Did you check out the Grand Festival in Splatoon 3? It liv??ed up to its name. While it essentially felt like a normal Splatfest, it centered around a big conc??ert where you could watch the three major bands of the game perform. It was pretty incredible.

Well, as we pick ourselves up out of the dirt and recover from our hangover, Nintendo announced that the Grand Festival marks the end of regular updates for the game. This means that the only updates we see going forward will be patches, and it’s unlikely that new weapons or arenas will be dropped in. This is exactly how “Final Fest�went down in 2019 for Splatoon 2. It was then roughly three years until Splatoon 3 released.

However, Nintendo (by way of the official Splatoon Twitter account), states that Splatoween, Frosty Fest, Spring Fest, and Summer Nights will still continue at their normal times. Also, Big Run (thank goodness), so it’s not like the game is dead dead. It’s just k??ind of on life support. Or not even that; it’s just c??oasting.

The end of support has led some to speculate that Splatoon 4 is in the works for the successor to the Switch. I don’t have as much information as anyone else speculating (that is to say, none), but it seems reasonable. When the Switch was preparing to launch, Splatoon 2 was featured heavily in its marketing. Whethe?r or not it’s a launch window game, I doubt that this is the last update we’ve seen for the s??eries.

That kind of means we’ll be going back to Splatoon’s live-service starting point. That means a dearth of content compared to Splatoon 3 at launch, as it slowl?y gets built up again as a way of retaining its player base. Maybe the strategy will change, however, but I’m not currently betting on it.

In the meantime, Past won Grand Festival against Present and Future. I was on team Present because my therapist always t??old me that’s where I shou??ld focus. Clearly, she was wrong. If you missed the concerts at Grand Festival, apparently, the new Amiibos for Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, and Deep Cuts will allow you to revisit the venue. I recommend it, and will be adding them to cart soon.

Splatoon 3 is available on Switch.

The post Splatoon 3’s Grand Festival marked a stellar send-off for the game’s regular updates appeared first on Destructoid.

Team Jackpot has been stripped of its claim on the Splatoon 3 World Championship due to a violation of community guidelines, as per Nintendo. The company posted statement that members of the team acted in "a manner that is not in line with our Community Guidelines," and their win will be ??vacated.

Allegations of misconduct appear to be the cause, as after winning the title in April, a thread was shared online showing Discord and social media chats that popped up online in July, which appeared to show members of Team Jackpot engaging in racist behavior against other Splatoon 3 players. A long open-letter apology was shared by .q, a member of the team (via Polygon).

Nintendo says the Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024 win by Jackpot is hereby “vacated� meaning that they will no??t be considered champions of the tournament. The company has also declared that as a r?esult of this decision, the team will not be receiving their trophies.

Moreover, Nintendo plans to alter the in-game Splashtag banner that?? was introduced to represent Team Jackpot’s achievement. The banner will be “adjusted�when a new software update rolls out.

“Nintendo cares deeply about our players and our community, and we take our res???ponsibility to upload our Community Guidelines seriously,�said Nintendo in their statement released on their X account.

The post Nintendo takes away Splatoon 3 World Championship from Tea??m Jackpot for misconduct appeared first on Destructoid.

Mark your calendars. Nintendo has announced that Splatoon 3’s Grand Festival will hit on September 13th. It promises to be the biggest Splatfest in the series�history. The debate will be fought over Past, Present, and Futur??e.

What makes this the biggest Splatfest? I’m not entirely clear on that, but the band line-up looks to be the central focus. Not only will it include Splatoon 3’s local band, whose name I can’t remember right now, it will also bring back the Squid Sister??s and Off the Ho?ok. Or, I guess just Off the Hook, since you can see the Squid Sisters perform during Splatfest if you have the expansion.

It also seems to involve a new venue out in the d??esert, which seems like a real??ly bad place to gather a bunch of squids and octopi.

The outfits the bands are wearing are evocative of the bleached look in Splatoon 3’s expansion, Side Order. I’m not sure if that ties in.

I’m not really sure of anything, especially not if there’s going to be anything functionally different. It should be cool, though. It’s the second anniversary of Splatoon 3, which really snuck up on me. As much as I love Splatoon, I?? haven’t been able to dedicate much time to this one, and it’s not for lack of wanting. I just seem to get distracted every time I try to devote any consistent playtime to it. Being an adult sucks.

Speaking of which, I’ll probably be voting P?resent in this debate. My therapist says I? should be more focused that.

Splatoon 3’s Grand Festival runs fr??om September 13 (??5pm PT) to September 15 (5pm PT).

The post Grand Festival will be Splatoon 3’s biggest Splatfest this September appeared first on Destructoid.

The best Switch multiplayer games excel at bringing friends and family together of all gaming backgrounds. Whether you're competing for glory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or making jokes in any given Jackbox Party Pack, there are a lot of Switch multiplayer games to play. Here are the best Switch multiplayer games on the Switch: just keep in ??mind a few of them require a Switch Online subscription!

13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

It's super satisfying to show your accomplished settlement in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can show off the designs of your village, the lovely villagers you have, and how immaculately themed each ?room is. It's also a relaxing way to hang out with friends as you clean up the island and fish with them. Some have even been married in the game during the COVID pandemic. This is a game that came just at the right time ??as it cooled down many gamers in a stressful situation. However, it's still fun to this day.

12. Rocket League

Football + cars is a simple concept but works incredibly well. Now available as a free-to-play title, you can use fast cars to shoot balls or stop a shot from getting in the net. There are also a ton of adjustments you can make to the car like the patterns, flag, body shape, and paint of your vehicle to make it stand out among the crowd. There are micro-transaction elements to be aware of, but you don't need to spend a penny to enjoy the intense sports action of Rocket League. 

11. Minecraft

There's a reason why Minecraft is so popular, despite the many popular content creators still making videos about it more than a decade later. Building a home or even a grand statue with your pals is a wonderful premise. You can also adventure through caves, get precious resources, and then escape the various scary enemies who stand in your path. The Creeper will get you eventually. It's also a relaxing game to partake with a calming soundtrack and stran?gely blocky,? yet gorgeous views of the world around you.

10. Runbow

Runbow is a hidden gem to the nth degree.

This party-platforming hybrid has you trying to survive quick platforming levels that constantly fluctuate. Nine players compete to be the first one to the flag at the end, and the wild colorful visuals truly pull you into the game. In fact, the platforms camouflage and blend with the constantly switching colors and disappear, adding an extra amount of challenge. While playing Runbow at an Extra Life event, I was shocked to pass through a tough section, getting so much fun from the chaotic nature of th??e game. This is a surprisingly entertaining Switch multiplayer game that you should pick up.

9. Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports does what it says on the tin. Like Wii Sports, you get a bunch of entertaining physical recreation activities to play. The Joy-Con does a great job of replicating the Wii remote, but unlike Wii Sports, this game supports online play, adding more replayability. Yo?u can compete to be the very best and unlock new costumes for ?your characters along the way.

You can play Badminton, Golf, Soccer (football), Volleyball, Bowling, and one of my personal favourites Chambara. Read our review of the game if you aren't sold yet!

8. Ultimate Chicken Horse

I've never laughed so hard at a game than Ultimate Chicken Horse. The goal is simple: You need to head to the exit of the level. However, with each passing tur??n, you place obstacles in the way.

The action g??ets chaotic as rotating spikes are stuck to honey and pucks fly t?owards you at lightning speed. The fun revolves around the idea of making the level as difficult as possible for your rivals, but at the same time, easy enough to finish the stage. It can get so intense that your jaw drops.

7. Splatoon 3

One of the best Switch multiplayer games is Splatoon 3. The goal is to cover each area with as much ink as possible. If your team expands ??its ink more than the other, you win. That's it! Kinda.

You're using all manner of different weapons like a bow and arrow, a paint roller, and even katanas to win. The clothes you unlock throughout the game give you different abilities as well. The concept is simple, but Nintendo's maps and unique take on a third-person shooter with ink-splitting makes Splatoon 3 stand out. The co-op-focused Salmon Run is engrossing as well. "You jump into a match, ink some turf, kill some enemies, see who wins in dramatic fashion (sigh or cheer), and repeat," said Chris Carter in his Destructoid review. "It’s a loop t??hat works even better than before because of all the aforementioned wrinkles in?? the formula, with some gameplay smoothing as well."

6. Jackbox Party Packs

The Jackbox Party Packs are perfect for friends and family. The games are relatively easy to understand, and the only controller you need is your phone (or another device that has internet and browser access). You'll be surviving in Trivia Murder Party by answering out-of-the-box questions, trying to come up with the funniest one-liners in Quiplash, and even trying to get the most dates amongst yourselves in Monster Seeking Monster. 

Jackbox Games has so much creativity within its game design, and its Party Packs will help create memorable experiences for ev??eryone in ?your immediate vicinity.

5. Mario Party Superstars

While the Jackbox Party Packs can create memorable experiences, Mario Party Superstars might be infamous for your friendships. The board game-like ?title has you competing to get the most stars. You're explori??ng the board, finishing entertaining mini-games for coins, and then by the end of the game, you'll be ranked by the number of stars and coins you own.

It gets really competitive too, as you can steal coins and stars from other players. If you've played a Mario Party game before, you may recognize some of the boards Mario, Luigi, and the like pla??y on. Memorable mini-games also return to the classic series like Mushroom Mix-Up and Bumper Balls.

4. Fortnite

This may get a lot of flak, but Fortnite is an absolute blast. This battle royale has impeccable controls, a stunning Unreal Engine 5-powered world, and extremely cool weapons that are added each season. It's constantly being updated, adding new surprising gameplay elements. Teaming up with friends, completing missions, and then winning the match is so much fun within Fortnite. The game is far more accessible now for those who don't want to build; there's a zero-build option that is s??olely focused on shooting and world e??xploration.

It's also wild to see Kratos, Master Chief, Goku, and Spider-Man all at the same party. With Fortnite, anything can happen. You don't want to miss out.

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Excellent game design? Check. Fun four-player multiplayer? Check. Gorgeous visuals? Check. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the full package. This previous Wii U exclusive excels on Switch with the addition of faster movement speed and the addition of online play. The m??usic is also stellar from the start, especially for the introductory world of Super Bell Hill. I still listen to covers of that track regularly!

The cat forms in 3D World also let you crawl up walls, adding momentum to the already stellar Mario platforming format. It's? one of the best multiplayer Switch games you can play on the hybrid system.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an incredible achievement. The character list is huge with heroes and villains from all over gaming history. Third-party characters like Final Fantasy's Cloud, Metal Gear Solid's Snake, and Castlevania's Simon Belmont fig?ht against the likes? of Mario, Link, and Fox in epic battles.

Tallying up your opponent's health meter to high percentages with your arsenal of attacks and then launching them into the stratosphere is super fulfilling. There's a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitive scene for a reason ??as many love the simple, but deep combat of the game.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The best Switch multiplayer game is undoubtedly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The tracks are absolutely stunning with plenty of detail and gorgeous artistic visuals. Driving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels per??fect as you drift around corners and get a successful boost.

Additionally, the mus??ic keeps up the exciting tone with a big orchestra performing the score. This is a game you can set up in a living room, and four people will ??quickly grab a controller and play. It's simplicity at its best. Hopefully, you can avoid that annoying blue shell!

The post Top 13 best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

For those of you with conflicting feelings about making calamari of your fellow Octolings and Inklings, you can rejoice as Wave 2 of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass, Side Order, launched ??today. With none of that nasty PvP business, you can focus on ethically annihilating other species.

You got Nier: Automata in my Splatoon 3 DLC!

The Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass was announced during the February 2023 Nintendo Direct. Priced at $24.99 and divided into two waves, players were able to return to the original Splatoon hub, Inkopolis, in Wave 1. It didn't feature a whole lot of new content aside from the Squid Sisters performing during Splatfests and thu??????????????????????????s, was underwhelming for those without a strong sense of nost??algia.

Side Order puts players in control of Agent 8 who must figure out why Inkopolis Square has been drained of color. Working with Pod, err... Pearl, Agent 8 works up each level of The Spire of Order, much like Aya Brea in Parasite Eve's Chrysler Building back in 1998.

Designed as a roguelite, players must ascend as far as possible, collecting Color Chip Enhancements along the way and completing objectives. On each floor, players choose one of three objectives to complete. Each choice gives a Color Chip Enhancement, which goes onto the overall palette and offers a wide range of buffs and modifiers. When you eventually fall, your Chips will be converted into Prlz which can be spent on permanent upgrades. It's your standard roguelite and while it's not Vampire Survivors, it's no slouch either.

In the wake of other, arguably larger, Nintendo news, like practically everything announced yesterday during Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, it's understandable that Wave 2 of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass would slide under the radar. Regardless, if you've been looking for a reason to get back into Splatoon 3, this is it.

The post Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC is out today appeared first on Destructoid.

Can you believe it’s been about a year since Splatoon 3’s Expansion Pass became available for purchase? Until now, buyers have only had Inkopolis Plaza to provide value for their dollar, bu??t on February 22, 2024, the Side Order campaign will release.

In anticipation of the new campaign, Nintendo has served up a solid slice of Side Order gameplay in the form of an explainer trailer. It dives into what the campaign entails, going deep into the main loop o?f its roguelite gameplay.

Inkopolis Square, the hub from Splatoon 2, is suffering from some pr?etty harsh coral bleaching and is devoid of color. Partnered with Pearl in drone form, Agent 8 (that’s you) must climb the Spire of O??rder to�fix it, I’m assuming.

You ascend the sp?ire, floor by floor, collecting color chips that will enhance your abilities. Your goal is to climb the tower as far as you can before expiring. Then, you get points (pearls) for your collected chips and can use those to give Agent 8 a good b?uffing.

It’s pretty much roguelite trappings at their most basic. However, I can dig it. Splatoon has experimented with different approaches to turn its competitive focus into a single-player experience, and the typical campaign format tends to leave me a bit cold. While I’m not a h??uge fan of the roguelite formula, I think that, as an excuse t??o play by your lonesome, it can work in Side Order. Plus, I’m digging the more muted color palette that the expansion has. It really contrasts the usually bright inks of the main game.

Splatoon 3 is available on Switch. The Expansion Pass is already available, but the Side Order campaign portion of it will launch on Februar?y 22??, 2024.

The post Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass side order trailer gives a deep?? dive into its roguelite campaign appeared first on Destructoid.

Splatoon 3 fans woke up to big news this morning. After initially being slated for Spring 2024, the second wave of the game's DLC is getting a bump up. It's now scheduled to b??e released toward the end of next month.

Splatoon 3 Sider Order is now confirmed to be heading our way on February 22. It's included as part of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass. The pass consists of the already released Inkopolis DLC and the upcoming Sider Order content. The Expansion Pass is? currently listed at $24.99.

Today's Side Order release date trailer looks like it purposely evokes a Matrix vibe. We see Agent 8 fall asleep on a train just as the screen starts to glitch. It then quickly becomes overwhelmed by falling symbols that's quite similar to the Matrix series' green coding. W?e'll have to wait and see whether the sci-fi series is alluded to any further in the upcoming DLC.

Inkopolis reintroduced the first Splatoon game's main hub as an explorable area. There were some minor changes to the environment, but nothing radical. Side Order looks to be a much meatier piece of new content.

Side Order introduces a new location in the Spire of Order. In this single-player campaign, players will experience a challenge tower of sorts. You'll attempt to advance through the Spire of Order's various floors by taking on wave after wave of oncoming enemies. Nintendo says the new content is meant to be pla??yed over and over.

More single-player content for the "superb" Splatoon 3 is certainly something ??to be excited about. We'll see how it all comes toge??ther on February 22.

The post Splatoon ?3 Side Order DLC a??rrives near the end of February appeared first on Destructoid.

Today during their September 2023 Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo reminded us that yes, Splatoon 3 was g????etting a proper story DLC, and not just another nearly 1:1 hub to wander around in.

Through a fairly detailed gameplay video, we got a look at the incredibly arcadey Side Order DLC (complete with damage numbers!), set at the "Spire of Order," which is basically an old-school challenge tower. It's meant to be pla?yed "over and over again," and will be a?? strictly single player affair.

Splatoon 3's Side Order DLC will be out in the Spring (!) of 2024.

Here's a gal??lery of everything shown off during the Direct.

The post Nintendo gives us a look at Splatoon 3’s story DLC, out in spring 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

It has been nearly a year since Splatoon 3?? launched to much applause and fanfare. To celebrate, Nintendo is pr?eparing to launch a truly contentious Splatfest �who among the members of Deep Cut would be the best leader? 

Starting at 5:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m. EST on September 8 and extending through 5:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m. EST on September 10, players must decide who would be the best leader: Shiver, Frye, or Big Man? It would seem as if the ?sid?es are evenly matched, at least based on the Twitter replies. “Who else is joining Team Big Man?�asked YouTuber Zack Scott, who received nearly 40 responses at the time of writing, all of which appealed for a different member of Deep Cut to take home the? win. 

But, it would appear some folks fear the possibili?ty of the majority ignoring the prompt in favor of making this Splatfest more of? a popularity contest. “Remember guys, the question isn't about who your favorite Deep Cut member is, it's about who would make for a better leader out of them,�said one user on Twitter. They go on ?to admit their preference for Big Man, while also admitting their opinion that none of them would make good leaders. And then you’ve got the users who make i??t no secret that they’re not a fan of any available option. “Worst possible theme they could've done,�said one user. 

In any case, who are you root?ing for in this anniversary Splatfest? Don’t forget to vote in-game at the Pledge Box!

The post One of th?e most contentious Splatfests yet is coming to Splatoon 3 ?this weekend appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo is reminding us that Autumn is just around the corner in the Northern Hemisphere with Splatoon 3’s 5.0.0 update, which they have named Drizzle Season 2023. It’s an exciting load?? of content that will? help round out the game’s content.

As with every change of seasons, the Drizzle Season 2023 arrives with a new catalog. This contains new gear, titles, banners, decorations, stickers, and emotes. There are also two new levels being dropped, Crableg Capital and Shipshape Cargo Co. Both of these are brand new to the series. For Salmon Run, Nintendo is bringing back the beloved Salmonid Smokeyard from Splatoon 2. On top of these are two brand new weapons: the Heav??y Edit Splatling and Dread Wringer (Slosher). There are also eight new weapon variants.

It gets better, though. Lovers of the soundtrack will be happy to hear that a new fictional band has been added to the mix. This one is H2Whoa, which sounds like a fictional? brand of bottled water. Two of their tracks are being added to battles, as well as another by Deep Cut.

Finally, the ability to adjust certain gear has been added in patch 5.0.0. This simply allows you to turn some caps backward or wear oversized versions of certain t-shirts. It’s a pretty great way to get?? some personalization out of existing gear.

The Splatoon 3 patch 5.0.0 (Drizzle Season 2023) is available to download right now on Switch.? The?? new season starts September 1, 2023.

Splatoon 3 Version 5.0.0 full patch notes (Released August 30, 2023)

Season and Catalog Changes

• Added data for Drizzle Season 2023, which starts September 1st, 2023. This includes:
  • A new catalog, including new gear, titles, banners, decorations, stickers, and emotes.
  • 2 new battle stages: Crableg Capital and Shipshape Cargo Co.
  • 2 new main weapons.
  • 8 new sets of existing main weapons paired with different sub and special weapons.
  • A returning Salmon Run stage from the Splatoon 2 game: Salmonid Smokeyard.
  • 12 new Tableturf Battle cards.

Changes to Gear

• Introduced the "Adjust Gear" feature to wear selected headgear and T-shirts in new ways.
  • Select any supported gear from the Equip screen and press the Y Button to adjust it.

Changes to Multiplayer

• Added 3 songs that play during battles.
• New main weapons have been added.
  • These weapons will be available in the shops at the start of Drizzle Season 2023.

  Weapon	Details
  Dread Wringer	A slosher that fires two bursts of ink with each swing. By changing direction while swinging, you can fire ink in two directions.
  Heavy Edit Splatling	A splatling that can fire at high speed. It has a longer charge time, but when fully charged, it fires faster than other splatlings.

• New weapons have been added.
  • These weapons will be available in the shops at the start of Drizzle Season 2023.

  Weapon	Sub Weapon	Special Weapon
  Gold Dynamo Roller	Splat Bomb	Super Chump
  Octobrush Nouveau	Squid Beakon	Ink Storm
  Custom Goo Tuber	Fizzy Bomb	Ultra Stamp
  Sloshing Machine Neo	Point Sensor	Trizooka
  Bloblobber Deco	Angle Shooter	Kraken Royale
  Dread Wringer	Suction Bomb	Reefslider
  Ballpoint Splatling Nouveau	Ink Mine	Ink Vac
  Heavy Edit Splatling	Curling Bomb	Tacticooler
  Sorella Brella	Autobomb	Inkjet
  Inkline Tri-Stringer	Sprinkler	Super Chump

• Specifications for some main weapons have changed.
  

  Weapon	Change Details
  Splat Brella Sorella Brella	Reduced the recovery time for brellas lost as a result of being launched or broken from 6.5 seconds to 5.5 seconds.
  Undercover Brella	Reduced the recovery time for broken brellas from 4.5 seconds to 4.0 seconds
  REEF-LUX 450	Narrowed the spread angle when fired without charging by approximately 30%. Narrowed the spread angle when fired while charged one level by approximately 29%.

• Specifications for some special weapons have changed.
  

  Special Weapon	Change Details
  Killer Wail 5.1	If there is no target it can lock onto in the area of effect, it will now lock onto the target last in the area of effect. Added a display indicator and sound effect to clarify the locked-on target when the lasers are fired.
  Zipcaster	Now possible to attach closer to the ground than before. Increased the damage dealt by the explosion from colliding with the ground. The radius of that explosion has increased by approximately 50%.
  Tacticooler	Extended the cooldown time for the special gauge after placing a Tacticooler from 7.5 seconds to 10 seconds.

• Specifications for some gear abilities have changed.
  

  Gear Ability	Change Details
  Tenacity	Increased the speed at which the special gauge fills while the conditions are met.
  Last-Ditch Effort	Reduced the maximum amount of effect for the ability increase while the conditions are met from the equivalent of 2.4 primary abilities to 1.8 primary abilities. Secondary abilities are the equivalent effect of 0.3 primary abilities.

• Points required for some special weapons have been changed.
  

  Weapon	Before	After
  N-ZAP '85	180	190
  Annaki Splattershot Nova	200	210

• When X Power, Challenge Power, Anarchy Power, or Splatfest Power calculations are complete, if the results exceed the maximum value for the initial calculated results value, a small amount of the excess value will be added to the calculated results.
• Made it so that in Challenges where rankings are sometimes announced, such as Monthly Challenges or New Season Challenges, battles will not end as no contest when a player disconnects immediately after the start of the battle when either team is comprised of a group of four members.
  • This change is to prevent wasting Challenge time with no-contest battles due to the other team disconnecting.

Changes to Salmon Run

• Added a new weapon, Grizzco Dualies.
• Made it so that different Grizzco weapons appear, even within the same shift, when a green ? mark is shown on the weapon.
• Added items that can be exchanged for fish scales.

Changes to Splatfests

• Made it possible to select different stages, even during the same time period, with Splatfest Battle (Open) and Splatfest Battle (Pro).
• Added a song that will play during Splatfest Battles.
• Made it so that the song playing in the lobby will change a certain amount of time after the Splatfest ends.
  • That song will play in the Splatsville and Inkopolis common areas as well as the lobby from the end of the Splatfest until the Splatfest results are announced.
• Added badges you can get based on the number of 10x Battles you participate in or win during Splatfests.

Changes to Tableturf Battle

• Made it possible to sort cards by “Rarity.â€?/li>
• Changed the default sorting for Edit Deck and Test Placement to “Sort by Spaces.â€?/li>

Changes to the Lobby

• Made it so that you will receive a notification when a friend uploads a battle replay.
  • By opening the notification, you can download the battle replay without entering a code.
  • These notifications will only be sent to friends.
• Made it so that friends and players in the same Pool will be notified when you get a rare prize from the Shell-Out Machine.
• Made it possible to use the Shell-Out Machine while in a Private Battle room, as long as you have not yet divided into teams.
• Made it so that when one player begins matchmaking and members have gathered but there is a communication error, matchmaking is automatically reattempted once instead of being suspended as a result of the error.

Other Changes

• Added approximately 160 decorations and 140 stickers to Hotlantis.
• Added approximately 80 Splashtag banners and 400 titles that you can get from the Shell-Out Machine, etc.
• Made it possible to start recon directly from the Stages screen on the main menu.

This update focuse?s on adding features for Drizzle Season 2023, which starts in September, and adjusting the b??alance of battles.

For battles, we’ve added new main weapons, powered up some special weapons, and?? made adjustments to certain weapons and gear abilities.

For special weapons, we’ve made adjustments to improve usability, and we’ve improved the Zipcaster in partic??ular to make it easier to use in close-quarter fights while active.

Our next? update is planned for the middle of Drizzle Season 2023 and should primarily focus on balance ??adjustments.

Bug Fixes

Fixes to Player Controls

• Fixed an issue that allowed players to climb unclimbable walls in rare cases when performing certain actions right after doing a Squid Roll off a wall.
• Fixed an issue where, when a player entered an inkrail while storing a charge shot, the light indicating the stored shot sometimes persisted on other playersâ€?screens at the location where the player entered the inkrail.
• Fixed an issue where repeated, fully charged Snipewriter 5H shots at walls did not ink the walls as intended.
• Fixed an issue where player movement from a dualie Dodge Roll sometimes halted at the point where a grate meets the ground.
• Fixed an issue where brellas faced further downward than normal when opened while walking diagonally forward.
• Fixed an issue where, when defeating an enemy or assisting an ally in defeating an enemy while attempting to open the Undercover Brella, the brella’s durability sometimes did not recover.
• Fixed an issue where the position-indicator icon ceased displaying for the first Ink Mine placed after entering a stage.
• Fixed an issue where, when a player sent a Booyah! or This way! signal immediately after another player threw a clam or Golden Egg, the other player did not appear to take the Booyah! or This way! pose on the thrower’s screen.
• Made changes to lessen the frequency of an issue where if a player presses the ZR Button to fire a Trizooka shot, it sometimes seems that the next Trizooka shot won’t be fired if the player quickly presses the ZR Button.
• Fixed an issue where if a player continuously pressed the ZR Button to fire a Trizooka shot after firing a Trizooka shot, in rare cases, the shot would not be fired.
• Fixed an issue that caused the player to respawn with their special gauge slightly filled if they were splatted right after firing their third Trizooka shot, despite having used the entire special weapon.
• Fixed an issue that caused the player to respawn with their special gauge slightly filled if they were splatted right after throwing their third Triple Inkstrike shot, despite having used the entire special weapon.
• Fixed an issue that caused the lock-on cursor to be displayed for longer than usual if the player performed a Super Jump right after activating the Killer Wail 5.1 and locking onto a target.
• Fixed an issue where if a player aimed the Zipcaster down at the ground nearby, they wouldn’t be able to zip to that location, despite the sight making it appear to be a viable zip target.
• Fixed an issue that caused players who activated the Inkjet or Zipcaster near certain fences to be pushed off the stage when they returned to their original spot after the effect ended.
• Fixed an issue that caused the weapon and gear an enemy had equipped to be displayed in unintended locations when they got splatted while using the Zipcaster or trying for the Ultra Signal.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused players to get raised up if another player activated a Booyah Bomb nearby, allowing players to pass over higher obstacles than they should normally be able to.

Fixes to Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue that caused ink rain to continue falling for a certain amount of time after the end of a battle in rare cases if the Ink Storm was made at the same time that the battle ended.
• Fixed an issue in Clam Blitz mode that caused clams and power clams to disappear before they hit the floor when dropped from a certain height.
• Fixed an issue in Brinewater Springs that unintentionally allowed players to climb certain obstacles.
• Fixed an issue in Eeltail Alley that allowed ink to pass through certain walls when fired from the outer perimeter of the stage while using things like the Inkjet.
• Fixed an issue in Mincemeat Metalworks that sometimes allowed shots to pass through the terrain when fired at where it met certain walls.
• Fixed an issue in Hammerhead Bridge where it was sometimes possible to set Ink Mines on certain un-inkable floors.
• Fixed an issue in Museum d’Alfonsino in Tower Control and Rainmaker mode where it was possible to ink the floor under certain boxes, increasing the special gauge and adding points.
• Fixed an issue in Inkblot Art Academy in Rainmaker mode where foes behind certain thin walls sometimes took damage when a Rainmaker shot was fired at those walls.
• Fixed an issue in Sturgeon Shipyard where it was sometimes possible to set Ink Mines on certain un-inkable floors.
• Fixed an issue in Sturgeon Shipyard where it was not possible to swim on certain walls even when inked.
• Fixed an issue in Wahoo World where, while moving around the perimeter of the central high ground in swim form, it was possible to get on top of areas without places to stand.
• Fixed an issue in Wahoo World where players sometimes became unable to move when attempting to Super Jump while on top of the orange cones.
• Fixed an issue in Brinewater Springs where it was possible to see players on certain floors through the glass of display cases below the floor.
• Fixed an issue in Manta Maria where it was possible to get into unintended areas.
• Fixed an issue in Barnacle & Dime where some boxes placed on the stage were not displaying on the Turf Map.
• Fixed an issue in Humpback Pump Track where the appearance of certain walls did not change even when inked.

Fixes to Salmon Run

• Fixed an issue where players sometimes clipped into terrain when the position of a Reefslider’s explosion overlapped with a Scrapper.
• Fixed an issue where, when a player defeated a Scrapper in a single attack, the Scrapper sometimes appeared to other players to move as if sliding before being defeated.
• Fixed an issue where Flipper-Flopper rings sometimes overlapped with the sea, making them difficult to ink back.
• Fixed an issue in Sockeye Station where Maws sometimes got stuck at certain positions in the water and would not come out.
• Fixed an issue in Sockeye Station and Jammin' Salmon Junction that sometimes caused players to clip into terrain when pushed by a Flyfish that appeared from certain positions.
• Fixed an issue in Gone Fission Hydroplant where Tenta Brellasâ€?launched brellas sometimes disappeared.
• Fixed an issue in Jammin' Salmon Junction where Salmonids sometimes got stuck on walls during special Rush waves.
• Fixed an issue in Jammin' Salmon Junction where Golden Eggs that appeared at certain positions sometimes got buried in walls.

Fixes to Splatfests

• Fixed an issue where, when Keep Going was selected after winning a 100x Battle or 333x Battle, sometimes the stages did not change even when the scheduled update time arrived.

Other Fixes

• Fixed an issue where selecting certain titles in certain languages caused the game to crash.
• Fixed an issue with title selection where shuffling and selecting a title at the same time, then selecting a new title would sometimes cause a different title to be displayed.
• Fixed an issue where, when a friend dropped in while players were playing Regular Battle, the screen for selecting whether to continue did not indicate that a player was waiting to join.
• Fixed an issue where pressing the L Button to open the menu at certain times while using a weapon in the lobby, Grizzco, or the Shoal sometimes caused the player’s controls and weapon-related animations to cease working properly.
• Fixed an issue in multiplayer Tableturf Battle where players were sometimes determined to be inactive and disconnected when they opened their own deck’s Card List after finalizing a card’s position, then waited for their opponent to finalize for a long time without input.
• Fixed an issue in Private Battles via the Shoal where playersâ€?nicknames did not change, even if Use amiibo Username was enabled, if the player’s current equipment matched the weapons and gear recorded on the scanned amiibo.

The post Splatoon 3 Patch 5.0.0 brings a platter?? of levels, weapons, and tweaks appeared first on Destructoid.

For the most part, I don't have a dog in the hut when it comes to Splatoon 3 Splatfests. I mean sure, sometimes it might be important for Ganondorf to beat ou?t Lin??k and Zelda (he has real edgy Venom/Shadow energy that should be celebrated) when I have nothing better to ??do that week. But the resu?lts for this particular Splatfest are too spicy not to share.

According to a twee??t from Nintendo over the weekend, Money beat out Fame and Love to take the golden crown. There's something utterly terrifying about seeing the phrase "Money Wins!" popping up in a cute little paintball game featuring squid kids. At least it wasn't a blowout! As a reader has pointed out Love has won twice in the past in the wholesome Splatoon-verse: bu?t money winning (in any contex??t) isn't surprising.

//?twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/16?90919098958462976

Here are the final results for the August Money/Fame/Love Splatfest

• Money - 33p
• Fame - 12p
• Love - 12p

How is Splatoon 3 as 2023 rolls on?

Well, it's steady.

I don't think anyone expected Epic Games/Fortnite-level support for this third iteration, but things have slowed down considerably after Nintendo announced the Inkpolis DLC roughly five months after launch. Until that point Splatoon 3 was sitting pretty, riding on the wave of ranked play, Salmon Run, and Tableturf Battle. At launch, Splatoon 3 had a decent spread of modes that kept people playing throughout the holiday season, bolstered by the aforementioned Splatfest events. Afterward, the cracks began to show a bit, which Nintendo has addressed somewhat with quality-of-life patches. A bonafide tournament system is also on the way, as is a second campaign-focused DLC called Side Order.

What will Splatoon 4 bring to the table? (Update)

It'll be interesting to see how Nintendo handles a potential Splatoon 4. It feels like (creatively at least) they need to go the spinoff route at this point, as they've likely squeezed all the juice they can out of the basic format introduced in Splatoon 1 all the way back in 2015. But as this recent Spl??atfest reveals, money talks!

Sales-wise Splatoon 3 is holding incredibly strong, so maybe we'll get another iteration with a new campaign and city, on top of a new mode that backs up Salmon Run and Tableturf. Either way, I'm sure the fans will be satisfied. Splatoon has carved a nice little profitable niche out for it??self, and ha?s cemented itself as one of Nintendo's premiere franchises.

The post Unsur??prisingly, money bea??ts fame and love in newest Splatoon 3 Splatfest appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo live service games often launch without a bevy of features, especially when it comes to the competitive scene. But it looks like they're going to rectify that mistake post-launch for Splatoon 3, if this new announcement pans out.

Buried at the bottom of this Splatoon 3 feature page (spotted by Twitter user OatmealDome) is a new listing for a "Tournament Manager," which is essentially a private tournament facilitator. Currently "in development," the manager would serve as a link between Splatoon 3 itself and the Sp?latNet 3 app, which will allow tournament organizers (TOs) to create and control their own tournaments, which includes bracket creation (!), and the automatic creation of lobbies, as well as automatic reporting (cutting down on a lot of the administra??tive work running tournaments).

This is a fairly big deal for the Splatoon 3 community, as it allows anyone to run local tournaments with ease, and instantly create communities without having to manually do all of the legwork involved in the competitive scene. Currently, there is no timeline for the project's completion, but Nintendo will "release more details" when they arise. All of t??his info is coming in as a ??result of a new patch drop, so things are looking up for Splatoon 3.

You can find all of the info at this link. Again, you'll need to scroll a??ll the way to the very bottom. Like, the very, very bot??tom!

Splatoon 3 Tournament Manager info

We’re de??veloping a service called Splatoon 3 Tournament Manager to help support the creation of private? tournaments using the Private Battle feature in the Splatoon 3 game!

The service will link bot??h the Splatoon 3 game and the SplatNet 3 service together to help players? create and manage tournaments on demand.

The following f??eatures are currently plann??ed (subject to change):

• Tournament-bracket creation and round-progression support.
• Automatic generation of Private Battle rooms used for tournament play.
• Automatic reporting of match results.

We’ll release more detai??ls when development is complete.

The post Nintendo is working on a game-changing tournament system for Splatoon?? 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Tutti Fruity, what a cutie

During this morning's Nintendo Direct presentation, the studio revealed the details of the next Splatoon 3 splatfest, which will be taking place in the pop??ular and super messy team shooter in mid-July.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=98TZHMaP6yA

The new splatfest, which is perfect for the summer season, focuses on delicious ice cream, and asks players which is their favorite flavor chosen from the trinity of Vanilla, Strawberry, and Mint Choc Chip. There's no sign of Neopolitan, so you can't cheat, and Rum 'n' Raisin isn't on deck, so I guess I'm out. In this case, I'll go with MCC, but that wi?ll also side me with Big Man, and that dude bothers me.

Anyway, the ice-cream splatfest will take place on the weekend of July 14, so be sure to jump into the arena and win the side for ??your favorite ice-cold treat... Well, at least from these three particular choices.

The post The next Splatoo?n 3 splatfest has us all scream for ice cream appeared first on Destructoid.

In California, Sizzle Season is more commonly known as "The State is on Fire" Season

I'm not sure what happened between me and Splatoon, but spare time to play the game seemed to evaporate for me once th??e series made the move to Nintendo Switch. I still adore everything about this ?series. I just have a tough time making space in my schedule for it. Hopefully, I can find a way to turn that around with the start of Sizzle Season. This morning, Nintendo dropped a fresh trailer for the game detailing everything players will experience in the new season, including a new gun modeled after the Super Scope.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mLdx4sVKw

Something tells me that Super Scope will get a lot more play than the actual one. As you saw in the trailer, a fan-style paintbrush is also being added to Splatoon 3 with the Sizzle Season as well as the wonderfully named Barnacle & Dime stage, rendered as one incredibly opulent mall. Kudos to the translators who decided the best way to connect with the kids today is to name the stage?? ??after a line of stores that haven't been relevant for 30 years.

In addition to the new stage and weapons, the Sizzle Season will also introduce Jammin' Salmon Junction for Salmon Run, new clothes, new cards, and new challenges like?? Too M??any Trizookas.

That sounds like a pretty solid season if you ask me. While I still need to play through the story of Splatoon 2, I should probably dedicate at least some of my time each week to the multiplayer of Splatoon 3. If only so I don't miss?? out on some sick-as-hell threads.

Sizzle Season starts in Splatoon 3 on June 1, 2023.

The post The Splatoon 3 Sizzle Season trailer is a good reminder that I don’t play this game enough appeared first on Destructoid.

But lordy I miss P&M so much... Mainly P

One of the best elements of every new Splatoon splatfest competition is the fun splash art that is daubed to announce the occasion, usually featuring the game's hosts dallying about with the subject matter of the splatfest itself. And if you, like me, are a fan of said art, then you'll be stoked to hear that Nintendo has gathered together each and every piece, newly curated in an online gallery.

The gallery features the artwork for almost every splatfest to date, from the original Splatoon all the way through to Splatoon 3, funkily daubed by the series' lon?g-term art director Seita Inoue.

From Splatoon's Squid Sisters, Callie and Marie, through Splatoon 2 rap-rock group Off the Hook �better known as Pearl and Marina �to Splatoon 3's trinity of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, each and every contest is accounted for. Ketchup vs. Mayo, Action vs. Comedy, Chicken vs. Egg, Mov??ies vs. Books, and even the bizarre "Pocky Sticks with More Chocolate vs. Pocky Sticks with Less Chocolate.

At first glance, there seems to be a lot of artwork missing but be sure to click on the links on each piece to switch out for alternates, that way you can also see some of the licensed splatfests �special events that featured collaborations with brands such as Pokemon, TMNT, and Hello Kitty. It's definitely lovely to see all of this fun 'n' funny artwork once again, even though I can't he??lp but feel a pang of wistful nostalgia ?for my gurls P&M. I'm glad that some of the old hosts make a cameo from time to time.

You can visit the Splatoon splatfest art gallery right here.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch. Be sure to check out the most recent splatfest results.

The post All the?? great Splatoon splatfest art curated in online gallery appeared first on Destructoid.

Who needs Wisdom when you got POWAH?

The ink is dry on the latest splatfest, which was held this weekend on Nintendo's messy arena shooter, Splatoon 3 �In keeping with this week's festivities, Squid Kids and Octolings battled it out over 48 hours of gooey 'n' grueling mayhem to ascertain which glorious segment of The Legend of Zelda's iconic Triforce was the community's favorite.

And, in a hard-fought and quite narrow victory, it seems that the Splatoon community craves Power over all, as Shiver's Team Power segment bagged a clear victory over Frye's Team Wisdom, (there's an oxy?moron), and Big Man's Team Courage. Power took the points in each and every category �including Sneak Peek, Public Vote, Open Play, Pro Play,? and Tricolor �though it should be noted that Wisdom and Courage both held their own in each category. It was a close call, despite Power's clean sweep.

//twitter.com/Splato?onNA/status/1655396316925644801?s=20

This splatfest was, of course, held in order to promote the release of Nintendo's biggest game of 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which launches later this week exclusively on Nintendo Switch. Splatoon has been used by Nintendo in the past to smartly cross-promote its other releases, such as Pokemon and Super Mario, and has, from time to time, teamed with other brands for special sponsored splatfests.

This latest victory continues to push Splatoon 3 host S??????????????????????????hiver's lead, as ??she claims her fourth victory of seven total splatfests to date.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches May 12 on Nintendo Switch.

The post Splato??on 3 Legend of Zelda splatfest sees the Triforce of Power flourish appeared first on Destructoid.

#TeamPower

We're roughly one month out from the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and another Nintendo property is joining the festivities. Splatoon 3 will host a Zelda-themed Splatfest on the weekend before Tears of the Kingdom's launch.

Running from May 5 to May 7, this special Splatfest will split players up amongst the three sections of the Triforce: Wisdom, Power, and Courage. Pick your favorite aspect of the Triforce, or maybe just your favorite holder to back, and join in the inky battles.

The Splatfest will also host fights on a special version of Scorch Gorge, with a Triforce-style layout. This map seems pretty well-suited to Tricolor Turf Wars in particular?, which seems like it could make that mode fairly appealing for the weekend.

//twitter.c??om/NintendoAmerica/status/1646876839527485440

Get your Splatoon x Zelda virtual look too

It's not just about the battles, though. As any Splatoon player will tell you, it's as much about the fashion. And this special three-way Splatfest will also have residents of the Splatlands dressing up in themed shirts for the showdown, too.

Themed shirts are also hitting the Nintendo store, for real-life wear. So if you're a fan of both Splatoon and Zelda, and wanted to express that in everyday life, you've got an easy medium for it now. There's also a sale available for a bundle with Splatoon 3 and a three-month Nintendo Switch membership, runni?ng from Apr?il 17 through May 7.

Nintendo hosted a launch-window Splatfest for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as well, and it's nice to see them keeping the trend up. It's a fun way to celebrate a new game launch, and all the added theming and cosmetics are a neat touch. So yes, I think I'll be booting Splatoon back u??p for a few match??es, just to lock in my Power vote and shirt.

The post Splatoon 3 is hosting a Legend of Zelda??-themed Splatfest next month appeared first on Destructoid.

Add this banner to the billions of others you don't use

Splatoon 3 is keeping up the same cute marketing campaign as it has in the past: adding "SplatNet"? rewards that require scanning in a QR code. T?his one, released in late March 2023, involves a "Boston-themed banner." No, it's not a Dunkin Donuts/Ben Affleck promo. But there is a lobster (lobstah?) involved.

//twitter.com/SplatoonNA/??status/1640186892908937217

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdesjIP2AA&t=7079s

Said banner is Boston-themed because of the recent Splatoon 3 tournament sponsored by Nintendo: which was held at PAX East this past weekend in Boston, Massachusetts. Team Starburst beat out team Destiny Bond with a?? sweep, becoming the winners of the 2023 Splatoon 3 North American Championship. Hey look, it's a free gift! Take it or leave it.

Scan this QR code for the Splatoon 3 Boston reward:

[caption id="attachment_371169" align="alignnone" width="512"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

• First off, you can’t just scan the QR code with your camera app on your phone. You’ll need to go download the Nintendo Switch Online a??pp on either iOS or Android.
• Once you have the app, load it up, log into your Nintendo Switch Online account, and look for the Splatoon 3 icon at the top. That’s actually “Splatnet 3,â€?and it’s the app-within-the-app that you’ll need to use to scan the below codes.
• After Splatnet 3 loads, scroll to the bottom and look for the “QR Code Readerâ€?icon.
• Select “use your smartphone’s camera to scan a QR codeâ€?to directly scan codes from this article, or select “scan a QR code from a saved imageâ€?(you may need to give your app access to your phone’s camera or image collection).
• That’s it! The code will then redeem and you’ll be able to pick the reward up from ?the in-game terminal. Depending on the size of the code you may need to move your camera around a bit.

The post The latest Splatoon 3 rewar?d is a Boston-themed lobstah ba??nner appeared first on Destructoid.

UFO of the River Noch*

Nintendo has announced the topic of debate that will be leading Octolings and Squid Kids into the March 2023 splatfest �And this time around it's a question of myths and ?legends, as hosts Shiver, Frye, and Big Man want to know whether you believe in Nessie, Aliens, or Bigfoot.

Believi??ng in more than one is, appa?rently, not an option. So get off the fence and commit.

//twitter.com/NintendoAm?erica/status/1636351619188023299?s=20

On the weekend of March 31, players will be tasked with picking their monster of choice, before rallying forth into battle against their fellow Splatoon fans. For the purposes of this particular tourney, Shiver will be repping Nessie, Frye will be Team Aliens, while Big Man, as his name would denote, is all about Bigfoot. As per usual, a public vote will be held in Inkopolis, while match points will be tallied from Pro, Open, Tricolor, and Sneak Peek, with the ultimate winner revealed on Sunday,? April 2.

So, who have you got? I know aliens exist because I've seen Marvin the Martian, and I know Bigfoot exists because he lived with The Hendersons. Additionally, I know that not just one Nessie, but an entire family of Nessies exist. I'm not sure who to roll with, so I guess I'll stick with my m??ain girl Frye, and thus I'm fighting for the Xenomorphs, for E.T. for Xtro, and for the Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

The March 2023 Splatoon 3 splatfest kicks off on Fr??iday, March 31 and will run u?ntil Sunday, April 2.

_{*This is a reference for me and me alone, don't sweat it.}

Related: How to Transfer?? Your Splatoon 2 Save File to Splatoon 3 on PrimaGames

The post Splatoon 3’s next splatfest is all about monstrous legends appeared first on Destructoid.

No more errant notifications

With Nintendo continuing their ascent into the online world, there's bound to be snafus every so often: especially with first party games. Splatoon 3 had one ?minor issue pop up recently, and it involved?? friend lists.

The popular "ghosting" or "appear offline" feature has been standard in PC games/PC platforms for many years, but consoles were slower to the take. While the feature exists now on major platforms, it doesn't always go as planned. In Splatoon 3's case, some users were reporting?? that notificatio??ns would be sent to their friends, despite the fact that they had their public appearance settings locked down to "best friends only," or "share my status with no one."

As of this week, that should be fixed now thanks to patch 3.0.1. I told yo??u it was a minor up??date! Either way if this was happening to you, breathe easy.

Splatoon 3 Version 3.0.1 - Released March 8, 2023 (Full patch notes)

Fixes to Notifications

• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused notifications to be sent to a user’s friends, even if that friend’s system Friend Settings were set to only display their online status to “Best Friendsâ€?or “No One.â€?
  • If a user and their friends are connected to the same Pool, notifications will continue to display regardless of their Friend Settings.

Note: Compatible with Ver. 3.0.0 battle replays. Not compatible with Ve??r. 2.1.1 or ??earlier battle replays.

The post Splatoon 3 just got a minor patch that fixes friend list is?s?ues appeared first on Destructoid.

Reminder: You'll do this in the Splatnet 3 app within the Nintendo Switch Online app

Nintendo has slowly been distributing QR codes for Splatoon 3 players, which grant some form of free in-game bonuses. Today's code includes a new banner, which is accessible below or on the official Japanese Splatoon Twitter account. Neat!

Splatoon 3 is still chugging along, as?? it recently got its first DLC in the? form of a remaster (of sorts) of the original game's hub. Weirdly it's identical to ?the new hub (and even sells the same gear), but I'm sure folks will enjoy the oddity a?nd the nostalgia. Besides, the real meaty DLC is coming eventually anyway, this is just the prelude.

As a note, you can't just directly scan the QR code. Instead, you'll need?? to scan it in the Splatne??t 3 app, which is actually an app within an app inside of the Nintendo Switch Online app. Not so neat! At the very least once you get the process down, it's not so bad. Also it's an excuse to dig out the Nintendo Switch Online app, which I barely use these days.

For instructions on how to scan Splatoon 3 QR codes as well as a full list of current codes, check out our guide here. Don't forget to redeem them at the terminal!

//twitter.com/SplatoonJP/status/16311?814273??40644353

The post Here’s another Splatoon 3 QR code to scan for a free reward appeared first on Destructoid.

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 m?ade 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.

//tw??itter.?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 han?gout spots and stores. Speaking of stores, Fresh Season 2023 will see the arrival of a whole new catalog o??f cosmetic purchases �including new gear, decorations, splashtags, stickers, and emotes �for a grand total of 126 items.

The new season will also see the addition of two new stages: the Azteci?an 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, Tableturf 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.

The post Splatoon 3 dro?ps its hefty Version 3.0 update today appeared first on Destructoid.

Spring has spranged

Nintendo of Europe has announced via Twitter that the first wave of the previously announced Splatoon 3 DLC will arrive on February 28, 2023. Previously, Nintendo stated that this wave would arrive in Spring, and unless you listen to ground-dwelling marmots, that isn’t until late March?.

The first of Splatoon 3’s paid DLC will be coming in two waves. As far as I can tell, this first wave contains the Inkopolis Plaza first seen in the original Splatoon. You’ll be able to see what’s happened in the past 7 or 8 Springs, catch up with the shopkeepers, and even see the Squid Sisters perform w??hen Splatfest rolls around.

[embed]//youtu.be/qpn0UPPvAb8[/embed]

That’s cool. That’s weird. I’ve never really thought of a lobby as paid DLC material, but maybe this is just the appetizer. There’s a second wave that will be coming along eventually, and that includes a story campaign that involves Inkopolis Square, the Splatoon 2 hub. I’m going to assume that’s where the meat of this?? DLC is really going to be, but Nintendo hasn’t done a super-great job of communicating that. Hopefully, we’ll finally get the ability to play as Salmonids.

Splatoon 3 is availa?ble right now on Switch. The first wave of DLC hits February 28, 2023, with the second wave coming before the end of the year.

The post The first wave of Spla??toon 3 DLC surfaces February 28 appeared first on Destructoid.

No accounting for taste... literally.

Well, when you're right 52% of the time, you're wrong 48% of the time, and yer pal Moyse has certainly been left with Milkybar on their face. The curtain has fallen on the latest Splatoon 3 splatfest and, in the battle of "Best Chocolate", Team White has... somehow... beaten both Milk and Dark to claim victory.

In what has to be the most "I demand a recount" splatfest in the history of Nintendo's arena-shooter franchise, White Chocolate beat out Best Choice Dark, and the acceptable runner-up, Milk. Worse still, the victory was a CLEAN SWEEP, with Team White taking the public vote and every last one of the points �Pro, Open, Tricolor, Sneak Peek �for a staggering score of ??57p.

Somebody's playing a prank on me. This just has to be a joke. Look at Frye, that's literally me writing this.

//twitter.com/OatmealDome/status/16249526???50721640450?s=20&t=mWei1qlgGFdw5WRYfn_Hkg

And with this highly dubious victory, it's another notch in the belt of Big Man, who is now tied with Shiver for splatfest victories, two to two. Don't count out my girl Frye, though. The adorable lil' gremlin bagged her first victory during the Sweet vs. Sour vs. Spicy splatfest, and I expect her to rack up more wins as 2023 rolls out. Right now, I'm off to buy a family size ?bar of Bournville and sulk my troubles away.

Splatoon 3 is avai?lable now exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

Related: How to Earn Clout in Splatoon 3 on Prima Games

The post What’s wrong with you? Team White Chocolate wins Splatoon 3 splatfest appeared first on Destructoid.

Squid Sisters Forever

The ink has dispersed around Splatoon 3’s first DLC. The Splatoon 3 Expansion pass has been announced, with the first? of two waves is coming in Spring 2023.

The first wave has revealed a return of the original Splatoon’s Inkopolis hub area. This includes the shops, with some familiar faces showing up. The Squid Sisters will also perform during Splatfests?.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpn0UPPvAb8

Not much was really shown beyond the hub world. I’d have ?to think that there’s more to it than just that, however, even though it pokes the nostalgia center of the brain nicely. The tempura dude, Fred Crumbs looks pr??etty awesome. And delicious.

The second wave of the DLC is titled “side order,�but beyond that, we mostly have just a teaser. It shows a town that resembles a bleached reef with an Oct?oling standing among the whitened buildings.

The expansion pass should be available to purchase today. H?owever, we’re waiting until Sp?ring 2023.

The post Spla??toon 3 bloats up with the first wave of its Expansion P?ass this spring appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet surpass expectations as well

Just today we touched base with Nintendo to see how their top 10 all-time best-seller list for Switch was doing, and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet kind of smashed th?e windows on the way in. It turns out a few other games are doing well, too!

Nintendo reports that Splatoon 3 has sold 10.13 million units since its September 2022 launch, firmly placing it just outside of the top 10 list, somewhat in reach of Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee's 15.07 million. It just needs to best two more games to catch up to Splatoon 2, and four more games to crack the top 10. Given how Splatoon games typically have decent tails,?? it ?should at least climb a few more spots before it settles in.

In the wide world of digital recreational activity, Nintendo Switch Sports commanded a respectable 8.61 million units, putting it directly in the top 20 all-time best-selling Switch game list. This kind of came out of nowhere for me, as I hardly ever hear about it in passing, but there's likely enough nostalgia there for the original Nintendo-branded "Sports" series th??at you just don't ponder on a regular b??asis.

Big picture, Nintendo now has 27 games that are million-sellers; with Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Mario Strikers: Battle League, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus joining those ranks in 2022.

A full breakdown of Nintendo's sales trends for 2022 and part of 2023

[caption id="attachment_361724" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The post Spla??toon 3 pushes over 10 million units since launch, Switch Sports is right behin?d it appeared first on Destructoid.

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 octolings everywhere to pick their fa?vorite 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 absolu??tely-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 mayhem. 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.com/NintendoEurope/status/1618539655586095106?s=20&t=8Wdawb??8Bia4Zx4QWq2FNmw

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 could 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 du??ring, 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.

The post Splatoon 3 next splatfest set to tickle your chocolate tasteb??uds appeared first on Destructoid.

Ready for all you weekend warriors

Load up on paint, and bring your friends, as Nintendo has released its hefty Version 2.1.0. update for its messy multiplayer shooter Splatoon 3. Now available to download on Nintendo Switch, the new patch brings a laun??dry list of balance tweaks, bug fixes, U.I. poli??shes, and much more.

It's difficult to know where to start when an update has this much coverage... There has been an array of buffs and nerfs to many tools in the Splatoon 3 arsenal, from damage, to spread, to ink consumption, to fire rate. The Dynamo Roller, Jet Squelc??????????????????????????her, Sloshing Machine, Aerosprays MG & R??G, and Nautilus 47 have all been tweaked, for better or worse, while sub-weapons and gear skills such as Angle Shooter and Ninja Squid have also seen minor overhauls.

"A lot of the adjustments to main weapons were made to lessen the impact on some of the weapons from Splatoon 2 where the increased performance of the gear ability was negated in Splatoon 3," says the development team of the rebalancing. "Regarding cha??nges to Ninja Squid, while mitigating the issue where players would lose sight of each other when shooting at each other from a relatively short distance, we’re also intentionally maintaining the?? way to approach opponents with longer ranges."

//www.youtube.?com/watch?v=-ODI00fgeS0&ab_channel=Destructoid

"We reduced the amount needed to fill special gauges for some weapons and within that group strengthened some frequently used short-range weapons to increase player options," continues the notes. "We increased the amount needed to fill speci??al gauges for some weapons and within that group curtailed somewhat the tactic of using sub weapons and special weapons to attack from a distance. We also made som??e adjustments to increase the manifestation of special weapons."

In addition, an enormous litany of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks have been made to a variety of Splatoon 3's modes, in?cluding multiplayer, story mode, and the famous Salmon Run. These fixes range from score errors and environmental bugs, to certain stages becoming incompatible with certain weapons, and exploits that were allowing players to go out of bounds.

For the full list of all changes in Splatoon 3 Version 2.1.0. visit the official Nintendo website.

The post Splatoon 3’s meaty Version 2.1.0 update is now live appeared first on Destructoid.

Sweet... sweeeet... sweet victory...

The final whistle has blown on this weekend's Splatoon 3 splatfest, and, as a posse of tired and sticky squid kids and octolings return to the locker room, the points have been tallied up and now have an official winner in the battle of Spicy vs. Sweet vs. Sour: Scoop yerself a victory ice-cream Team Sweet!

Yes, it appears that fans of the sweetest of treats took home the gong this weekend, walking away with a massive 30 points in total, double that of its closest competitors, Tea??m Spicy (15 points), and way ahead of third-place winner Team Sour (12 points).

Perhaps most importantly of all, this latest result has given Splatoon 3 host Frye her first splatfest win ever! The fans had been starting to feel a little sorry for her in recent weeks, as she had been yet to rack up a splatfest victory when compared to her colorful co-hosts, so it's nice to see this particular Deep Cut band member finally have their moment of glory.

Congratulations to the hard-paintin' players of Team Sweet. Make sure that you remember to go and pick up your rewards from the town square, oh, and ma??ke sure that you remember to brush your teeth three times a day. All of the sugar comes with one hellu?va price.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/SplatoonJP/status/1612270617428123648?s=2??0&t=58ojjrwyAJ7Lg0L0va5-6Q

The post Team Sw?eet creams opposition in Splatoon 3 splatfest appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you eat whole lemons or pure salt?

Nintendo has dropped the details for the first Splatoon 3 splatfest of 202??3! 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 their 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 (North America) and Saturday January 7 (Europe) and will conclude 48 hours later. We'll be sure to give y'al??l a reminder!

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/NintendoEurope/sta??tus/1603676732036468736?s=20&t=sZ4kDT5zLu2CJr1c6RZvvQ

The post January’s Splatoon 3 splatfest is a question of taste, literally appeared first on Destructoid.