PSA: Splatoon 3 On Switch Has Made Some Cuts To Keep Pace With Switch 2

Can't wait to see how this goes over...

Seems unfortunate, but in a game like Splatoon 3, a perfect 60fps should have been the number one priority anyway. I can't say I am happy about it, but I do not know anyone who will care, as I think we can safely say that any Nintendo fan who is willing to nitpick graphics like that probably got the Switch 2 at launch. I am sorry to anyone who feels affected and hasn't purchased Switch 2 yet though.

I’ve also noticed that Rocket League looks better and smoother on Switch 2 with loading times noticeably quicker. I’ve not seen anything to suggest any upgrades but I’ve noticed a marked difference for the better since diving into it again.

Loving my upgraded Splatoon 3 experience on Switch 2 so far. Urchin Underpass brings back a wave of nostalgia from 2015.

Havent played Splatoon in almost 4 years, just jumped back into Splatoon 2 on Switch 2. Probably will never play 3

@sanderev This isn't at all spinning something negatively. They've balanced the reporting excellently, noting both the good and bad things. Having to scale down the amount of graphical assets in the game is a downgrade, there's no other way to say that. Especially when it's just an effort to keep the games performance a little more stable, and not giving a significant boost.

It’s out of bounds geometry that normally doesn’t get seen but is still drawn and calculated to the overall scene load. You literally wouldn’t see most of it unless you jump off the sides of the stage. It’s totally just optimization (that AAA doesn’t know how to do, and why we don’t get Switch 1 specific ports) It’s fine.

Now what I’m curious about is that song during the turf war

@DaGoldenBoo I like Splatoon 2 more, myself. The online works so much better, because if someone leaves the match, you get to keep playing. In 3, the match ends and you have to wait and find 7 other players again. Some days you end up waiting more than you do playing.

Makes sense. If they DIDN'T do this switch 1 players would be getting pissed at getting outplayed by switch 2 players due to better frame rate and such.

It's fine to sacrifice a bit of performance for visuals if everyone is the same. But create a platform with better performance and that difference can become game changing in a competitive scene.

The only other solution would have been to lock it's performance on switch 2 so it didn't out perform the switch 1. But they want to encourage sales, not throttle the switch 2.

@LinktotheFuture That's only if someone drops out of the match in the first minute.

@LinktotheFuture oh wow. Those moments were always ‘challenge accepted’ lol. I really wish Splatoon 2 could have the updates 3 got. It would be a dream

While it is a shame that they've had to give Splatoon 3 a slight visual downgrade on its native platform, it makes sense in context to maintain overall performance parity between the two platforms. As long as the visual downgrade is only slight and virtually negligible on Switch 1, it shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise it would be be quite the shaft to Switch 1 players and basically strong arming then into upgrading.

@Jack_Goetz I didn't know that was just during the first minute. Still very annoying and happens to me far too often.

As long as this only affects local wireless multiplayer between disparate consoles rather than online play, I'm not seeing much of an issue here.

If the game is already running at a rock solid 60fps online on Switch 1, then such changes shouldn't be necessary for online play... right?

So Nintendo is making the Switch 1 even worse to try and get me to buy a Switch 2. Nice.

I think some people aren't realizing this line specifically mentions the ranked modes where it's most important to have game operation match between different platforms.

They didn't mention Turf War, so that seems to be unaffected. In ranked modes, you're too busy being sweaty to pay attention to background details in that mode anyway. It's fine.

@Ultimapunch yeah that's exactly what's being done here. They're also going to call around at night time when you plug it in.... And take the charging cable out just a bit so it charges slower. I caught miyamoto San outside my window last night trying to creep inside.

Evil company

Seems to be like Fortnite situation on Switch, the more updates, bells and whistled the base game gets, the more Switch 1 version keeps losing graphical effects in order to retain the already low peeformace rates it has.

I play Splatoon 3 quite frequently. I also own a Switch 2. However, I don't agree with them gimping the game for Switch 1 players and making the experience "lesser" for them, in turn kinda low-key punishing them for not adopting the Switch 2 at launch. Just seem dirty to me honestly. Just release a "Switch 2" version where only Switch 2 players are on their own servers and leave the Switch 1 alone.

For context, all pvp in Splatoon 3 normally runs at 60fps on Switch 1, but there were always certain modes and maps where you would get frame drops. Mahi-Mahi with its lowering water was notorious for it.

They would have been justified making this change ages ago to correct the issue, with no Switch 2 in sight. I know this will be an easy target for spin that Nintendo is throttling your Switch 1 games, but that’s misinformed. This is literally an improvement.

@BrokenCiv Personally, I’d take the removal of a few purely aesthetic objects in the background — specifically limited to rank modes — over the player base being split, thus causing Switch 1 lobbies to get drier and drier as more and more players migrate over to the Switch 2.

Outside of peak hours I already find myself waiting longer between matches than ideal in X battles.

This update didn’t include mouse controls for switch 2??

So this is just minor tweaking with some decorations? And only in certain modes? That's just an overblown no big deal...

@DaGoldenBoo a version of 2 with the updates 3 got would still be worse than 3 is now. 2 has the worst meta and slowest gameplay of the three, largely in part because of its shooter bias and dog water special design. It also has the worst net code and the weakest base single player. Outside of Octo Expansion, I've avoided 2 like the plague ever since I got 3.

It’s literally a major net + change. Losing some BG detail (in certain content) that most people wouldn’t even notice until they are being told (like this patch notes) is not a big deal when you got frame stability, faster load times, resolution, etc.

Since the tick rate of the game is only 16Hz there is no real disadvantage if you play with 30fps. If the game would at least use dedicated servers there would be a basis for discussion. But with P2P and such a low rate 60fps gameplay won't make much of a difference.

@Ultimapunch Yes, how dare Nintendo optimize the geometry for a smoother and more consistent frame rate and overall better gameplay experience across both platforms, the nerve of them!

@batmanbud2 I’ll take your word for it. Maybe I’ll get Splatoon 4 when it comes out.

Splatoon 4 NEEDS a skip feature for Sheldon. Hearing him go on about his 30 new weapons?

"And that's not all..."

Yeah, no kidding!

(I know that tapping ZR speeds it up, but it still took an age)

@InfamousOrange mouse controls would give Switch 2 players an unfair advantage.

It was so amazing to see the game at a more solid 60 fps and to see urchin in 4k!

@countzero

If that's the concern, the Switch 1 supports USB mouse controls. Some Switch 1 games which included the ability to use a mouse include:

Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Doom 1 and 2
FUZE4
Hypnospace Outlaw
Factorio
Game Builder Garage
Quake
Undertale
Wargroove

The ability to use a mouse in Splatoon 2/3 could be added for Switch 1 users, if they felt inclined to do so. It's not a hardware limitation.

@countzero I mean, switch 1 player can use motion controls 😉

lol you’re right though, guess we’ll just have to wait for Splatoon 4