While some of us are still wondering whether the rumors about a possible Quake 6 will ever turn out to be true, we can blast away on Quake Champions. If you've never experienced the fast-paced FPS and you're a fan of arena shooters, now seems to be a good time, as ??the game'??s experiencing something of a boon.

Okay, "boon" might be overselling it slightly, but as noted by PCGamesN, Quake Champions has seen the concurrent player count peak to 1,943 in the space of a day. According to the most recent data from SteamDB, just 24 hours ago, only around 500 people were playing, but now �at the time of writing?? �1,625 players are currently logged in.

If this was a case of the game going on sale, that would obviously explain this sudden rise in popularity. However, as you can see on Steam, Quake Champions is 100% free. You can't exactly discount something that doesn't require money to begin with. The only way you can go up from there is to make it so the game gives you money for playing. Hmm...now there's a thought.

As if the game did a rocket jump

So why this surge in popularity? It's not quite known, from what I can see. The most recent update for Champions was on September 12, which is fairly recently, but not enough to?? see player count go from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 in a matter of a few hours.

Maybe a well-known streamer has been playing it recently? Well, when I last checked Twitch under the "Quake Champions" label, only a few channels were broadcas?ti??ng the game, with around 70 people viewing. So that's not it.

No, it seems that, according to a recent thread on Reddit, there was a tournament that went ahead on Sunday, September 22 at 5PM CEST. The post says "Estoty is bringing us number 12 of its 2×2 TDM Quake Champions tournament seri??es," and that "all players can enter to ??win $150 in prize money."

This tournament certainly lines up with the game's very recent popularity spike, so that could explain it. Shame I didn't know about it sooner, to be honest. Could have done with a spare ?$150.

I do remember playing the game several years ago. I recall it scratched a certain itch, taking me back to my Quake 3: Arena days, fighting low-poly bots in high-octane battle, dangerously close to an arena's p????recipice. The glory days of first-person shooting, some may argue.

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It's all over for Crab Armor

This week will see rainbow shooter Splatoon 3 launch a brand new season of carpet-ruining action, and Nintendo is preparing to get the game warmed up for the coming chaos with the launch of its Version 3.0 update, which will be made? available for download today.

Splatoon 3 Ver 3.0 is a huge update filled with balance tweaks, bug stomps, and various other under-the-hood adjustments in order to ensure that the arena shooter is ready to rock come March 1, when the "Fresh Season 2023" receives its global launch. The update features the addition of a huge arsenal of standard and special weaponry, ruleset changes, and support for Inkopolis DLC owners.

//twitter.com/SplatoonNA??/status/1626219936992600066?s=20

Players who have purchased the Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass will be able to travel between Inkopolis and Splatsville via a new train, which can be boarded at Inkopolis square, offering new hangout spots and stores. Speaking of stores, Fresh Season 2023 will see the arrival of a whole new catalog of cosmetic purchases �including new gear??, decorations, splasht?ags, stickers, and emotes �for a grand total of 126 items.

The new season w??ill also see the addition of two new stages: the Aztecian Um’ami Ruins and the ocean-set galleon, The Manta Maria. Splatoon 3's current stages have also been reviewed by the developer teams, with changes made to terrain, distance, and verticality, typically to reduce long-distance "Hail Mary"-style shooting. Thus, you might want to revisit your favorite stages and ??adjust your typical map tactics.

The above is literally just scratching the surface of the extensive patch notes, which feature tweaks to player connectivity, point scoring, individual weapon balancing, bug fixes, and changes to Salmon Run, Table?turf Battle, and even the Lobby and general U.I. Be sure to set aside some time to pick through the details, so that you won't be taken by surprise when you dive back into the messy world of Splatoon for the coming months of colorful chaos. See you in the ring, squid kids!

Splatoon 3: Fresh Season 2023 kicks off on March 1.

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And all because the lady loves...

Nintendo has announced the next topic of discussion set to cause a helluva lot of mess in colorful arena shooter Splatoon 3 �Set to kick off on the weekend of February 11, the next Splatfest will ask squid kids and oct?olings every?where to pick their favorite form of chocolate: Dark, Milk, or White.

As always each choice will be captained by one of our three lovable splatfest hosts, with Shiver representing Team Dark, Frye representing Team Milk, and Big Guy lumbered with absolutely-not-going-to-win Team White. Players can participate in a public vote for their team of choice before fighting it out for Clout Points in a weekend of super-sticky mayh??em. Our hosts will then reveal the grand winner when the curtain falls on February 13. Who you got? Don't bet on white. It's not going to win.

//twitter.c?om/NintendoEurope/status?/1618539655586095106?s=20&;t=8Wdawb8Bia4Zx4QWq2FNmw

I'm a Dark chocolate fan, myself, though that's more of a medicinal thing �my stomach hates milk, y'see �but I can imagine this particularly sweet battle c??ould be fairly heated. And it will also be interesting to see how global tastes differ from each other. To celebrate the announcement of this new splatfest, I'm probably going to eat some chocolate every day in the lead up to the event, and during, and then after.

We'll be sure to give you a reminder when the big weekend approaches. Until then, take a look at the results for the last splatfest, which saw Frye bag her first-ever victory, after campaigning for Team Sweet.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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Multiplayer battler identified as one of three canned titles

Ubisoft has confirmed that its online hero battler, tentatively known as "Project Q" is one of the three games that has had product??ion halted in the wake of a fi??nancially unsuccessful year for the publisher.

In a statement made to Eurogamer this morning, an Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed that the Project Q development team was being reassigned to other endeavors/projects within the studio, effectively canceling any further progress on the PvP shooter, which was first announced in April 2022. The only public assets for Project Q to date consists of a single piece of splash art, alongside Ubisoft's insistence that the game was not a battle royale title, nor was it an NFT project.

//twitter.com/Ubisoft?/status/1517896643345108995?s=20&t=0HlH-rOUpJIzl2GDQbcOuw

Ubisoft announced last week that it was canceling three in-development titles, along with yet another delay for its pirate-based adventure Skull & Bones. These announcements were reportedly accompanied by an email to staff from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, whose comments have seemingly formed the basis for a staff walkout, to be held at the Ubiso?ft Paris st?udio on January 27.

"On several occasions, Mr. Guillemot is trying to shift the blame (once again) onto the employees; he expects us to be mobilized, to �em>give it our all,�to be �em>as efficient and lean as possible�" wrote union Solidaires Informatique of the email. "These words mean something: overtime, managerial pressure, burnout, etc. Mr. Guillemot asks a lot f?ro?m his employees, but without any compensation."

"And because Mr. Guillemot? and his clique only? understand the relationship of power, Solidaires Informatique is calling on the employees of Ubisoft Paris to go on strike."

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Do you eat whole lemons or pure salt?

Nintendo has dropped the details for the first Splatoon 3 splatfest of 2023! The next battle of squid kids and octolings will kick off in the first weekend of January, and will see players fight it out in another weekend of colorful chaos �hoping to bring home the gong for t??heir team and bag themselves some exclusive rewards.

This time around, the topic is �quite literally �a matter of taste, as players will have to choose which is their favorite food flavoring. The options on the dinner table are Spicy, Sweet, and Sour, (?a topic that sound suspiciously familiar, and I'm pretty sure that they've re-run the fun for this particular splatfest). It's also worth noting that spicy is a sensation and not a taste ACKSHUALLY. I feel sorry for anybody not on Team Sweet, as I have a feeling the public vote is gonna be running away with this one.

So far, Splatoon 3 hosts Big Man and Shiver have both secured Splatfest wins, but poor old Frye is yet to capture glory. Maybe January's event will see her finally crack that losing streak (watch her get Team Sour). The Taste Bud Turf War will commence worldwide on Friday January 6 (Nor??th? America) and Saturday January 7 (Europe) and will conclude 48 hours later. We'll be sure to give y'all a reminder!

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/160367673203646??8736?s=20&t=sZ4kDT5zLu2CJr1c6RZvvQ

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Funky Monky

Today sees the launch of the second season of Activision Blizzard's arena shooter, Overwatch 2 �And in something of a minor reshuffle, the development team has announced that it ??will be moving its newest hero, Ramattra, to Tier 45 on the season 2 battle pass, from his initial sitting of Tier 55.

"Hey all! Quick update on some changes coming to Season 2," wrote OW2 director Aaron Miller on Twitter. "After reviewing data for Season 1, we're moving Ramattra [to] Tier 45 of the Battle? Pass and making a few more weekly challenges easier to complete. Excited for you all to see everything new in Season 2 starting tomorrow!"

//twitt??er.com/aaronkellerOW/status/1599834286546644992?s=20&t=FunV3K50ZmLJkCJKMAE0Ww

Originally, Overwatch heroes were simply added to all players' rosters as they were released. But with the arrival of Overwatch 2 and its free-to-play structure, the new ??heroes now reside within the debuting, (and?? hugely divisive), battle pass system. By moving the new heroes to Tier 45, it is hoped that players will unlock the characters faster, though it is, admittedly, still a pretty meaty grind to get there.

The addition of the battle pass mechanic has been met with much grumbling from the Overwatch faithful. A common complaint, (echoed by this writer), is that it is simply a dull and excitement-free way to unlock goodies, and pales in comp??arison to the box of goodies players would receive for popping a new level. Of course, loot boxes come with their own highly negative ramifications, but, personally, I'll take the loot box animation and fistful of varied treats over grinding through endless drab avatar images... while paying for the privilege.

Overwatch 2 season 2 kicks off today on all platforms. You can check out our hands-on look at its newest hero, Ramattra, in our previous report.

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And only 46 were on the payload

It appears that, right off of the bat, Blizzard Entertainment's decision to go free-to-play with its hero shooter sequel Overwatch 2 has the required effect �The studio has announced that the charismatic multiplayer title has already rocketed ?past 25 million players in its first 10 days of release.

The number far supersedes that of the original 2016 premium title, which hit around 15 million players during its early launch months.  Blizzard has also noted that daily player counts are already tripling those of the original Overwatch by?? almost 300%, though what percentag??e of these players are Reaper mains was not offered up at this time.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGgqyer-qr4

"The launch of Overwatch 2 has been such an important moment for Blizzard," said Blizzard president Mike Ybarra.  "This is only the beginning �there are so many possibilities to explore in the world of Overwatch, and we cannot wait for players to experience everything the team is b?uilding for the live game."

Ybarra is likely referencing the upcoming PvE content, which was expected to form a core element of Overwatch 2 and yet is curiously missing entirely from the launch edition.  It is believed that this content �including a "campaign" scenario an??d single-player missions �will arrive at some point in late 2023.  This will no doubt cause another spike in player numbers even if th??e sequel's popularity settles down over the coming months.

As a long-time Overwatcher, I have unfortunately not had the time to really delve into OW2 as of yet, but I did find it to be a finely polished and great-looking remix of the original release �especially the console editions.  Whether OW2 can b??e called a true "sequel", in the commonly accepted use of the phrase, is still up for debate.  Regardless, the brand is still clearly hot for the time being, as depicted by? these numbers.  Whether such popularity remains once the launch hype dies down remains to be seen, and will be the true testament to the sequel's staying power.

Overwatch 2 is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.  You can read an abridged timeline of California's lawsuit against Activision Blizzard lawsuit, as well as the numerous accusations of toxicity leveled against the studio, right here.

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You Brella Believe It

Nintendo's super-colorful, super-messy sequel Splatoon 3 has now been unleashed upon the public and is already proving itself to be an incredible sales success. In Japan alone, the Switch shooter has already shifted a staggering 3.45 million copies in its first three days of release, breaking previous Switch release records in the country. The news was broken in a weekend press statement by the publisher.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ODI00fgeS0

Launching on September 9, Splatoon 3 sees the return of madcap, team-based, multiplayer gameplay, as squid kids and octolings battle to out to capture territory across various modes and maps. Splatoon 3 features all of the paint-sloshing action that is the franchise's trademark, set against a slightly more dystopian landscape �the aftermath of Splatoon 2's final Splatfest favoring "Chaos" over "Order."

But, despite the series' general popularity, I'm not sure that anybody was expecting the new sequel to be a record-breaker, having already become the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch title in its native Japan. It should also be noted that these figures do not include sales from Europe and North America, which will no doubt add to the incredible number and see Splatoon 3 nestle comforta??bly in place as one of 2022's best??-selling releases.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch. Check out Chris Carter's review right here.

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Off the Hook Dystopian World Tour

Welp, looks like The Industry's Chris Moyse is about to get back on his weekly BS �Nintendo has officially announced that Splatoon 2 hosts Pearl and Marina, collectively known as rap-rock outfit Off the Hook, are getting set to make a return in upcoming Switch shooter sequel Splatoon 3.

The BFFs and "musicians," who battled it out month after month in a wild array of Splatfest events, resurfaced this morning via brand new artwork released by Nintendo. A short blurb informs fans that the duo has established an all-new backing band, monikering the new act "Damp Socks feat. Off the Hook." Pearl & Marina will be rocking vocals as always, with Marina demonstrating her newfound pianist skills, whilst rocking a smokin' orange power suit and dagger heels combo.

You can check out a preview of the band's new track in the video below. Tinkle tho??se ivories, gurl.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=acbTIKpOGp8

Now, this reveal does not necessarily confirm that Off the Hook will be returning to host Splatoon 3's splatfests. In fact, the "currently on world tour" comment suggests that while we will be hearing a lot from our ladies, we probably won't be seeing all that much of them. This is in keeping with previous Splatoon titles, which?? have introduced new hosts for each season, while still keeping the predecessors in and around the precipitates of the action.

Regardless, I'm just happy to see the dopey duo return. As long-time Destructoid readers will know, I was pretty much official PR for almost every single Splatoon 2 splatfest, as well as Off the Hook's weird musical monstrosities. I don't know what to tell you. They're good kids and they're keeping the scene alive. While Splatoon 3 is planning on delivering something of a darker and more industrial vibe than previous releases, we can rest assured that Marina and The Queen of World will b??e sticking around? to inject their own colorful, musical comedy into the proceedings.

Splatoon 3 laun?ches on Nintendo Switch September 9. Until then, Don't get Cooked, Stay Off the Hook.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUgswSLLHUY

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Release date finally inked for shooter sequel

Dig out your Splattershot, Nintendo has announced a release date for ink-blastin' sequel Splatoon 3 �the popular multiplayer arena shooter franchise will return September 9, exclusively on Nintendo Switch. In addition to the date reveal, Nintendo droppe??d a four-minute "Turf War" gameplay video.

Splatoon 3, which was first revealed back in February of last year, will once again see Squid Kids and Octolings fighting it out in chaotic 'n' colorful multiplayer mayhem. Armed with an arsenal of unique and sometimes very silly weapon??ry, players will engage in running battles across a variety of new and returning modes and stages. The community can very likely expect the return of the semi-regular "?Splatfest" community events, as well as frequent DLC drops for weaponry, clothing, and other content.

//youtu.be/Rkz-PjCQjWk

Following on from the climax of Splatoon 2, the new sequel will be set in a (surprisingly adorable) post-apocalyptic version of Inkopolis, brought about by the success of "Chaos" in the preceding title's final splatfest. An aesthetic of homemade armor, beat-up stages, and invading mutant creatures pervaded previous videos, offering the classic Splatoon action a whole new aesthetic.

In addition, to the release date, Nintendo also announced that Nintendo Online Expansion Pack subscribers can access the meaty Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC as part of their subscription benefits.

News of the Splatoon 3 release date comes during a tumultuous week for Nintendo. Earlier this week, the publisher had a labor complaint filed against it by an ex-Nintendo of America employee, who alleges that the company has exercised "coercive" union-busting tactics among its staff members. Nintendo has denied the allegation and is?? working with the Nation?al Labor Relations Board to investigate the claim.

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All your favorite characters, like Slingshot and Utooni

Publisher Zynga and developer LucasFilm Games have dropped the first full gameplay trailer for its upcoming arena fighter Star Wars: Hunters. The free-to-play multiplayer actio?ner will launch in 2022 on mobile and Nintendo Switch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=F063LYpUkHQ

The preview introduces us to eight uniquely skilled combatants, gathered from across the galaxy to engage in bombastic battles for the entertainment of the masses. Everyone ??seems sought of familiar, but also not. We get to see skilled battle-bot J-3DI, wookie warrior Grozz, rebellious Jedi master Rieve, and bounty hunter Zaina. The best character has to be Utooni, however, who is literally just two Jawas stood atop of one another in a big cloak, that's an inspired idea. Each character will bring their own weapons, abilities, and skill-set to the fight �so there's sure to be someone for you.

Along with the wild roster, we are also shown a selection of arenas, including a stage set on the chilly plains of Hoth, as well as a? battlezone located deep within the Ewok village. Players will fight it out in a selection of modes, including team-based warfare, typical deathmatches, domination, and more. Cr?ossplay will also be enabled across both mobile and Nintendo Switch, which should help keep the community playing together, regardless of the popularity of any one platform.

Star Wars: Hunters will launch on iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch in 202??2. A soft launch is expected? in the near future.

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The party's not over until the squid lady sings

Nintendo may have long retired work on its arena shooter Splatoon 2 �in fact, the publisher is already gearing up for incoming sequel Splatoon 3 �but squid kids still battling out i??n Inkopolis can look forward to a fresh new balance update, which will be dropping tomorrow evening on Nint?endo Switch.

Of course, Version 5.5.0 will not contain any new content per se, such as weapons, maps, or the like, but the?? up??date is expected to include a fresh run of balance tweaks, as well as a selection of new bug stomps that should keep the ink flowing freely among the Splatoon faithful. Full patch notes detailing these changes will also be going live tomorrow.

As for its sticky sequel, Nintendo dropped a brand new trailer for Splatoon 3 during last week's Nintendo Direct. The "Return of the Mammalians" promo begins with typical Splatoon warfare, (albeit featuring a few new weapons and intriguing new contraptions), before veering off into mysterious new territory, giving us a glimpse at a post-Chaos Inkopolis, complete with the strange addition of f?ur 'n' fuzz and the promise of more colorful warfare to come.

I just want to see a Mad Max take on Pearl and Marina, honestly.

Splatoon 3 is in development for Nintendo Switch with an?? expected release date of 2022.

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You can't buy it anymore, so win it!

In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Project Warlock from Super Rare Games!

If you slept on picking up a super limited edition of Project Warlock from Super Rare Games, I've got some bad news -- that shit sold out, yo! It's gone. Done??zo. Fin. Adios.

Good thing we snuck Mr. Destructoid into their offices (he went up through the toilet like a shitty, r??everse Santa) and stole a?? copy to give away! Win it here, since you can't buy it anymore!

Read it and weep:

Project Warlock is a first-person shooter that fans of DOOM, Hexen and Wolfenstein cannot miss. It serves you an exploding cocktail of bullets, spells? and monsters. Battle through 60 levels of non-stop action packed with bloodthirsty enemies? and challenging bosses.

Become a mysterious Warlock w??ho embarks ??on a dangerous mission to eradicate all evil. Put your finger on the trigger and travel through time and space to wreak havoc like in the golden days of fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping first person shooters, hooking you for hours of super fun carnage.

• 60 Levels, 50 Worlds, 72 Enemies, 38 Weapons - Explore 60 vast levels in five settings, from frozen Antarctic base to the sands of Egypt to the medieval castles’ courts and graveyards. Find keys to unlock passages, reveal secret caches with ammo and gold, use lifts and hidden buttons to access new areas. Finally, descend to hell to face the ultimate challenge and emerge victorious.
• Blood-pumping action - Combat tons of enemies from flying demons to five-story robots, splashing walls and floors with their blood and chunks. Dodge bullets and projectiles, figure out strategies and weapons that work best against each of the nasty villains. Learn their moves and stay one step ahead to survive through the levels. Face mega-bosses in vast final arenas to complete each world.
• Become the warlock - Develop your hero the way you like, by assigning upgrade points and perks to the favourite skills between each level. Develop and upgrade spells and weapons to create your unique character through the game, and use their powers to master the game in higher difficulty modes.

Makes Merlin kinda look like a bitch.

This super rare edition of the game comes??? with everything you see above, including:

• Fully assembled Nintendo Switch game with cartridge
• Interior art
• Full-colour manual
• Exclusive sticker
• 3-card trading card pack

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. Enter daily to increase your odds, and make sure to complete the bonus tasks to earn extra entries! Double your chances by entering at Nintendo Enthusiast.

We? have one copy of the game to give away; we'll draw our winner next Friday. As this is shipping from SRG, there are no country restrictions! Anyone can win. Please note that winners outside Britain may be charged a VAT as per local ordinance, for which they are responsible for paying. Brexit, yo.

Project Warlock may be sold out, but you can check out their remaining stocks over at Super Rare Games.

Dtoid Contest: Win the SOLD OUT Project Warlock on? Switch from S??uper Rare Games

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Don't go sticking that under the table

It has to be said that GungHo Online's arena shooter Ninjala didn't quite take the world by storm as the developer had perhaps hoped, but that doesn't mean that the vibrant multiplayer title hasn't won over its fair share of fans. In fact, GungHo just announced a milestone of si??x million total downloads, garnered over the seven months since ??the game's release.

Available as a free-to-play title for Nintendo Switch, Ninjala combines chaotic melee combat with acrobatic parlour-style stage traversal, as players battle it out in a number of modes to take their team to victory. Inevitably drawing comparisons with Nintendo's own multiplayer battler, Splatoon, Ninjala has not seen? quite the same level of success, but has found favor with some fans due to its lighthearted action and emphasis on customization.

The five million download milestone was achieved back in October 2020, so another million players have jumped into Ninjala's sticky world over the winter period. GungHo Online has more updates planned for the title throughout 2021, so it would appear that – for now at least – Ninjala's bubble hasn't burst.

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Supersize Me

The results of this weekend's Splatoon 2 splatfest are now in. After a typically messy battle, held to determine which is the greatest of the iconic Super Mario Bros. power-ups, Team Super Mushroom beat out Team Super ?Star with a 2 - 1 vict??ory.

In results that harken back to the strange days of monthly splatfests, Marina's Team Super Star actually took a staggering 68% of the public vote - which is huge in splatfest terms - but that didn't stop Pearl's Team Super Mushroom from bagging both Normal and Pro Play points to ultimately win the contest, a promotional event that coincides with Super Mario Bros. 35th anniversary.

It's probably fitting that Super Mushroom won, given it's important in the history of both the Super Mario franchise and gaming itself. Aside from the Pac-Man Power Pellet, I'm hard-pressed to think of an item that so immediately springs to mind when I consider the very concept of "power-ups" in gaming. Bad luck this time, Marina, All the invincibility in the world couldn't defend you from giantess Pearl.

The Splatoon 2 #Splatfest results are in, and #TeamSuperMushroom goes big with a 2-1 win!

Thanks as always to everyone who played, and make sure to pick up your Super Sea Snails in Inkopolis Square! pic.twitter.com/lYAknhxmIF

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 18, 2021

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(Oh, and Team Treat won the splatfest)

This weekend saw the Splatoon 2 community take to the ink-stained arenas once again in a replay of another classic splatfest. Entering into the spirit of the season, players battled it out over the most important Halloween question of all: Trick or Treat?

Once the dust had settled, Marina's Team Treat successfully retained the crown, once again securing the victory over Pearl's Team Trick. While Team Trick won 58% of the public vote, Team Treat captured both Normal and Pro play points for the 2 - 1 victory, cementing - once and for all - that Splatoon players are all about getting? hold of ??those sweet treats.

In addition, Nintendo released some fun new artwork showing Marina and Pearl, along with squid sisters Callie and Marie, chilling at the dining table in what appears to be a spooky mansion. To be frank, it doesn't look like our pals are enjoying themselves, I'd hazard a guess that someone "edgy" brought Cards Against Humanity to the shindig. Regardless, we ?didn't know how much th??e planet needed Goth Marina until this very moment.

Team Treat wins Splatoon's Halloween splatfest [Splatoon News]

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Ki Ki Ki, Ma Ma Ma...

Just because things have gone quiet on the Splatoon front, that doesn't mean the community isn't gearing up to celebrate the spooky Halloween season on the messy arena shooter. Next weekend will see the return of a classic Halloween splatfest, as players will wage war? in a ba?ttle of "Trick" vs."Treat."

And for those of you hoping to look the part, then you're in luck, as Nintendo has re-released the Splatoon 2 Halloween gear DLC pack, which is available for all players to download for free right now. All you need do is visit the Splatoon section in the Nintendo Switch news channel, and ??click on the confir?mation that lies therein.

Once confirmed, you will receive a package in-game that includes a hockey mask, a monster head, some devilish horns, and a ghostly hat, each of which includes a useful in-game buff. So be sure to don your creepiest outfit before you hit the arenas on the weekend of Friday, October 30, and let's win one more for everyone's favourite lil' devil, Pearl.

The spooky #Splatoween gear is here! Start up your #NintendoSwitch and check out the latest #Splatoon2 Switch News article on your device. Press the button at the bottom of the article to claim your gear, then pick up the package in your copy of Splatoon 2! pic.twitter.com/qbFwcRzn6E

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 17, 2020

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Ain't no trick

We're knee-deep in October, and already people are starting to feel those creepy Halloween vibes. Such is the case with Splatoon 2?? hosts Pearl and Marina, who are set to do battle ??once again in the Nintendo Switch shooter.

Nintendo has announced the coming of anoth??er classic splatfest, which will see the community duke it out over the Halloween tradition of "Trick or Treat." Of course, the mischievous Pearl will be standing firmly in the corner of Team Trick, while her more happy-go-lucky pal Marina will captain Team Treat.

Players will pick their preference before engaging in multicoloured warfare over the course of the weekend, with the winning team being decided by three points earned via Normal Play, Pro Play, and a public vote. Back in 2018, Marina's Team Treat took the win by capturing both pla?y points, despite losing the public vote. Will this year tell a different tale?

The Halloween splatfest goes live the week??end of October 30. Stay Off the Hook.

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, the #Splatoon2 #Splatoween event approaches! As befitting the spooky season, this #Splatfest will pit #TeamTrick vs. #TeamTreat!

This eerie event begins 10/30, 3pm PT through 11/1, 2pm PT! pic.twitter.com/6BnQmRzfgw

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 9, 2020

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Gotta Blow Fast

GungHo Online Entertainment has raised the curtain on the incoming collaboration between arena battler Ninjala and Sega's legendary franchise Sonic the Hedgehog. Going live in-game September 23, the limited time event will offer up a selection of specially themed Sonic gear for purchase.

Said gear includes costumes for your favourite Ninjala characters, which feature shirts, shoes, and cool headpieces stylised around Sonic favouri??tes Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Robotnik and, of course, the blue blur himself. A selection of themed Ippon decorations, Gum Utsusemis, and stickers will also be avai??lable from the in-game store.

Alongside the Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration, season two will bring with it a brand new battleground and will also add four new weapons to the game's arsenal. From October, Ninjala will also begin introducing limite??d time events - known as "Feature Battles". The first Feature Battle is "Beast Attack" and will see one player in the role of a creepy creature, while others must do all they can to stay out of its clutches, lest they become a monster themselves. You can check out all the new content in the new developer diary below.

Ninjala is available?? now as a a free-to-play title on Nintendo Switch.

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It's quick, readable, and comes with tons of modes and options

It's been a tough decade for arena shooters with grand plans to break into the mainstream, but there will seemingly always be a dedicated community of hardcore players to rally around the best of the best. Diabotical – a free-to-play arena shoo??ter with silly-faced Eggbots – is the latest st??andout.

The game has over 15 modes including 5v5 Instagib, time trials to run, an in-game aim trainer, and 30 maps. You'll know if Diabotical is?? in your wh??eelhouse after watching this trailer – there's no mistaking it.

Diabotical launched yesterday on the Epic Games Store and it's supported, in part, with cosmetics.

"We have a two-year dev plan thanks to Epic Games and the Arena FPS community's support," creator The GD Studio tweeted. "So consider [September 3] the start of Season 1! We'll impr??ove the produ?ct with your feedback as we go. And drop you some bigger updates each season. Season 2 in December."

Next time you're feeling Quake's call, maybe give this an afternoon. I respect its fundamental??s.

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Star Power

GungHo Online Entertainment has announced that its bubble gum-flavoured battle royale title Ninjala will be crossing over with one of the most recognisable gaming brands of all time: Sonic the Hedgehog.

Speaking in a new Developer Diary video, GungHo announced that the first season of Ninjala is coming to a close, with season two starting almost immediately thereafter. The new season will bring with it a new stage, ?four new Gum weapons, and the aforementioned Sonic collaboration, the details of which are expected to be revealed later t??his week.

Ninjala has been downloaded over four million times since its initial June launch on Nintendo Switch. The game was also recently patched to Version 2.0, applying an array of ??balance tweaks and bug fixes to the colourful multiplayer title.

Ninjala is available to download now on Nintendo Switch.

Sonic the Hedgehog x Ninjala [Japanese Nintendo]

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Is this some sort of yolk?

Fans of Nintendo's arena shooter Splatoon 2 will have reason to jump back into battle this weekend, as the popular multiplayer?? title will re-run the fun on one of its classic splatfest showdowns. And this time, it's a quest?ion almost as old as time itself.

Once again, players will be asked to choose an answer to the old conundrum of which came first: The Chicken or The Egg? Everyone's favourite rap-rock duo Off the Hook are in full effect, with Pearl standing?? in the corner of Team Chicken and Marina backing Team Egg. As always the battle will be decided by a three-point system, with one point being designated to a public vote, and the other two being won via Normal and ?Pro play battles.

This is a repeat of the original Chicken vs. Egg splatfest, which took place way back in March of 2018. Back then, Chicken took the 2 - 1 victory, but 2020 is a very, very different place, and I don't expect an ounce of sanity from anybody anymore, so we'll have to wait and see whether egg finally receives it long-awaited re??demption.

The Chicken vs. Egg splatfest goes live Friday, August 21 at 15:00 PT / 18:00 ET / 23:00 BST and will run for 24 hours. The r??esults will then be announced over the weekend. Stay tuned for more classic splatfests in the coming weeks.

Splatoon 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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Forever blowing bubbles

GungHo Online Entertainment has announced that arena battler Ninjala has passed a milestone of four million total down??loads since its initial launch on Switch back in June.

The free-to-play multiplayer title sees players battle it out in colourful landscapes, fighting to be the last-person-standing with an array of cute makeshift weapons and bubblegum-themed special attacks. Earlier this week, GungHo revealed its upcoming "Version 2.0" update, addressing multiple issues that ha??ve been bothering players. These fixes include improved region connectivity, a much improved UI and lobby system, and a slew of balance change??s.

To celebrate the four million download milestone, Ninjala is offering 100 Jala - Ninjala's in-game currency - to all players who login in the immediate future, so be sure to jump on and buy yourself a nice hat or something. While Ninjala is yet t??o take the world by storm, it's clear ??that GungHo is "all-in" on its new title, intent on supporting the game and its community.

Ninjala is available to download now on Nintendo Switch.

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Bubbles can burst?!

Developer GungHo Online Entertainment has announced that its free-to-play arena-shooter Ninjala has already surpassed a whopping three million downloa??ds since its launch on Nintendo Switch just three?? weeks ago.

The colourful multiplayer title sees players leap into highly animated battle royales, filled with makeshift weapons, parkour action, and bubblegum-based skills and special abilities. Players can customise their characters via a catalogue of cosmetic items, purchased with the in-game/real-world currency "Jala." As a celebration for hitting the new milestone, all Ninjala players will have 100 Jala ad??ded to t?heir account.

You can check out CJ Andriessen's review of Ninjala in the video below.

Ninjala is available to download now on Nintendo Switch.

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New trailer spotlights the 'World of Crater'

Electronic Arts has released a new trailer for its upcoming arena shooter Rocket Arena, which was first revealed during the EA Play presentation last month. Developed by First Strike Games, Rocket Arena is a hero-based shooter where each ??character is kit??ted out with particularly explosive firepower.

The new video introduces us to the world of "Crater," the battleground in which players will face off in bombast??ic three-on-three combat. Crater features a wide variety of maps, ranging from the archaeological dig-site Stompy's Refuge and the sky-high Go?lden Zephyr, to the gothic snows of Icefall Keep and the aqua-world known as the Shimmering Depths. Take a tour of this colourful kingdom in the near three-minute preview below.

As an interesting aside, it has been noted that Rocket Arena's lore is penned by Len Uhley, who was the co-writer of Disney's hit show, TaleSpin. For those of you too young to remember, TaleSpin was a series that looked at Disney's 1967 film The Jungle Book and asked the natural question "What if Baloo ran an air-freight company and Shere Khan was a monopoly-owning capitalist?" Uhley has also contributed to other animated shows such as Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers, and DuckTales.

Rocket Arena launches on PS4, PC, and Xbox One on July 14 and features cross-play support across all p??latforms.

Rocket Arena "World of Crater" trailer [Gematsu]

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Don't burst your bubble

Last week saw the release of GungHo Online's cheerful arena shooter Ninjala. Launching on June 25 for Nintendo Switch, Ninjala hopes to capture some of the "all-ages" popularity seen by similar multiplayer titles such as Splatoon - and it seems that things are off to a pretty good start fo??r the free-to-play title.

As noted by the developer on its official Twitter, Ninjala's downloads now total two million in just five days, half of which were amassed in the first 48 hours of release. Now of course, as a free-to-play game, the true test will be how many of these two million downloads convert into long-term regular players, but this amazing number is still a serious sign of public interest. Clearly Ninjala is?? a title that has marketed itself successfully.

The key for GungHo now is to build upon this curiosity by keeping players coming back for more, while further establishing a welcoming community. Part of Splatoon's success was down to its friendly atmosphere, dedication toward regular community events, and steady drop of fun 'n' free items. If Ninjala can maintain its initial momentum for the first month, while delivering solid, reliable gameplay, (as it has seen some technical teething issues), then it could be on the way to becoming a more-th??an-modest multiplayer hit.

Ninjala is available to download now on Nintendo Switch.

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Arena brawler celebrates one million downloads

GungHo Online Entertainment's brand-new multiplayer title Ninjala is now live, bringing with it a stream of bright and colourful characters, cute over-the-top weaponry, and more bubblegum than you can stick a school desk ??to. And it seems things have gotten off to a lively start for the free-to-play Switch title.

As noted on the official Ninjala Twitter, Bere??cca and pals have already amassed an impressive one million downloads since the game's launch on June 25. Things were a little shaky at first, with problems pertaining to connectivity and certain lobbies, but the tech team has been on top of the situation and it appears that these creases are being ironed out.

Have you checked out Ninjala yourself yet? While not exactly Splatoon from a gameplay standpoint, a comparison in mood, colourful visual style, and party atmosphere is unavoidable. Hopefully this fun-lookin??g game will find its own dedicated audience. If you've taken time out this week to get your gum on, be sure to drop us a note below and share your thoughts.

Ninjala is available to download now on Nintendo Switch.

🎊1 Million Downloads!!🎊

THANK YOU, NINJAS!! ✌ï¸ðŸ¤©

To celebrate 1 million downloads of #Ninjala and compensate players for?? the server access errors that occurred on launch day, everyone will receive:

💰 100 Jala!
🔥 10 x Ippon Gum (Flame) weapon skins#GungHo #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/l5Aqb8fgT3

— PlayNinjala (@playninjala) June 26, 2020

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Who needs aiming?

During this afternoon's EA Play presentation, developer Final Strike Games revealed new details and gameplay footage regarding its multiplayer shooter, Rocket Arena, a sky-high new title which is coming to PS4, PC, and Xbox One - complete with crosspla?y - mid-July.

Rocket Arena features 10 colourful heroes, each bringing unique abilities, skills, 'tude, and a helluva lot of rockets. Indeed, Rocket Arena is a 3v3 rockets-only shooter. So if you're a Pharah main in Overwatch, chances are you've already got a heads up on everyone else. Rocket Arena will featur?e seasonal content, with a steady stream of?? characters, maps and skins being added to the game over time. It will also be getting its own "Blast Pass", which will launch alongside its first official season, beginning July 28.

Rocket Arena launches ??on PS4, PC (Origin/St?eam), and Xbox One July 14.

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What's your sauce?

It took over three years, but Ketchup has finally found redemption in Nintendo's online shooter Splatoon 2. In a re-run of one of the most famous splatfests in the sequel's history, the tomato-based table sauce saw a 2-1 victory against i??ts eggy opponent Mayon?naise.

Cptained by adorable octoling Marina, Team Ketchup won both the public vote and the Pro-play point, while Pearl's Team Mayo scraped back a commiseration point from normal play. Back in 2017 Team Mayo came out on top, bagging both play points but again losing out on the public vote. So it would seem that, to the squid-kid in the street, Ketchup is very much the condim??ent of choice.

This Splatoon 2 rematch has been described as a "one-off", so it doesn't seem likely that Nintendo will be re-running any other previous splatfests. Of course, pencils have erasers, so if this weekend saw a huge surge in players, then maybe Nintendo will reconsider. In either case, it's great to see Splatoon 2 still healthy in its twilight years ?and here's hoping its devote??d community see some form of exciting news soon.

Splatoon 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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How do you ruin YOUR dinner?

Dust off your Brellas, Sloshers, Dualies and Rollers, it's time to return to the rainbow-stained battlefields of Splatoon 2. This weekend, for the first time in a very long time, the Switch shooter's community will face off in a re-run of one of the most iconic splatfests: Mayo vs Ketchup.

Over the course of the weekend, players will choose a side and battle it out in the name of their favourite condiment. The splatfest three-point system will afford a point each for Normal and Pro play modes, with the third point being decided by public vote. Back in 2017, Mayo was declared the winner, having won both play points despite Ketchup taking a huge 73% of the ??p??ublic vote. Has the public's taste changed in recent years? We'll see.

Personally, I'm just happy to see Splatoon 2 splatfest hosts Off the Hook return in some slick new artwork. Queen of the World Pearl will once again be backing the white stuff, while her pleasing pal Marina is all about the tomato sauce. Haven't these kids heard of Mayochup?

The Mayo vs. Ketchup splatfest begins today, May 22, at 15:00 PT / 18:00 and will run unti?l the same time on Sunday, May 24. Unfortunately, it appears that this event is only open to North American players. Still, have fun and make the most of it, squid-kids!

Splatoon 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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