5 years is not the problem, it's an Overwatch 2 situation, that's the problem. Game looks the same, why instead of charging 60 dollars again they didn't add the new modes and weapons to splatoon 2? Just pure greed, at least OW2 it's free to play, damn Nintendo here making Blizzard look good.

@msvt Honestly wouldn't mind if Splatoon took the Fortnite approach. I think I'd enjoy a (less aggressively monetized) Halo Infinite-like approach, where the online multiplayer is free to play and it's main monetization comes from a paid single player campaign (or campaigns).

I think a big issue with that, however, is the importance of gear in Splatoon's gameplay. The reason Fortnite works monetarily is because the cosmetics don't actually give you a gameplay advantage - otherwise the Darth Vader, Xenomorph, etc. players would be OP. Splatoon's gear actually does alter your gameplay, however, so monetizing that in a F2P context would be a lot trickier to get right.

I think the awkward promotion cycle is what brings up this question (compared to Splatoon and Splatoon 2 the cycle has been a lot quieter). Nintendo hasn't shown yet why Splatoon 3 couldn't have just been Splatoon 2 free multiplayer updates and paid story DLC. I'd imagine that question is answered in an August Splatoon 3 Direct though.

Maybe not too soon, but I hate how other franchises are neglected or ignored. Conversely, every time you turn around, there’s a new Kirby game. I love Kirby, but I a have had my fill for this generation.

@sanderev

I didn;t really mean miscotranscation.. I just meant an open system for 4x4 team battles.

In fact, they could add Arms to this too and finally have a reason for what I consider a horrible online offer. I just cancelled mine after a 3 montth membership and I have no reason i would continue.

Adding these 2 games (maybe others too) in that method of play for online members makes a lot of sense for me. Then SELL the DLC single player mode, etc.

Five years is a lot less than WAY too many deserving franchises have gotten. Some examples (Please note these may have had remakes/rereleases, but I'm specifically counting ORIGINAL releases here):

1) F-Zero: Last seen with F-Zero GX for GameCube (2003, 19 years)

2) Advance Wars: Last seen with Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for Nintendo DS (2008, 14 years; Advance Wars: Reboot Camp indefinitely delayed for Switch)

3) Donkey Kong: Last seen with Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze for Wii U (2014, 8 years; Switch remaster in 2018, 4 years)

4) Mario Kart: Last seen with Mario Kart 8 for Wii U (2014, 8 years, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Switch released 2017 and only recently began having Track Pass DLC content added)

5) Pikmin: Last seen with Pikmin 3 for Wii U (2013, 9 years, Pikmin 3 Deluxe for Switch released in 2020, 2 years)

6) Shining Force: Last seen with Shining Force III for the Sega Saturn (1997, 25 years)

7) Skies of Arcadia: Last seen with Skies of Arcadia for Sega Dreamcast (2000, 22 years, Skies of Arcadia Legends remaster for GameCube released in 2003, 19 years)

8) Phantasy Star (Offline, Algol-based iterations): Last seen with Phantasy Star IV for the Sega Genesis (1995, 27 years)

9) ModNation Racers: Last seen with ModNation Racers for PlayStation 3 (2010, 12 years)

I just wanted to point out that five years is a perfectly reasonable span of time to wait for a new installment of a given franchise. By comparison, there are so many truly amazing IPs that haven't seen a new, original release since before many readers here were even born by this point. And some of which, despite great sales figures and popularity, no longer fit the online "business model" with their focus on user-generated content and replayability. Some of these may well never be seen again, which is an absolute shame.

It’s not too soon, 5 years is a long time between any release. The problem is with the focus on online multiplayer and it being a shooter (of sorts) it’s always going to feel more incremental than anything no matter what you do, save for shaking things up too much that you risk losing the core appeal of the series itself.

If the single player is robust enough to stand on its own and really goes crazy with new ideas then I can understand a sequel being made…otherwise I would rather they have just kept adding to Splatoon 2 or released a free multiplayer only version that they can routinely update.

@AtlanteanMan after F_Zero GX, GP legend came out (and even Climax even if only in Japan), and after Modnation Racers, Road Trip came for PsVita.
But yeah, I totally agree.

I would love a different sort of game in the Splatoon universe. Imagine traversing an environment with rpg elements - cross between Stray and Jet Set Radio.

It's mainly because I'm not a person who likes multiplayer

@Axecon I agree and I feel Nintendo is missing a trick not doing more with the Splatoon franchise.

To be fair. There is some spin off stuff in the form of Manga. But nothing game related outside Smash.

My kids love Splatoon. My son had a Splatoon themed party. We have a number of the Manga and my kids love it. They also have cushions, hats, the Amiibos etc.

So yeah, there is some stuff. I agree there could easily be more and many people would eat it up (my family would at least).

I only started playing Splatoon 2 about two years after launch, so it's a bit too soon from my perspective. If it's more of the same and without any major new features, then I can easily skip the third entry.

@Mr_Gamecube Agreed. Splatoon isn't what I'd personally count as meriting two games in a single console generation, at least not as much as some others. I realize that it has its devoted following, but while I've played the first two games they never hooked me, and honestly certain thematic elements became a turn-off over time as well (the whole "fresh" teen-aged punk vibe was outgrown a LONG time ago). The multiplayer and DLC model are no doubt Nintendo's primary motivators here. But there are at least a half-dozen first-party IPs I would have picked to have a second original installment for Switch over Splatoon.

Definitely not. It's about time for another sequel.

My issue is that Nintendo hasn't shown off a lot of new content that would justify a purchase for people satisfied with Splatoon 2. Especially when their showcases for the game are highlighting returning modes and whatnot.

November 1994 - November 1996 saw the annual release of 3 donkey kong country games on the SNES. I'm okay with waiting 5 years for one game I enjoy.

Ratchet and Clank had 4 titles (plus at least 1 port) released on PS2 throughout its lifespan.

If the game is good, the game is good. After launch, the game will just be played whenever the consumer wants. I never worry about these and just pick them up when I'm ready.

Never played a splatoon before so I don’t know if this happens but 5 years is fine if it has new maps and weapons added to freshen the game up every now and then so it doesn’t end up stale.

@msvt That's interesting. I was thinking, "When is Nintendo going to try and do a Free-2-Play game?" And then I brick hit me because they already have been doing it. You havr Kirby's Clash, Pokemon Unite, Pokemon Cafe, Pokemon Quest, Tetris 99, Mario 35, Pac-Man 99. With mobile games Mario Kart Tour and Fire Emblem Heros. Nintendo is already DEEP into free-to-play. The question is, what's next?

Nintedo fans try to realize there's different dev teams at nintendo and not just one challenge: difficulty impossible.

Five years is a long time for anything. I was halfway through college when Splatoon 2 launched, now I’m graduated and working. As long as each new entry has the gameplay I crave and new features to set itself apart, I have no problem buying a new Splatoon every couple years. That what we do for series we love.

Apparently 5 years is too soon because to me, it looks to be exactly the same game as Splatoon 2. The only reason I got 2 back in the day was because I knew the Wii U was dying and 1 would soon be irrelevant.
If I saw 3 gameplay footage and nobody told me otherwise, I'd think it was either of the first games...

Remember when five years seemed like an eternity? Oh how time flies. I think I'm gonna get this. I played the second one for a little while but didn't get really into it but I want to give the series another shot.

5 years is a healthy wait time IF AND ONLY IF the next installment introduces new features, mechanics, and gameplay that's substantial enough to stand as its own game as opposed to simply an improvement.

Oh, I don't think so.

it is short if the game is absolutely the same + few minor things...

Splatoon 2 = a lot people playing online

Splatoon 3 will split these "online people" .....maybe first year 60% playing Splatoon 2 and 40% playing Splatoon 3.... everyone loses. This kind of game need people playing online, cause this game, 2022....HAS NO BOTS IN SINGLE PLAYER.

I won´t buy because this.

Hmm Splatoon 2 does not feel five years old, more like 3

Yes. Arms please instead.

I think this is a good amount of time ... the fact that so many people think it's not enough time speaks to how well made the previous entry is.

5 years is long?

I am still awaiting that new F-Zero game (18 years). Also...

" If we can have three Pokémon games in one year, we can have two Splatoonses in five years!"

I can't comment as deeply on this one, but I am fairly sure many people think that Pokemon is oversaturated and has been for a while.

Good question @KateGray!
At the pace games come out these days, you could say 5 years is like age 75 in video game years.

I’m ready for a new Splatoon, but it’s such an online multiplayer focused game that sequels are bound to feel derivative.

Having a more robust single-player/story mode would help differentiate the titles and folks wouldn’t feel as fatigued.
Then maybe they could jazz up subsequent titles, too - the 1, 2, 3 numbering is succinct, but sounds about as exciting as Windows releases. Instead it could be Splatoon: Octavio’s Counterattack or Splatoon: Sargasso Dawn or something. 😄

i think other ips deserve the spot tbh

At the end of the day only a drop in quality or content being cut to meet deadlines would convince me there needs to be longer development times. With the trickle content system it's even harder to say if either is at play.

Let the complainers skip out on Splatoon 3. Most of them probably never got to Lv 99 let alone 99*. Us 99* be ready for those new maps!

The answer is simply No. Nobody gives half a crap about CoD now because they pumped so many of the turds out.

I had my fun with 2 but after like 30 hours I got bored of it, mostly because of the horrid matchmaking was so unbalanced and every "new" gun unlock was just a slight variation of something I already had plus the crappy equipment system. Won't be bothering with this one.

Too short? HAH! The first splatoon came out in 2015 while splatoon 2 came out in 2017! If anything I’d say that more than enough time between games.

To me it wasn't enough time.
I genuinely thought Splatoon was the type of series that would get 1 entry per console. In my opinion Splatoon 2 was perfectly fine the way it is, Nintendo could've just kept supporting it with free updates like they always did. Heck they even brought back splatfests for a while and that worked wonders for the activity.
Thats all they needed to do to keep the game thriving.

I think Splatoon 2 could take a page from Mario Kart and did a similar expansion it did for content even.

5 years is a good length of time between squeals but if there isn't much difference between the games then that is a different story. Now there is nothing wrong if the games feel the same but with this being a MP focused game they need to add more features into the game.

@SteamEngenius

Could you expand on why you think the equipment system is bad?

For me, it's too convoluted.

It's a good gap, people blow out of proportions the fact that it's getting another. 5 years is normally a long time for shooters and shooters rarely change/add much, so Splatoon 3 is changing more than most shooters do period.

People just hate because it isn't their preferred genre/game

Only issue is that it’s on the same console, by then again no one complained about botw 2, sooo splatoon 3 seems to fit the bill just fine.

@SteamEngenius COD games still remain some of the best selling per console, lots of people care.

I could be wrong but I believe before Elden Ring COD was the best selling on PS5 by a long shot

I don't play Splatoon - tried it, don't like it. I'm not big on the online games though, so that's definitely a factor. I still think 5 years is perfectly reasonable.

However...

I do have an issue with Splatoon getting a sequel ahead of...

Donkey Kong
Star Fox
3D Mario
2D Mario
2D Zelda
3D Zelda (this one is at least announced and coming soon)
Mario Kart
And before revisting any number of dormant franchises... F Zero et al.

That does annoy me. Immensely.

On the flip side... I do like a wait between the BIG Nintendo releases. It does keep it more special... makes it more significant, and to date, is always worth the wait too. So yea.

I guess it all boils down to Nintendo needing some more studios / trusting some more developers with "lesser" IP. It's frustrating - especially when Switch is bringing in mountains of cash.

I imagine Nintendo would like a continued revenue stream from Splatoon and its online modes.
Since they didn’t really monetize the online mode, easiest way to get more money is to release a sequel.

The original Splatoon campaign needs to come to Switch as a budget release. No need for the multiplayer but would be nice to have the full set on Switch.

As long as there's enough difference. Personally, can't wait

No but I kinda liked the idea of each multiplier centric Nintendo series getting only 1 entry per system. I’d rather they would have kept updating 2 and saved 3 for whatever is after Switch. I’ll still buy and enjoy 3 though.

Thing is we got 3 Splatoon games over near a decade with minor differences and no graphical improvements. Its more excited when you have a generation jump like from 3ds to Switch. So it feels to many people a bit more like an expansion than a true sequel

I don't think so. Splatoon has quickly become one of Nintendo's more popular franchises despite it only having two entries. It would be nice to get a dormant franchise instead, but the problem is, Splatoon 2 alone has sold more than other series like Kid Icarus and F-Zero combined. In between making Splatoon games, that same team makes Animal Crossing as well, so I think Nintendo is content with that output from that team.

@msvt Sure, it would be awesome if the game was free. But no, that's simply not possible. In the end you always end up paying for it. Then I'd rather pay upfront for the entire game. And maybe some DLC later. (if it actually has some decent new content, like the octo expansion had)

5 years as a figure alone isn't the issue for me, I would argue that seems entirely reasonable. It's the fact that 2 and 3 are on the same system that doesn't sit so hot with me. This is the kind of game where the core experience remains the same from title to title and while they're is single player content, it is not the focus of the game in question, so it feels along the lines of Smash Bros or Mario Kart where it feels hard to justify multiple core releases on the same system, especially in this age where updates, patches, expansions, and DLC can so easily be added to titles. This is how I feel about most sports titles as well, but of course those are games that will release yearly regardless, when really a simple roster and schedule alt season expansion could so easily be added to a single core game instead.

Having said that, it's not super egregious here, I'm still looking forward to Splatoon 3, just not nearly as much so as I was for Splatoon 2 on Nintendo's new hardware at the time.

@Munchlax didn’t Mario strikers teach us that some think new game modes are over rated. 9/10.

I’m still bitter that we never got a Splatoon 2 + DLC physical release like the one in Japan, so, I’ll be skipping Splatoon 3 for the time being.

I think one per system is good. Kinda like Mario kart or smash. The gameplay between each different game is so similar that multiple per system is kinda overkill. I don’t really care though. I have enough games to last a lifetime already. I don’t need to buy anymore.

As Splatoon is an online game, they could just update the original, incrementally, like with other online games.

Not too soon, even with the "1 game per console" rule people expected nintendo already said they want the switch to have a longer lifespan than usual.

Idk why people expect them to update the same old game over and over, that's literally ftp/mobile game treatment. Splatoon has a lot to develop with its story and mechanics, I personally think it would be too clunky to put all under one game

How would the new story even work if under the splatoon 2 setting, or the balancing mess if 2 and 3's weapons were in the same game when they have diff design philosophies, mixed in with balancing how they work in maps they weren't intended for

It's not as drastic as a new game engine but splatoon doesn't get enough credit for being more diff than people realize. We're even getting all weapons across both games and more options than ever before. Which is a miracle considering how greedy and picky nintendos been getting with any "free update" model their game has

@rockodoodle Has there really been that many Kirby games? Besides small eshop spin offs there's only been 2 on Switch so far. Also it's not like Hal is going to make another F-Zero lol

1 Splatoon per console generation, and make it live service like Mariokart 8

@HammerKirby spin-offs, 3ds, WiiU….I like what I have seen, but by comparison other franchises have been ignored.

5 years is more than enough time apart. But content and support is more important. We don’t have all the details that sets S3 from S2 yet, but it really does need to justify and differentiate its self from S2.

Feels too soon to be but then I really only play Turf Wars so having more than one per console is kind of pointless to me personally. Really no intention of checking out 3 as a result.

@nocdaes Be glad you're not a fan of many of Sega's other IPs not named "Sonic" (some of which I noted in my previous post above). Two releases/remasters in the past year alone with another coming soon, and STILL Sega's head honchos are talking up more Sonic? Sheesh, how about showing a care to all the OTHER fans they've abandoned for two decades and counting.

Yes, but only because some fans have been waiting a decade or more for some of their favorite IPs to return

@gloom You're wrong, so very wrong. And no Switch "Pro" is ever coming.

@vio Or the next “Switch successor” I mean. And calm down dude it’s just an opinion 😂

It's more like they didn't need to make any more.

The only reason I want this is for the single player campaign. I wish those would get more attention in Splatoon games.

@QLM17 Well yeah but it's not too hard to sell things to 13-18 year olds now is it? Especially in the age of "my friends do it so I must too!".

If X and Z are basically the same game, then any amount of years Y is too short a wait in between games, especially online ones. It still remains to be seen what is really new about Splatoon 3. For someone that is not too dedicated to it, I haven't seen nearly enough to convince me that this couldn't be an expansion. Will patiently wait for overview trailers or a dedicated direct, especially if it has a more dedicated singleplayer experience.

@Rykdrew I played Splatoon 2 a few months back and if I'm being honest, the online population has dried up almost entirely. Turf Wars seem normal enough, but the moment you step into Ranked (and particularly S/S+/X) you struggle to fill games and spend the session facing off against the same 20 people when you do. So when Splatoon 3 comes out it's very likely that the majority of the community migrate.

As for the main question, no it's not too soon for the next installment. 2 years between Splatoon and its sequel, largely due to the failure of the Wii U (not even Splatoon's rampant success could save that sinking ship). The rumours around the NX at the time suggested a Splatoon 1.5, and that's how Splatoon 2 felt to me. It took the original, changed the specials and a few sub weapons, then added a couple of new weapon classes and gimmick weapons.

Splatoon 3 will look similar on the surface to 2, and of course they haven't advertised anything to disprove this thus far, but 5 years is about right. At the time it got announced I had a feeling we were due a new title in the series. Shooters typically have shorter lives as updates dry up and people have had their fill. For the more hardcore fans of the series this sparks an opportunity to dive back in.

I was done with Splatoon 2 around the final few Splatfests, having reached Rank X in all modes and not meshing with the map design in 2 versus 1 (1's maps weren't as well balanced but had more personality and unique designs). The new specials have me intrigued as more powerful than 2's, opening potential for power plays like in the original.

I'd imagine we'll see a Splatoon 3 Direct in August with a testfire announced not long after. This will cover Single Player (likely more of the same) and any updates they want to tease with new content. At the end of the day, shooters will be more subtle in changes that are only noticed by the hardcore with regards to movement, tech and how weapons act and feel.

At the end of the day Splatoon is a paid access series, so development dries up as income dries up. Splatoon 3 sales will fund development for the next 2-3 years, whereas 2 no longer has a revenue stream. Expecting constant updates now is unreasonable without entering paid DLC (fragmentation of online - MK8 on Wii U suffered this). I'm against that as much as I'm against inserting MTX into Splatoon as MTX often lead to pay to win and extreme grinding. It's completely fair to not dip into 3 as a casual who owns 2, but you will witness a slow decline in players, especially around Christmas.

4 of 5 years are perfect, I think 2 splatoon games for one generation nintendo console is great, one at the start and one near the end of the console lifecycle. I wish nintendo release splatoon 1 story mode as a dlc for splatoon 2 though.

@rockodoodle my point still stands that Hal Labortory would never make a new Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, F Zero, Kid Icarus, (Insert whatever other Nintendo IP you wanna see back here). I want a lot of IPs back too but Kirby isn't taking away from that.

Tbh, I wish other neglected IP’s were guaranteed a new release every 5 years or sooner… i.e.

Nintendo Cherished/Neglected IP/Series Surprise/Revival Wishlist:

• Super Mario RPG
• F-Zero
• Punch-Out!
• Star Fox
• Pilotwings
• Diddy Kong Racing
• Kid Icarus
• Rhythm Heaven
• Elite Beat Agents
• Eternal Darkness
• Wario Land / Wario World
• Yoshi’s Island
• Super Mario World
• Super Princess Peach
• Captain Rainbow
• Fortune Street
• Sin & Punishment
• Baten Kaitos
• Star Tropics
• NES & SNES Remix Collection
• Nintendoland
• Mario Superstar Sluggers
• Mario 3-On-3 Hoops
• MOTHER/Earthbound
• Golden Sun
• Battalion Wars
• Wave Race
• Excite Bike/Truck/Bots

… Wun can only hope.

@HammerKirby fair enough, but why doesn’t Nintendo have other studios update their games? They are the one who have the final say in what gets produced, no?

@rockodoodle Yea idk that. Nintendo's in house input has been rather quiet as of late. Their last major in house release was New Horizons I think? Switch Sports was also in house somehow lmao

5 years is definitely not too short, but for some reason for Splatoon specifically it feels too short. I think the problem is because Splatoon 2 was released 10 minutes after Splatoon and nobody has gotten over it yet. Splatoon 2 really should have been called Splatoon Deluxe. Then we'd all be ready for Spla2n (absolutely disgusting that they threw away that naming opportunity) by now.

Remember when Majora's Mask came out 2 years after Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker came out 2 years after that and everyone thought that was fine? Good times. If they had that cadence now we'd currently be waiting for Breath of the Wild 4.

Five years is more than enough, I would ideally think 3 to 4 is more than ample really..

Splatoon 3: New story, new world location, new mobility options with offensive/defensive properties, all new maps based on the new location’s theme (so far), some new weapons, new specials, visual tweaks to existing weapons, etc.

Bandwagoners: It’S jUsT SpLaToOn 2 dLc, HuR dUr!

Really, what DLC just erases the previous game’s content? (aside from World of Warcaraft: Cataclysm)

Wait for the direct, people.

Yeah and I we can have 3 Pokémon games in a year we should be able to get a new Metroid every 3-5 years and wave race quicker than 20+ years lol

I feel multiplayer games can thrive on a shorter, more iterative refresh cycle than other games that need to be full on evolutionary. Both Splatoons leaned in hard on content drips to keep things fresh so a mild overhaul isn't out of the question.

It's especially notable that hacking was a problem in Splatoon 2, so a hard restart comes with the hope of better security for at least a while.