This one soundtrack every Monday on the Nintendo Music app is killing me. And last week, it was Brain Age? With respect to the soundtrack, it feels like a wasted week. Thankfully, this week is one that appeared in my list of 10 Game soundtracks that need to be added?? to Nintendo Music, Splatoon 2.

We already got Splatoon 3, which is fine. It features some songs from fictional band Off The Hook. However, Splatoon 2 features the most songs from Off the Hook since that’s the game that the duo, Marina and Pearl, MC’d. I like the Squid Sisters, I’m not big on Deep Cuts, but I love Off the Hook. And now, based on the artist playlist (because the app credits fictional artists but not the real composers), we’re at 36 minutes of Off the Hook, which is probably as good as we’ll get until Splatoon 4.

Beyond Off the Hook, there are also prominent contributions from Wet Floor and Dedf1sh, as well as some great smaller acts. The series keeps building off what was done by the games before, but in isolation, Splatoon 2 had an incredibly solid soundtrack. I think it’s where the series�aural universe really started finding itself, so the composers were able to really think about the world and characters they were trying to communicate. It felt less like it was designed as background? music and more as though it was created to be a curated selection of the works ??of fictional artists.

It’s still a bummer that we’re getting a single soundtrack once a week. It’s such a Nintendo thing to do. When the Wii launched with its Virtual Console, we’d get about three games every week (until later in the lifespan when it slowed down), and a lot of people already felt that was pretty slow as they waited to see their favorite classic hit the service (though, in retrospect, that’s a pretty reasonable rate). The NSO retro apps don’t even seem to have a schedule; new games just drop a seemingly random times. It just feels like it will be quite a while before I can convenie?n?tly open the app and find whatever I’m in the mood for.

At the same time, I really enjoy the service. I could load up pretty much any of the soundtracks on YouTu?be, but the sound quality is less consistent and it’s harder to find playlists for what I’m looking for. Plus, I enjoy the organized playlists and, while I haven’t ?used the feature yet, the ability to extend any song is a useful one when it comes to video game music.

Anyway, the Splatoon 2 soundtrack is now ava??ilable on Nintendo Music, which you can d??ownload for free and use with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

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

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 Sisters and Off the Hook. Or, I guess just Off the Hook, since you can s??ee the Squid Sisters perform during Splatfest if you have the expansion.

It also seems to involve a new venue out in the desert, which seems like a really 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 Present in this debate. My therapist says I should be more focused ?that.

Splatoon 3’s G??rand Festival runs from September 13 (5pm PT) to September 15 (5??pm PT).

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Although the shutdown of the Nintendo Network this past April meant people couldn't play 3DS and Wii U games online anymore, a subset of fans challenged themselves to see how long they could stay connected in specific games until they're forcibly ejected. As of June 16, that total number has dropped from three to two after the final Splatoon on Wii U player ??revealed they lost th?eir connection.

In April, Twitter user Lcd101 somehow managed to stay online in the first Splatoon. They obviously couldn't play any multiplayer matches since the matchmaking servers were down and there was no one else to play with, but they could still access the in-game shops and view news updates. Their streak had to end eventually, though, and that's just what happened according to a recent Twitter post.

Lcd101 managed to hang on for 68 days until their connection dropped, which is a ridiculously long time. Some may not see the point behind such a feat, but if anyone decides to chronicle Splatoon 1's history in the future, Lcd101's accomplishment is going to get a mention. "Words cannot express how amazing it’s been to wake up every day and see you cheering me on. You’ve made me the luckiest squid (or octo) online and I’m just so thankful for all of your love. I’ve made so many friends over the last two months, friends that I hope to keep forever," they wrote.

Just last month, the final Xenoblade Chronicles X player also lost their online connection, meaning there are only two people left still connected to the Nintendo Network. According to Twitter user Gaffs, those players are Fishguy6564 on Mario Kart 7 and SlitherySheep on Super Mario Maker. I, for one, am definitely intrigued to see how much longer these two will stay onl????ine. Could they make it to the end of June? Maybe all summer? Whatever the case, a very passionate subset of Nintendo fans is hooked on this saga and there will certainly be a sense of melancholy once it comes to a close.

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On April 8, Nintendo shut down online functionality for the 3DS and Wii U, meaning you can no longer use online features for any games released for those platforms. Despite this, however, a single Splatoon fan on Wii U has managed to stay online.

As spotted by GamesRadar, Twitter user Lcd101, who identifies themselves as "the final Splatoon 1 player online," revealed on April 9 they were somehow able to stay connected to the Nintendo Network, sharing images of the game's matchmaking to prove it. Strangely, maps would continue to rotate as Splatoon tried and failed to find other players for Lcd101 to match ag?ainst.

It wasn't until April 23, 15 days after the Nintendo Network shutdown, that Lcd101 was finally booted from the lobby, meaning Splatoon 1's matchmaking servers are well and truly dead. However, Lcd101 is still able to access the shops, which require an online connection, and the news updates from Callie and Marie continue to run as well. "I am still online, but the lobby gives me the error code for maintenance, 106-0811. I intend to stay online in this state for as long as possible," tweeted Lcd101.

At this point, I'm just curious to see how much longer Lcd101 can hold on for. Sure, there's nothing for them to do with Splatoon's online features disabled, but there's something oddly fascinating seeing one player standing alone in the video game equivalent of a ghost town. Like we're getting a peek behind the curtain at something we shouldn't be allowed to see anymore. At some point, though, Lcd101 will be kicked out, well and truly putting Splatoon 1 to rest, at least in an official capacity.

You'd think fans would have left the original Splatoon long ago, especially with Splatoon 3 not only being the current hotness, but also on a more popular and widely available console. It's great to see fans preserving games and content that otherwise would've died from this shutdown, such as Dragon Quest 7's DLC maps.

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It's not time to?? barrel roll; instead, you should be celebrating by eating a Swiss roll as Nintendo Switch Online has added a bunch of adorable Holiday profile icons. You can use your silver coins on the service's dedicated app to get them.

The Happy Holidays section of the Missions & Rewards tab has a bunch of festive Mario icons, as well as characters like Link, Isabelle, a Splatoon Inkling, and Pikmin for 10 Platinum Point??s each. Icons aren't the only gifts available on this tab. You can get some lovely holiday backgrounds with festive colors and patterns.

You'll want to be quick, however. These seasonal rewards will only last until December 25 at 4:59 p.m. Pacific. Make sure you get on the Nintendo Switch Online?? app and redeem them before it's too late.

Take advantage of the Switch eShop holiday sale, too

Beyond these holiday profile icons, there's also a winter sale going on in the Nintendo eShop. Until December 3, you can get a 33% discount on games like Luigi's Mansion 3 and Super Mario Odyssey. Bayonetta 3's 30% off too. One of my favorite Nintendo games of the year Fire Emblem Engage (yes, it di??d come out in 2023!) has a 30% discount as well??.

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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 Spl??atoon 3, funkily daubed by the series' long-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, Movies vs. Books, and even the bizarre "Pocky Sticks with More Chocola?te 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 help but feel a pang of wistful nostalgia for my gurls P&M. I'm glad t??hat 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.

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Splatoon musician takes leave after 17 years

Video game composer Ryo Nagamatsu announced that they have left Nintendo following a 17-year tenure that saw them produce music for titles franchises including Splatoon, Mario Kart, Super Mario, and Smash Bros.

Speaking in a succinct message on Twitter, Ryo Nagamatsu implied that he has left Nintendo (amicab?ly) in order to spread his creative wings? a little further across the industry.

"I have made a decision to leave the company of April 30, 2023," writes Nagamatsu. "I will work a little wider and more directly to help those w??ho need my help and to help the industry. Thank you all for your kind support! I look forward to serve you in the future! (??an amicable settlement)"

Joining the studio in 2006, Nagamatsu plied his trade on some of the biggest releases for Nintendo platforms, composing music for Wii releases Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Wii Sports Resort. 3DS titles The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Party: Star Rush, and in more recent years oversaw music composition and voice recordings for Switch titles Splatoon 3, Mario Party Superstars, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

We can very likely look forward to hearing h?is exciting and ev??ocative compositions in future works.

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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. This one, released in late Mar??ch 2023, involves a "Boston-themed banner." No, it's not a Dunkin Donuts/Ben Affleck promo. But there is a lobster (lo??bstah?) 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 th?e Nintendo Switch Online ??app 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.

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The key prize is the Tears of the Kingdom pin at the main lobby

Nintendo is no stranger to event bonuses, and they're bringing a few goodies to PAX East 2023 this week. The loot includes a Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pin (featuring Link's cool new arm pose), as well as Splatoon pins and a Splatoon cinch bag to put everything in. ?All three of these are spread out at PAX East, located in the main entrance lobby, the Nintendo Free Play Area, and the NintendoVS?? Arcade respectively.

So the way this all goes down is through QR codes. You'll check in with My Nintendo via a QR code, will will complete the "check-in" at PAX East 2023. You can prep this now before heading to PAX through this ??lin??k. Yes, you do need My Nintendo to participate: "A Nintendo Account (aka, being a My Nintendo member) is required to take part. Only one of each kind of giveaway item will be given per account p??er day."

As for the rest, we have exact instructions below on where to find all three QR points, straight from Nintendo. Good luck! Nintendo does stress in multiple areas in the announcement article that this is while "supplies last," so you probably want to get as muc??h as you ?can on the first day.

[gall?ery link="file" size="medium" ids="369800,369801,369803"]

How to get the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Splatoon PAX East 2023 bonuses:

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Main Entrance Lobby

"While you’re in the main entrance lobby, check in with My Nintendo to receive a Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom lapel pin and 50 My Nintendo Platinum Points!"

Splatoon cinch bag - NintendoVS Arcade (booth #13055)

"The NintendoVS Arcade is open March 23-26 at booth #13055 during show hours. Whether you are competitive or casual, play Mario Party Superstars, Mario Golf: Super Rush, Super Mario Bros., and Yoshi’s Crafted World with other attendees and receive a pin at each station! On your way out, check in with My Nintendo to receive a cinch bag and 50 My Ninten??do Platinum Points!"

Splatoon pins - Nintendo Free Play Area check-in

"What happens when the Splatlands meets Boston, MA? The Spla?toon 3 North American Championship 2023 invitational, of course! Top players from the Splatoon 3 Splatsville Showdown tournament will go squid-to-squid for prizes like Splatoon 3 themed controllers and trophies. Check it out in person at the PAX Arena or tune into the tournament livestream! The splattage starts on March 26 shortly following the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championship Cup 2023 invitational. Those attending onsite at the event can also check in with My Nintendo for a Splatoon 3 button pin set!"

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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 p??op 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 notifications would be sent to their friends, despite the fact that they had their public appearance settings locked down to "best friends only," o??r "share my status with no one."

As of this week, that should be fixed now thanks to patch 3.0.1. I told you it was a minor update! Either way if this was happening to you, breat?he 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 Ver. 2.1.1 o??r earlier battle replays.

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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 the 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 cl?imb 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 that ??you just don't ponder on a regular basis.

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]

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Let's get groovy, Nintendo style

If you love live gaming music, then you're in for a treat -- Nintendo has posted a VOD of their Animal Crossing x Splatoon live concert performance from the recent Nintendo Live 2022 event to YouTube for our viewing pleasure. The event actually took place at the Tokyo Big Site in Odaiba back at the start of October, and featured tournaments for games like Nintendo Switch Sports and Super Smash Bros., as well as a stage performance from comed??y duo Yoi?ko.

Arguably the main event, however, was the Nintendo Live concert, which of course featured the soundtracks of two of its biggest franchises to date. The show started off with a video of Animal Crossing's Isabella welcoming everyone, and introducing DJ KK -- who then appeared on a screen with some other friends from the game. How adorable! KK's set goes on for a good half hour before we get to see some friendly faces from the Splatoon games: Deep Cut.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ETszC6w-mg

This is where the show really kicks off in my opinion, because we get a whole live band including two percussionists, a keyboard player, a guitarist, and a bassist, as well as some other musicians wh?o come out and join in the middle of the performance as well. They have amazing energy, and it looks like they're having a ton of fun!

The Squid Sis??ters also make an app??earance to join up with Deep Cut for the finale, which makes for a pretty epic conclusion to the whole thing. The stage set up looked amazing as well with all of the lights and LED screens, and the crowd looked like they were having a blast as well as they grooved along with their light sticks.

As someone who loves both live music shows and video game music, this Nintendo Live conce??rt is definitely one I wish I could have seen in person. At least now we can watch and rewatch it ?in perpetuity, right?

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Only for "players ranked S+0 or higher"

In the next seasonal update slated for December 1 (titled "Chill"), we're getting a number of content drops in Splatoon 3, including a few new modes, weapons, and levels.

For a subset of people, the "X Battles" addition could be the most impactful, as it promises a higher stakes ranked mode bey??ond what Anarchy Battles provide.

Here's Nintendo's full breakdown:

"Also, quick reminder that X Battles are coming in Chill Season! Players ranked S+0 or higher can get in on some action that is decidedly N??OT chill. You'll have to put your own X Power on the line to take part, but don't worry—Anarchy Battles will still be available as well. If you do decide to take?? the plunge into X Battles, you'll need to join one of two divisions sponsored by local gear brands. The Takoroka Division covers Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, while the Americas and Europe play in the Tentatek Division."

In shor??t, X Battles a??re an additional thing (and currently the highest tier possible) for competitive players to jump into. But it's very important to note that even if you've raised your rank to the point where you've unlocked X Battles, Anarchy Battles will still be available on a separate tier. So even if you end up not liking it, you can just trade back down.

I also highly suspect that X Battles are going to be getting a ??number of tweaks going forward, just?? like nearly every other mode in the game so far.

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The Splattershot Nova and Brinewater Springs are coming in the new season

Splatoon 3 is about to get a whole lot busier with its new "Chill Season," unveiled this week. But thanks to some new tweets, we now hav??e a better?? idea of what the patch will usher in.

Coming on December 1, we're getting more stages (I stress more, because some are old), including the Brinewater Springs arena; as well as more weapons, like the Splattershot Nova. The latter is really interesting based on the description: "Its power won't? blow up a planet or anything, but you can fire all day long without affecting your aim. Splat speed ahead!" Both can be viewed in the tweets below.

While we knew another season was upon us, the high-energy Pokemon Splatfest and this new season are a great shot in the arm for Splatoon 3. While the game had a lot going for it at ?launch, a lot of folks were a bit tired of it a month in. For me, Big Run could be the crown jewel of the update/Chill Season: which allows players to swap the standard Salmon Run map for a rotating selection of core multiplayer levels (beginning with Wahoo World).

Hopefully more?? of these types of updates are on the way. The frequency likely won't change, but at the very least, the team can supplement them with surgica??l quality of life changes and tweaks to build on the foundation that's already there.

Here's a look at the Splattershot Nova

//twitter.com/S??platoonNA/status/1592564555397431305

And here's Brinewater Springs, the new Splatoon 3 level

//twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/15?92564656177963008

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There's My Nintendo Splatoon 3 Pokemon rewards involved

A Pokemon Splatfest is imminent, but until then, Japan is going all-out with their celebrations for the milestone event: which includes swag, and Pokemon center partici??pation (as well as a few other locations listed below).

First up, Nintendo is offering keychains for Platinum Points (for My Nintendo Japan), including SKUs for each of the Splatfest choices: grass, fire, and water. They actually resemble the patt?erns of the t-shirts that will appear in-game, which is a nice touch.

A "Collaboration Festival" is also ?underway at Pokemon Centers "nationwide" (again, in Japan), where you can pick up tie-in stickers (featuring the key art for the event). Curiously, some centers also have "polling? stations," which include "voting stickers" for each choice.

As a reminder, everything will kick off on November 11 at 4PM PT, through November 13 a?t that sa??me time. The Pokemon Center tie-ins begin on October 21, and will run through November 13 (or, as Nintendo points out, as long as supplies last).

Here's a list of the Japanese locations hosting Pokemon Splatfest events:

• Bic Camera Sapporo (Hokkaido)
• Bic Camera Yurakucho (Tokyo)
• Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba (Tokyo)
• Bic Camera Lazona Kawasaki (Kanagawa)
• Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Yokohama (Kanagawa)
• Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Umeda (Osaka)
• Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Hakata (Fukuoka)
• "All Pokemon Center stores"

[Update: The US My Nintendo site has been updated, and ?confirms that the trio of keychains ar?e "coming soon" to the US side.]

[Update #2: The Splatoon 3 keychain set is live on My Nintendo as of last night. It is indeed a set of all three, and sold out quickly. Hopefully they'll restock it, but note t?hat the listing is live, if you want to bookmark it/check ?in on it.]

The post Japan is going all-out for Splatoon 3’s upcoming Pokemon Splatfest (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

"A bug has been found in the Ver.1.2.0 update of Splatoon 3 that affects the Rainmaker Anarchy Battle mode"

Another Splatoon 3 bug has crept up on the team, as version 1.2.0 (which just came out) caused an issue wit????h Rainmaker mode: found in the Anarchy Battle (ranked) playlist.

Here's the full tweet from Nintendo:

"A bug has been found in the Ver.1.2.0 update of #Splatoon3 that affects the Rainmaker Anarchy Battle mode??. We will release an update soon to fix this issue. In the meantime, Rainmaker has been temporarily removed from Anarchy Battle. We apologize for the inconvenience."

So in short, as described by reliable dataminer OatmealDome, the actual bug involves a score counter reset if you touch a checkpoint. That's...instant-shutdown worthy for a competitive mode. Funnil??y enough I've seen some chatter in my circle??s that some folks seem to like it: as they didn't enjoy Rainmaker anyway, and are enjoying it being out of the rotation.

While I'm still really enjoying Splatoon 3, it's been hit by multiplayer bugs since launch, including connection issues. That last patch had roughly 100 fixes, so it was bound to mess up something else. It's the Bethesda open world RPG patch effect! That's pretty much how every major Fallout 76 patch played out in the early day?s, with a minor patch afterward to smooth things out.

[Update: As o??f October 28, Nintendo has implemented patch?? 1.2.1, which fixes the Rainmaker problems stated above. The mode is now back in the rotation.]

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A few places are sold out, but there will be more in the market

Although the set of three Splatoon 3 amiibo haven't actually come out yet, we're going back to Splatoon 2 this week in some form or another with a Splatoon 2 amiibo restock.

We knew this was coming, but as amiibo News points out, the figure trio are back today online, but several retailers are sold out of various stock: meaning, if you wanted to pick these up at some point, now isn't a bad time. Amazon, Best Buy, and Gamestop have units in stock, but it's not guarant?eed any one of them will be in.

At the moment of publication, here is what seems to be available for the Splatoon 2 amiibo wave:

• Amazon has? the Inkling Boy (Green)?? and Inkling Squid (Purple) for slightly over MSRP
• Best Buy has Inkling Boy (Green) fully in stock at MS??RP
• GameStop is currently out of stock, but may get more in

Here's what the amiibo situation looks like going forward (2022-2023):

• Splatoon Inkling (Yellow)
• Octoling (Blue)
• Smallfry
• Sephiroth
• Pyra/Mythra
• Kazuya
• Sora (still needs full confirmation)

As always, you can check out when those were released here in our master amiibo list, which has been updated since 2014.

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The upcoming amiibo trio are now implemented

Splatoon 3 version 1.2.0 Nintendo Support: How to Update Splatoon 3, and it's a big one: one of the biggest patches in Splatoon history, actually.

There's a few aspects of t?his patch that we can break down individually.

More amiibo support

For one, amiibo support is in for the Inkling (Yellow), O??ctoling (Blue) and Smallfry figures. Those will?? arrive in several weeks, on November 11.

Faster data transfer

Here's a quic??k rundown of how Nintendo is summing up the new data transfer improvements:

On average, data will be transferred about 0.5 seconds more quickly than before. Users can expect to see a reduction in time ??it takes from a player being dealt damage to them being defeated, the time it takes from touching a golden egg to actua??lly picking it up, and other similar actions.

Tons of fixes

The biggest part of the Splatoon 3 1.2.0 patch is fixes! And tons of them! The??re's over 100 in tow, including alterations to multiplayer and story mode.

While not strictly limited to the fixes portion of the patch notes, the team also "improved the efficiency of matchmaking" for anarchy battles (open and series), as well as splatfest battles (ope??n) and tricolor attack. Simply put, this should theoretically lead to "shorter wait times."

What's in store for the future?

Nintendo says that "the next update," which is slated for "the season beginning in December??," will usher in weapon balance changes, as well as more meaningful changes to the Splatfest Tricolor Attack mode. It will ??be released "at the end of the current season."

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Target still has them up currently

Splatoon 3 amiibo pre-orders are beginning to roll out this week, as Best Buy and?? Target have kicked off sales.

The thing is: Best Buy is constantly running out of Splatoon 3 amiibo pre-orders minutes after restocks: while Target still has all three in stock in the second run. You're looking for Splatoon Inkling (Yellow), Octoling (Blue), and Smallfry. The packaging for the new Splatoon 3 run includes black, blue, and yellow coloring. Amiibo News is reporting that they could go in stock at A??mazon imminently.

Currently, the release date is still officially November 11. All three will arrive on that d??ate, and will provide costume bonuses, like other key amiibo released so far for the series. You'll also be able to take pictures with the figures for your own enjoyment. So you'r?e not missing a ton by forgoing this round of figurines: which is par for the course for a lot of amiibo releases these past few years. That said, I fully expect the new idol trio will be on sale at some point.

Once these three are released in November, we’ll have the following?????????????????????????? announced amiibo remaining:

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Wave 11 (2022-2023):

• Sephiroth
• Pyra/Mythra
• Kazuya
• Sora (still needs full confirmation)

As always, you can check out when those were released here in our master amiibo list, which has been updated since 2014.

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Paint Party kicking in right now

Nintendo's colorful arena shooter series made its grand return last month, with the arrival of madcap multiplayer release Splatoon 3 �And, according to new figures in Famitsu, it appears to have had nothing less than the proverbial blockbuster launch, raking in phys??????????????????????????ical and digital sales wo?rldwide and taking the retail market by storm in Japan in particular.

In fact, for September 2021, Splatoon 3 sold 2.7 million physical copies in the territory, which accounts for an incredible 69% of all of Japan's gaming retail for the month in question. Previously, Nintendo had already celebrated Splatoon 3 shifting 3.45 million copies in a mere three days, making it Japan's fastest-selling Nintendo Switch release ever. Splatoon 3 has been the most dominant seller in series' history, which is unfathomable when you consider hosts Pearl & Marina ha?ve taken time out for this entry.

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

On the hardware front, Japan also shifted a further 500,000 Nintendo Switch units in September, suggesting that Splatoon 3 has also been a major platform mover in the territory. And, while Nintendo is not particularly forward in the revelation of its games' sales figures, we also know that Splatoon 3 has also been a success overseas, scoring the series its first Number One in the UK sales charts.

Splatoon, as a franchise, has gone from strength to strength with each consecutive release. The series' success goes beyond the engaging gameplay and fun multiplayer action, with Splatoon successfully building a true community of players, as happy to hang around Inkopolis and share emotes and sketches as they are to run around covering the floor and walls in Day-Glo colors. Splatoon may have started out as a typic??al team shooter, built it has become something more, wit?h fan art, live shows, a healthy competitive scene, and merchandising all helping to grow the franchise into something very special.

Splatoon 3 sold 2.7m boxed copies in three weeks [GamesIndustry.biz]

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The "winter" window has been narrowed down

Several months ago, Nintendo teased a trio of Splatoon 3 amiibo (Octoling Blue, Inkling Yellow, and Smallfry) arriving "this holiday." Well thanks to a new YouTube video, the releas??e date has been na?rrowed down to November 11.

Roughly the first minute of the video is a recap of everything we covered here: including basic amiibo functionality. But in the remaining 20 seconds or so there's a release date announcement, plus a brief look at what costumes the upcoming amiibo will grant players. Reprints of several old Splatoon amiibo (including Pearl and Marina) are coming around the same time, so keep an?? eye out for those as well.

Keep in mind that as of late, amiibo haven't been as super rare as they have been in the past. While old school amiibo hunters are always ready for an instant-sell-out situation, stock has generally been plentifu??l: so hopefully that will be the case for these figures too.

Once these three are released in November, we'll have the following announc??ed amiibo remaining:

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Wave 11 (2022-2023):

• Sephiroth
• Pyra/Mythra
• Kazuya
• Sora (still needs full confirmation)

As always, you can check out when those were released here in our master amiibo list, which has been updated since 2014.

Splatoon 3 amiibo date announcement:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHyTzo3gAQ4

A look at the Splatoon 3 amiibo costumes:

[gallery link="file" columns="??2" ids="347098,347099"??]

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A Splatoon 3 Pokemon Splatfest is coming!

A Splatoon 3 Pokemon Splatfest is on the way, thanks to a new announcement from Nintendo just this morning. It'll force you to choose between a grass, fire, and water starter: and make the same hard choice you made decades?? ago (or in whatever generation you started in).

Here's what Nintendo has to s?ay about the upcoming event:

"Grass-type. Fire-type. Water-type. Since 1998 (or 1996 depending on where you lived), this debate has perplexed our great philosophers. In the Pokemon series, players typically start their adventure by choosing a Pokemon with one of these three types. Each has its own stre??ngths and weaknesses (literally �it’s part of the game!)."

Ideally, this will take place after all of the Splatfest changes happen. As a reminde??r, Nintendo gave us the following statement last month, noting that a temporary fix was being implemented, but it wasn't a long term solution:

"Please note that the changes to Tricolor Battle frequency should be considered temporary. For now, there will be somewhat? more instances of players selecting Trico?lor Battle but being placed in a Turf War battle instead. Going forward, Splatfest-matchmaking specifications will continue to be adjusted, and this issue will be rectified. We are planning to implement these adjustments with the new season beginning in December. The next patch will focus primarily on balance adjustments and other issues that were outside the scope of the current patch. We continue to observe and analyze battle data and are planning to make adjustments at the midpoint of the current season."

That first fix wasn't perfect, as folks still had issues with Splatfest connections, on top of balance problems and the frequency of Tricolor Battles. The entire mode almost seems li??ke it's in a beta state, so hopefully Nintendo ?has been gathering tons of data and can properly implement something that will work for everyone going forward. Given how fundamentally wonky some of the balance is, I don't envy all of that fine-tuning.

When does the Splatoon 3 Pokemon Splatfest start?

Everything will kick off on November 11 at 4PM PT, through November 13 at that same time. You have some time to make a decision! I think I'll have to go with my OG 1998 pick: Bulbasaur?? (grass).

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With Splatoon and Animal Crossing in the mix

As announced on Twitter, there will be several Nintendo concerts going on this month: specifically kicking off on October 10 at 11:00 CEST (5AM ET).

While details are slim, we do know that the digital concerts will feature the DJ K.K. [Slider] Animal Crossing: New Horizons Paradise Mix and Splatoon 3 Deep Cut performances. Based on the YouTube description, the concert is scheduled to go on for roughly one hour. To be clear, Nintendo has clarified that "both performances will be in Japanese without localized subtitles." You may recall that Nintendo has done various forms of K.K. Slider and Splatoon idol performances in the past, so t??his is mainly continuing that trend.

It's good to see Animal Crossing back in the fold in some form, as the great rush of billions of amiibo figures/cards seems to be at an end, alongside of major New Horizons updates. Splatoon 3 of course just came out, and alongside of regular free updates and Splatfests, w?ill have a nice little footprint going into the holiday season??.

It's also a nice way to see the newest Splatoon trio in action, given how?? popular the past characters have been!

Watch the Nintendo Live Animal Crossing and Splatoon 3 concerts here:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNTvlGj8IUs

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Salmon Run Rewards

Splatoon 3 items themed like Back to the Future? Right on!

As some folks are pointing out: the cheeky team at Nintendo managed to put in a few clear references via Salmon Run items. The first includes Doc Brown's futuristic metal sunglasses from Back to the Future 2, titled the "Lo-Vis Visor." Next up we have Marty McFly's future hat (also from Back to the Future 2), called the "Bream-Brim Cap." Another spotted reference includes the "Brain Strainer" in-game item, which is likely a reference to Ghostbuster's 2 Keymaster Helmet.

Funnily enough, Back to the Future 2 takes place in the glorious year of 2015: when everything was supposed to be future-ized. While the full Splatoon timeline isn't clear, it does play around with the idea of the fate of the future.

Back to the Future Splatoon 3 items:

//twitter.com/GateauLOrange/status/15762517169491394??56

[Thanks John!]

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It's out on September 30

Another Splatoon 3 patch is scheduled to be released on September 30, thanks to heads-up on Nintendo of Japan's support site.

The core focus of this patch is to address communication errors (disconnects), which reared up quite a bit after launch, i??nto the most recent Splatfest. ?Three fixes address specific weapon/button combination bugs, amid other issues (like game crashes when using the locker system in a specific manner). Thankfully, this patch will retroactively fix several problems, including a catalog (a seasonal reward track) bug.

As a reminder, Nintendo plans on updating S??platfest matches more in the?? future. Keep in mind that the below patch notes are roughly translated, but they get the point across. Once the patch is actually out, typically in the early morning (US), Nintendo will update their patch log here to include version 1.1.2.

Splatoon 3 patch - Ver. 1.1.2 [Scheduled to be delivered on September 30, 2022]

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Smallfry looks great

We took the entire Splatoon 3 amiibo line for a spin at launch, but there's still three missing! A trio is due out this "holiday season," and while we don't have a full picture of what they'll unlock, we can see them up close thanks to a new YouTube video from Gaming Boulevard.

Taken at the Heroes Comic Con/Made in Asia convention in Brussels, Belgium, this past weekend; and were on display thanks to the Made in Asia portion ??of the convention (which features manga, anime, video games, YouTubers and cosplay).

As a reminder, t??hese are the three?? that are still due in the future:

• Octoling (Blue)
• Inkling (Yellow)
• Smallfry

The general quality of amiibo has skyrocketed over the years (especially compared to the launch lineup), and you can really see the difference with these close-up shots. Smallfry (the companion in Splatoon 3 that also serves a mechanical purpose in-game) is probably goi??ng to be a fan favorite figure, as that pose looks eve?n funnier with the real thing on display.

If I had to guess, the idol trio (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, who all comprise "Deep Cut") could come out sometime in 2023 as Splatoon 3 amiibo: potentially coinciding with some sort of Splatoon 3 update/expansion. All Splatoon idols ha?ve been represented so far in amiibo form.

As always, you can check out when those were released here in our master amiibo list, which has been updated since 2014.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zW0gZ0PkII&t=87s

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"Conch shells obtained before voting may disappear"

A Splatoon 3 Splatfest bug has been detected �but the good news is that Nintendo has officially recognized it, and has provided a workaround.

Here's the full rundown from Nintendo: "A bug has been found in Splatoon 3 in which conch shells obtained before voting may disappear and will not count towards the Splatfest results." And here's the temporary workaround: "To avoid this issue, we recommend players vote in the Splatfest before c?ollecting conch shells."

So breaking this down, you basically just want to choose your side in the Splatfest immediately, or as soon as possible before playing matches. After that, everything you earn will be above board. Nintendo notes that the bug "will be fixed in the future," so thankfully it's just for this particular Splatfest. Again, this only applies to the event happening this weekend.

In any case, it's good to see Nintendo pounce on these issu?es quickly, before they get out of hand. The first few weeks of support can be crucial for maintaining a long-term playerbase, and I'm looking forward to whatever "long-term solution" they have for Splatfest 4v2v2 Tricolor matches. The pre-l??aunch event was pretty much the only shaky experience I had with this game, so if they can nail that, they can add some momentum.

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Nearly 10 minutes of recap material

Nintendo has launched an official Splatoon 3 tutorial on their YouTube channel �which they are dubbing a "Beginner's Guide."

Clocking in at nearly five minutes, it walks you through basically everything you need to know to play the game. Even the setup! Nintendo starts simple, giving folks background info for the "kid and squid" morphing mechanic, then inking/weaponry, then game modes. It's actually super useful, as the gameplay is simplistic enough to literally watch this video, then dive in. This is going to be especially useful for the upcoming Splatfest demo, as some folks may have not played the s??eries up through this point.

Coincidentally, you'll also get a ton of new footage for Splatoon 3. None of it is revelatory per se, but people who are really looking at every single detail until rel??ease might want to check it out, as there's a lot of environmental showcasing going on. It also serves as a nice recap of most of the stuff the team has shown so far in various Nintendo Directs and showcases.

With Splatoon 3, I'm at the point tha??t I'm typically at in the "post-Direct" lifecycle of first-par??ty Nintendo games. I've seen enough, I just want to play it!

Splatoon 3 tutorial video (pre-launch):

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoGcH4Cr22Y

[Update: Post-launch, Nintendo has provided an additional tutorial vid??eo on their UK YouTube channel, which you can watch bel?ow.]

Splatoon 3 tutorial video (post-launch):

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_RV26Q-vqE

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Read the full patch notes here

A massive Splatoon 3 patch just dropped, and it has implications for multiplayer, as we?ll as the Tricolor Battle system (which will impact future Splatfests). Let's dig i??n, because there's a lot to unpack.

On a technical level, some bugs were fixed, including a Squid Roll exploit, as well as bugs like inte??ractions with water, and general multiplayer connection problems. Matchmaking has been a contentious thing for some, and ideally this patch should smooth things over. A small story mode bug was addressed too, as well as connection and technical issues with Salmon Run.

But the big focus here is the "Tricolor Battle," the new mode that features three teams duking it out at once. As a lot of folks experienced with the free Splatfest demo (rock, paper, scissors) before launch, the pure chaos of the mode really didn't work out in its favor. For now, the "rate of the Tricolor Battle occurrence" (which you'?re randomly matched into as the winning team) has been "adjusted," and will "trigger somewhat less frequently than before."

Interestingly, Nintendo provided an extra explanation at the end of their patch notes, which isn't a normal occurrence. They mention that this patch was "prioritized" because it deals with multiplayer connection issues, which can have a "significant effect on game progress." Also, the Tricolor Battle changes "should be?? considered temporary," the team says, which is in line with their recent commitment to rebalancing the mode long term.

Nintendo teased a new major patch in December, alongside the start of the new season, as well as a minor update "mid-season," from now through the end of ??the year.

You can read the full patch notes here, or below.

Splatoon 3 patch Version 1.1.1 (Released September 15, 2022)

Changes to Splatfests

• The rate of Tricolor Battle occurrence has been adjusted. From the defending team’s perspective, they will trigger somewhat less frequently than before.

Changes to Player Controls

• Fixed an issue where it was possible to jump farther than usual with a Squid Roll by performing a certain input while charging a Squid Surge.
• Fixed issues that appeared when playing for a long time without closing the software, such as shots from the player’s main weapon not firing correctly.
• Fixed an issue where the player could move through the surface of the water or stand on water when moving quickly. For example, when performing a Dodge Roll with Splat Dualies.

Changes to Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue where connection errors occurred with high frequency at the end of battles due to connection environment.
• Fixed an issue with the Bloblobber where the collision detection of the third and fourth blobs of a single volley became extremely small.
• Fixed an issue where cash and experience were not being awarded in certain circumstances when a battle ended early due to a lack of players.
• Fixed an issue where, in certain modes, a player would be unable to cancel matchmaking when not enough other players were gathered. Matchmaking will now be canceled automatically after a certain amount of time has passed.
• Fixed an issue in Sturgeon Shipyard in which it was possible to enter the back side of certain drawbridges.

Changes to Salmon Run

• Fixed an issue where connection errors occurred with high frequency at the end of jobs due to connection environment.
• Fixed an issue with Mudmouth Eruption events in which Mudmouths moved in unintended ways.
• Fixed an issue that caused some players with identical titles to be considered “rank supportersâ€?and not gain Rank Points.
• Fixed an issue where continuously damaging a submerged Maws with certain special weapons would cause the game to crash.
• Fixed an issue where players were becoming trapped within the stage terrain.
• Fixed an issue where, at the end of battle, the amount of Grizzco Points earned would be shown as smaller than the amount actually added to save data, which caused cases where the player could not collect rewards.
• Fixed an issue where the messages at the beginning of Wave 3 could change based on whether or not a King Salmonid would appear.

Changes to Story Mode

• Fixed an issue where, after clearing the final stage, a communication error would occur in the middle of a certain scene and return the player to the square.
  • The post-clear cutscenes can be viewed by clearing the final stage again.
  • In cases where this error occurred, the final stage is treated as cleared, and the stage can be skipped from the pause menu when reattempting.

Other Changes

• Fixed an issue when starting the game for the first time in which the game could get stuck and not advance from the black screen after the screen where yellow and blue ink mix together.
• Fixed an issue when downloading a battle replay that occasionally caused the game to not advance.
• Fixed an issue in which the game would crash when the schedule was updated while attempting to join a friend.
• Fixed a rare issue where the game would crash while the player was visiting a shop.
• Fixed an issue where a communication error could occur while a player traded in gear at a shop.
• Fixed an issue where a connection error could occur when buying a weapon. A player would seem to then have the weapon equipped despite not having been able to buy it, which would cause a connection error if the player attempted to join a battle.

Because this update patch focuses on Splatfest-related changes and addresses bugs that can have significant effect on game progress, we have prioritized its release.

Please note that the changes to Tricolor Battle frequency should be considered temporary. For now, there will be somewhat more instances of players selecting Tricolor Battle but being placed in a Turf War battle instead. Going forward, Splatfest-matchmaking specifications will continue to be adjusted, and this issue will be rectified. We are planning to implement these adjustments with the new season beginning in December.

The next patch will focus primarily on balance adjustments and other issues that were outside the scope of the current patch.

We continue to observe and analyze battle data and are planning to make adjustments at the midpoint of the current season.

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100 Platinum for a quick scavenger hunt

If you're hankering for some quick Splatoon 3 My Nintendo platinum, you've come to the right place. You can net 100 points now via the game's official site, so long a??s you're in the mood for a quick scavenger hunt.

Like many activities before it, the gist is that you'll be sifting through a Nintendo marketing site for hidden objects: and finding all of them will grant you 100 Platinum Points. In this case, it's little squids ("squiddos"), which are embedded throughout the v??arious sub-pages for the game. As usual, we hav??e all the solutions below, so you can have it done quickly.

Here's a quick cheat sheet for the Splatoon 3 My Nintendo challenge:

• One squid is on the "welcome to Splatsville page" near the middle
• Two squids are on the how to play page: one near the top below "battle it out online," and another near the bottom after "work together in Salmon Run"
• Two squids are on the weapons and gear page: one is below "make it your own," and the other is right above "save data bonus"

That's all five! Note that there are no squids present on the "home" or "buy now" pages. Once you pick up your points, you could spend them on the new Splatoon rewards.

As a reminder, if you want physical rewards, you can find our full Platinum Point guide here, which has been updated with details on weekly missions: bookmark it for when you need quick points for a reward. A handful of points is incredibly easy to get, as that’s basically just 15 minutes with Super Mario Run, or a quick sign-on to the 3DS or Wii U 3S?hop. Also remember that any shipments are bundled toge??ther, so you can pay a flat rate for multiple items instead of paying it each time. Just know that items go out of stock on My Nintendo frequently, and some are never restocked.

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