Nintendo dropped an announcement video revealing the third installment of the Splatoon series on Feb. 17. An official release date has not been stated yet, but the trailer said it will come out in 2022 on the Switch.
Not much is known about “Splatoon 3” yet, however the reveal trailer drops a few hints as to what is in store for fans of the series.
The description of the YouTube video stated: “Splatoon 3 arrives on Nintendo Switch in 2022! In the wake of chaos, enter the sun scorched Splatlands and the new city, Splatsville, inhabited by battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings. New weapons, moves, and more await, so be sure to keep an eye out for updates in the future.”
Both “Splatoon” and “Splatoon 2” take place in a huge metropolitan city, however “Splatoon 3” has taken on a more wastelander aesthetic, with muted colors and large open areas. The main lobby is still a large area with tall buildings, however it appears to be more of a residential area rather than a shopping district.
The announcement trailer first showed off the character creator. The art style and overall UI of the character creator was the same as the previous games, with the addition of a few new hairstyles and eye colors.
Nintendo has also appeared to have done away with gender in “Splatoon 3.” While showing off the character creator, all the hairstyles that were previously gender-locked could be seen. This is a huge improvement for inclusivity and it gives players more options when creating their characters.
Another one of the main new additions in the character creator is a companion. Those who played “Splatoon 2” will likely recognize the companion as the Smallfry enemy from the Salmon Run game mode. Players will have the option to customize a Smallfry that will most likely accompany them in the story campaign, but it is unclear at this point.
There isn’t too much information on the gameplay aspects, however from what they do show, it looks like the gameplay will be similar to the previous games. The previous two installments primarily focused on 4v4 multiplayer battles and “Splatoon 3” will likely continue this.
Players can expect to see existing stages from the previous games making an appearance in “Splatoon 3.” Nintendo linked a job opening for “Splatoon 3” for a level designer on their Japanese Twitter. One of the tasks mentioned in the job description is renovating existing levels.
Those interested in watching the announcement trailer can view it here.