Nintendo has Bad News for Splatoon 3 Fans

Nintendo has Bad News for Splatoon 3 Fans

Key Takeaways

  • Nintendo ends regular updates for Splatoon 3 after 2 years, focusing on seasonal events and returning themes.
  • However, Nintendo has confirmed that Splatoon 3 will see balance patches and weapon adjustments as needed.
  • Speculation around the potential development of Splatoon 4 on Nintendo’s next console continues to swirl.

As a seasoned gamer who has been inked and splatted countless times across various Splatoon games, I must say the recent announcement from Nintendo regarding Splatoon 3 has left me both excited and a little nostalgic. After two years of updates, events, and new content, the end of regular updates for Splatoon 3 feels like the closing act of a beloved play.


Nintendo recently declared that they will no longer provide regular updates for the game Splatoon 3, after a span of two years. Instead, they plan to maintain interest by reintroducing seasonal events and motifs in the future. This online game remains a favorite among Nintendo Switch users, with an astounding ten million copies of Splatoon 3 sold within its initial three months. The game’s popularity has been sustained over these two years due to its regular update cycle, which included patches, seasonal content, and expansions, keeping a significant portion of its fanbase actively engaged.

After the unveiling of the Side Order DLC for Splatoon 3, which brought a fresh single-player mode infused with roguelike aspects, fans have been curious about what lies ahead for this game, as all the promised post-launch content has now been released. So far in the year, we’ve seen multiple in-game events along with the Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024, but Nintendo seems to be hinting at the end of the line for this squid-shooter game with their announcement of the Grand Festival, suggesting that it may soon wrap up.

After the Grand Festival in Splatoon 3 wrapped up on September 16, Nintendo provided an update about the game’s future developments. In a nutshell, after two years of regular updates, Nintendo announced that Splatoon 3 would no longer receive frequent content updates. Instead, they will focus on seasonal events and reviving popular SplatFest themes like Splatoween, Frosty Fest, Spring Fest, and Summer Nights. However, the company did mention that balance patches and weapon adjustments might pop up occasionally when necessary, but these occurrences should not be frequent.

Nintendo Confirms the End of Regular Updates for Splatoon 3

Although it might be disheartening for fans, it’s not entirely surprising that Splatoon 3 seems to be wrapping up after two years since its release, as its development path mirrors that of its predecessor. Fortunately, the journey of Splatoon 2 may provide a roadmap for what lies ahead for Splatoon 3. In the meantime, Splatoon 2 has been consistently updating its legacy content and recently brought back its Chicken vs. Egg Splatfest, which was first introduced in early 2018 to celebrate its third anniversary.

It seems that fresh material and improvements for Splatoon 3 are running out, which strongly indicates that the development team has shifted focus towards their next major project, likely destined for Nintendo’s upcoming console. Whispers about a possible Splatoon 4 have been circulating for some time now, under the working title Spiral. At this point, there isn’t much solid information available, so it’s best to approach these rumors with caution. However, given the series’ growing popularity with Nintendo, it’s highly unlikely that they would abandon the franchise. Moreover, considering the new hardware on the horizon, the future of Splatoon looks promising.

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2024-09-16 15:53