does time travel work in splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 for Nintendo Switch: Everything you need to know

This series is getting a fresh new coat of ink!

What is Splatoon 3?

• Inklings and Octolings
• Single-player
• Multiplayer
• Customization
• Tableturf Battle
• Save data bonuses
• Release date
• Switch OLED: Splatoon Edition

Set in a new, desolate wasteland, the objective of Splatoon 3 remains the same: ink everything in sight. Fans of the series will be thrilled to discover that the new title is actually due out this year. But what else is new in this threequel to one of the greatest multiplayer games on the Switch? Here's everything we know about Splatoon 3 so far, from price, to release date, plot, characters, and even more!

Splatoon 3 is the third game in the Splatoon series, which is Nintendo's answer to the third-person shooter. The series made its start on the Wii U in 2015 and is unique in that the objective isn't to splat the enemy team, but to spread your team's ink across the map. Whoever spreads the most ink is the winning team!

In Splatoon 3, players can play as either an Inkling or an Octoling, who are part kid, part cephalopod. Ink is spread via various weapons that resemble real-world items like buckets and paintbrushes, with tons of weapon classes to learn.

What is an Inkling? What is an Octoling? Who is your Little Buddy?

Inklings are part squid, part kid, and can transform on a whim between both forms. Though they derive from marine animals, they can't touch water, only ink. They also have their own culture and language, and their sworn enemies are the Octarians.

Octolings were introduced in Splatoon 2 . With suckers like an octopus, the Octolings were once brainwashed fighters for the Octarian military, but have since been freed. Many of them joined Inkling society, hoping to start anew. Previously, they could only be unlocked if you played and beat Splatoon 2's paid DLC, Octo Expansion. However, the third entry in the series allows players to choose them from the get-go.

Your Little Buddy, introduced in Spaltoon 3, is a juvenile Salmonid called a Smallfry. While the species is normally dangerous, this one seems to have developed a bond with its Inkling owner.

Is Splatoon 3 single-player?

This time around, the single-player campaign will take place in neither the Splatlands nor Splatsville, but in a new mysterious area called Alterna. The previous Agent 3 from Splatoon 1 has retired, and you are to take her place as the new Agent 3.

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It seems that Fuzzy Ink has plagued the landscape. Should a player come into contact with it, brown fur will sprout all over their body, and they'll be rendered incapable of movement. Funnily enough, your Little Buddy seems to be unfazed by the new type of ink, even eating it! It looks like you're going to need your Little Buddy to help you escape some hairy situations.

Back in the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, the Squid Research Team showed Callie and Marie playing a part in the game's single-player campaign as part of the new Squidbeak Splatoon, who are on a mission to defeat the Octarian army. The Octarian army is still going strong, but this time, they have the Fuzzy Ink covering their body. Callie and Marie's code names are Agents 1 and 2 respectively, and they seem to have a new captain who looks eerily like Agent 3 from the first Splatoon game.

Captain Cuttlefish is also making a comeback as part of the Squidbeak Splatoon, though we're not sure in what capacity. It's great to see him as spritely as ever, and we can't wait to see what sage advice he can offer the player. He can be seen peeking out of a grate in Splatsville, which players can travel through to access the single-player content.

How does multiplayer work in Splatoon 3?

Just like the previous games in the series, Splatoon 3 will feature fast-paced team battles with up to eight players. 

In Splatoon 2, a co-op mode called Salmon Run was introduced. Splatoon 3 there will be an updated version of that called Salmon Run: Next Wave . Salmon Run teams are smaller, consisting of four players against all the enemy Salmonids.

There are three main multiplayer modes in Splatoon 3:

• Turf Wars — The signature gameplay of the game. Two teams of four players try to spread the most ink across the floor of the map using their weapons. You can ink walls, too, but those don't count towards turf! The team with the most turf inked by the end wins. Hitting an opponent with enough ink will splat them, sending them back to their base. But don't focus on it too much, and ink turf instead.
• Anarchy Battles — This is an improved version of Ranked Battles from Splatoon 2 where players can compete in four different types of battles: Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz. Anarchy Battles can be taken on solo or with friends for a different kind of challenge.
• Salmon Run — This mode has you join a team of four and take on the evil Salmonids, all while collecting those sweet Golden Eggs for Mr. Grizz.

Two additional multiplayer modes, X Battle and League Battle, won't be available at launch but are planned for future updates.

In the Splatsville lobby, players can see their friends as 3D ghost holograms. You can see what battles your friends are engaging in, and even join them mid-battle! You can even call out to friends to let them know that you're available to play. The lobby is also home to the Memory Player, which allows players to replay recent battles and even upload them online.

What about Splatfests?

Back by popular demand, Splatfests are making a return in Splatoon 3! This time, they come with a twist. Players can choose from one of three teams this time around, all in line with a theme supported by each member of Deep Cut. 

During the first half of the Splatfest, players engage in regular Turf War battles against the other two teams. In the second half of the Splatfest, however, players can engage in Tricolor Turf Wars, where the teams in second and third place can attack the leading team from either side of the map. These new Tricolor Turf Wars will test your skill and wit, so fight as hard as you can for your team!

On August 27, 2022, players can choose between Team Rock, Team Paper, and Team Scissors, and engage in the new Tricolor Turf Wars during the Splatfest World Premiere demo. 

Can I customize my character?

Splatoon is a series known for its focus on customization, so we can expect Splatoon 3 to follow suit. The teaser trailer shows the player customizing their Inkling with various hairstyles, outfits, and skin tones. You can even customize your Little Buddy's haircut. There are also many different weapons to suit all kinds of playstyles, each with its own abilities.

In the single-player campaign, players can don the Hero Suit. It seems that the Hero Suit has two different forms, potentially hinting at different locales with different fashion needs.

Players can customize their look by buying new headgear, tops, and shoes. Headgear can be bought at Naut Couture from Gnarly Eddy, new clothing at Man-O'-Wardrobe from Jel La Fleur, and shoes from Mr. Coco, who runs Crush Station.

In a tweet, the Squid Research Lab also announced that new types of pants are available for Inklings and Octolings to wear, in a wide variety of colors and materials.

Squid Research Lab here! We did the legwork on legwear and found a robust array of colors, patterns, and styles in the Splatlands. From distressed to dashing and hip to drip, it's a LOT. We calculate a 103.7% chance of a perfect match with your fave gear and hair. Check our math! pic.twitter.com/3jHBvDA3F7 June 15, 2022

This was hinted at in the initial release trailer, but players can customize their eyebrows as well, or even give themselves tricolor eyes! The customization in this game is off the charts.

Squid Research Lab here, fresh off the excitement of customizable eyebrows with another ocular observation—tricolor eyes! Apparently unique to the Splatlands, these player-selectable, triple-tone peepers are so cool, I don’t even have a cornea pun to make! pic.twitter.com/CryZG2QCBA July 1, 2022

Not only can players customize their outfits, but the way they present themselves to the world as well. Splashtags are banners that feature a player's name and can be personalized to suit their style. 

When registering your Splashtag, you'll have to pick a nickname for yourself. This nickname doesn't have to be the same as the name on your Nintendo account, so you can use your gamer tag if you so desire! You'll also be assigned a number so that even if two players choose the same nickname, you'll both have different numbers that your friends can identify you by. 

Save data can be saved to the Save Data Cloud, meaning that you can play on multiple Nintendo Switch consoles, provided that your user account and Nintendo account are linked.

If you choose a Splashtag that you end up disliking later on, don't worry — you can change it! But you can't confuse the people you play with by changing it every match, so you'll need to take a bit of a break before changing your Splashtag nickname again.

Banners can be customized with different designs, badges, and titles that are earned through gameplay. Players can purchase these components from Harmony at Hotlantis, further personalizing their gameplay experience.

Players can flex their artistic skills and post illustrations using the Mailbox for all to see, with vertical illustrations also being supported. If photos are more your thing, you can use Photo Mode to take selfies, or even send them to your smart device!

Ever since the first Splatoon, players have wanted apartments to customize. While they're not as big, Nintendo announced that lockers are coming to Splatoon 3!

Players can post photos in their locker, as well as gear, items, statues, and other decorations. These decorations can also be bought from Harmony at Hotlantis.

As you gain experience, you can also unlock poses and emotes whenever you win a battle. All of these customization pieces and more can be found in the catalog on offer at Hotlantis, which changes every season. Be sure to get your favorite items before they're gone!

Where does Splatoon 3 take place?

In the reveal trailer, the player starts in the sun-scorched Splatlands. While dry and arid, the world is not abandoned. A short train ride brings the player to Splatsville, a brand-new city inhabited by battled hardened Inklings and Octolings. 

Overall, there seem to be four main locales:

• The Splatlands — The harsh desert area home to stages like Scorch Gorge.
• Splatsville — The main hub of the game, featuring shops, the mailbox, and lockers.
• Greater Inkopolis — This area is connected to The Splatlands via a bridge and is home to stages like Museum D'Alfonsino.
• Alterna — The area where the single player campaign, Return of the Mammalians, takes place.

Who are the idols?

Each Splatoon game had a group of hosts that welcomed players to the game, detailing the levels on rotation and updating players on any Splatfest. Pearl and Marina were the stars of Splatoon 2, while Callie and Marie hosted Splatoon 1, but what about Splatoon 3? 

The new idols were announced in the August 2022 Splatoon 3 Direct , this time a trio called Deep Cut . The members are Shiver, an Octoling and Shark Tamer, Frye, an Inkling and eel master, and Big Man, a manta ray who is... big.

Deep Cut hosts their show Anarchy Rainbow, where they talk about available stages, Splatfest information, and more. You can even view their show from the plaza, without having to watch their dialogue each time.

What multiplayer stages are there?

It wouldn't be a new Splatoon game without fresh new content. Nintendo has unveiled some new stages in their Squid Research labs, found in both The Splatlands and Greater Inkopolis.

Here are the currently revealed stages in The Splatlands:

• Scorch Gorge
• Eeltail Alley
• Mincemeat Metalworks
• Undertow Spillway
• Hagglefish Market

Here are the currently revealed stages in Greater Inkopolis:

• Museum D'Alfonsino
• Hammerhead Bridge
• Mahi-Mahi Resort

In total, the game will start out with 12 different stages, including favorites like Sturgeon Shipyard, Makomart, Inkblot Art Academy, and Wahoo World. But don't worry, more will be added to the rotation as time goes on!

Are there any new weapons?

Nintendo confirmed that every weapon from Splatoon 2 would be making a return, including the new Dualie class introduced in the game. Two new weapon classes were introduced for Splatoon 3:

Resembling a bow and arrow, this weapon type fires three explosive arrows in front of the player. Players can charge the Stringer's attacks similar to the Charger for more power, to perfect their aim. Both vertical and horizontal shots can be executed as well, adding to the variety.

Similar in shape to a sword made from a windshield wiper, it shoots a beam of ink in front of you, making it a good long-range weapon. Players can splat enemies at close range with a charged attack as well, encouraging their opponents to keep their distance.

Special weapons

There are a few brand-new special weapons as well. Special weapons become available after your Special Gauge is filled through inking turf, and can turn the tides of a battle.

Here are the special weapons we've seen thus far:

• Crab Tank — This allows players to pilot an adorable crab-like robot. It features a powerful cannon as well as a rapid-fire gun, and players can move around by curling up in a ball — similar to the Bubbler special weapon in Splatoon 2.
• Big Bubbler — It can be deployed to a fixed position. A hovering device launches into the air and forms a big bubble of the team's own ink, offering refuge to players trying not to get splatted by the enemy.
• Zipcaster — The Zipcaster allows players to move forward quickly and stick to walls. It allows for quick and anonymous movement. You'll even be warped back to where you started using the special weapon, so the enemy team will find it harder to identify you!
• Trizooka — The Trizooka is a modified version of the Inkstrike from Splatoon, and fires three missiles instead of one. It can be fired a total of three times, giving you a chance to fire off nine powerful missiles to thwart the enemy team.
• Killer Wail 5.1 — A modification of the weapon of the same name in Splatoon, the Killer Wail 5.1 unleashes six megaphones that move on their own, attacking any enemies in sight with a powerful blast.
• Tacticooler —  This spawns a mini fridge filled with delicious refreshments for both you and your teammates that can boost states like speed, as well as your abilities.
• Wave Breaker — The Wave Breaker is deployed to a fixed position and sends out waves when deployed, identifying enemies and damaging them in the process. Enemy players can only escape the waves by performing a well-timed jump. 
• Reef Slider — Ride a ferocious inflatable shark and charge into opponents to splat them silly! Your shark explodes in a flurry of ink after charging, splatting anyone in your way.

What else can I do in Splatsville?

If inking turf is too much for you right now, you can always take a break with a good ol' game of cards. Tableturf Battle is a 1-v-1 card game that appears to be a mixture of Tetris and Turf War. With over 150 unique cards to collect, players can build their deck over time. Each player gets a starter deck, and the rest is in your hands.

Salmon Run: Next Wave

Salmon Run is a multiplayer mode introduced in Splatoon 2. Players must work together in a team of four to gather Golden Eggs for their mysterious employer, Mr. Grizz. Golden Eggs can be obtained from Boss Salmonids, terrifying creatures that require specific strategies to defeat. The mode takes place across three waves of 100 seconds, with an increased quota of eggs to be delivered every wave. 

During the February 2022 Nintendo Direct , we got to see gameplay for Salmon Run: Next Wave multiplayer co-op mode. The August 2022 Splatoon Direct also shone some light on the updates to this game mode as well. Some new Boss Salmonids were announced, including:

• Slammin' Lid  — It puts up a protective barrier for smaller Salmonids, crashing down to anyone beneath it. 
• Big Shot  — Similar to the Wave Breaker special weapon, this Boss Salmonid sends out powerful shockwaves that can splat you if you're not careful.
• Cohozuna  — This is a King Salmonid that sometimes shows up towards the end of the last wave, threatening to destroy everything your team worked for. Players must drive it back into the sea, hitting it with Golden Eggs from an Egg Cannon. 

A new mode of Salmon Run was also teased during the August 2022 Splatoon 3 Direct. Big Runs are a new phenomenon that seems to occur every few months, where Salmonids and Boss Salmonids infiltrate the cities that Inklings and Octolings inhabit. It seems like players will have to get together to push the evil Salmonids out of Splatsville before it's too late!

Will there be an app?

With a new game comes a new applet within the Nintendo Switch Online app on your mobile device. SplatNet 3 is your mobile hub where players can check battle records, player stats, and order exclusive gear from the in-app shop.

The new feature in SplatNet 3 is Crusty Sean's Wandercrust, where players can support Crusty Sean's journey by donating points earned in battles. The app will be available once the game launches.

Do I get anything for being a veteran?

Those who played Splatoon 2 religiously will be handsomely rewarded in Splatoon 3 for their efforts. If you have save data from Splatoon 2, you'll receive bonuses in Splatoon 3, including the following:

• Three Gold Sheldon Licenses that can be exchanged for weapons at Ammo Knights, no matter what level you are
• The ability to join Anarchy Battles from the start of your playthrough, no matter what level you are
• A higher starting rank that is dependent on your rank in Splatoon 2
• Increased matchmaking with people that have similar skill levels from Splatoon 2

In order to transfer your save data, simply launch Splatoon 3, or walk into the Splatoon 3 lobby while connected to the internet. Your Splatoon 2 save data must be on the same system that you first launch Splatoon 3 on in order for the save data transfer to be successful.

Are there amiibo?

Rejoice, amiibo fans! Another three-pack was announced for Splatoon 3. They feature an Octoling, an Inkling, and an adorable Little Buddy. No price or release date was announced outside of "this holiday," but we'll be sure to update you when pre-orders become available!

Will there be updates?

Be sure to stay glued to your Sea Cucumber Phones, because just like the previous entries in the series, Splatoon 3 will continue to be supported for up to two years. New stages, weapons, and content will be delivered on a regular basis.

Nintendo also announced that some "large-scale DLC" will be coming to the game, with a silhouette of what appears to be Pearl and Marina in the background. The duo were involved in Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion DLC, so we're anticipating how they may be involved this time around.

When does Splatoon 3 release?

Nintendo showcased a release date trailer in April of 2022, confirming that Splatoon 3 will release on the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022.

Will there be a special console?

Nintendo announced a limited edition Nintendo Switch OLED model that sports a Splatoon 3 theme. The console features unique Joy-Con controllers in blue, purple, yellow, and green, and a white dock with ink splotches and Splatoon-themed imagery. Of course, if you don't prefer Joy-Cons when you're gaming, there are always some of the best third-party Nintendo Switch controllers to choose from.

The console releases ahead of the game on August 27, 2022, available for pre-order now.

How much will Splatoon 3 cost?

If the preorders on various websites are anything to judge by, it's safe to say that Splatoon 3 will launch at $60.

Will there be a demo?

Well... yes, and no. There is no demo in the traditional sense, but there will be a free Splatfest demo ahead of the game's release. On August 27, 2022, players can choose between Team Rock, Team Paper, and Team Scissors, and engage in the new Tricolor Turf Wars. For instructions on how to download the demo, visit our guide .

More ink, soon

Nintendo gave us a glimpse of the Nintendo Switch's future with the surprise reveal of Splatoon 3 during its February and September 2021 Nintendo Direct presentations, alongside the August 2022 Direct that premiered a month before the game's release. It's so exciting that this fun multiplayer title will have a third installment soon. We'll be sure to keep this page updated with the latest information.

Updated August 2022: With information on the idols, Splatfests, new weapons, stages, subweapons, Salmon Run modes, DLC, amiibo, and more.

Fans of Nintendo's thrilling take on the third-person shooter can pre-order the game today. It's everything you love about Splatoon — inking turf to win Turf Wars, customizing your Inkling in fresh gear, and tons of diverse weapons — now with all-new content. Pre-order from: Amazon

Splatoon 3: Splatfest World Premiere

This isn't your typical Splatfest — choose from one of three teams and battle it out in Turf War, where the team who paints the most Turf wins! Choose your fealty to Team Rock, Team Paper, or Team Scissors. Who will come out on top when the Splatfest begins on August 27? 

Download from: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch OLED: Splatoon 3 Edition

You won't need to wait for Splatoon 3's release on September 9 to have a fresh Switch. The Splatoon 3 edition of the Nintendo Switch OLED model features a wider, more vibrant OLED screen, and a built-in LAN port for all your Turf War needs. It releases on August 26.

Pre-order from:  Best Buy

Nadine is a freelance writer for iMore with a specialty in all things Nintendo, often working on news, guides, reviews, and editorials. She's been a huge Nintendo fan ever since she got to pet her very own Nintendog, and enjoys looking at Nintendo's place in the video game industry. Writing is her passion, but she mostly does it so that she can pay off her ever-growing debt to Tom Nook. Her favorite genres are simulation games, rhythm games, visual novels, and platformers. You can find her at @stopthenadness on Twitter, where she'll more than likely be reposting cute Animal Crossing content.

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Splatoon 3: Release Date, Splatoon OLED and Everything You Need to Know

The colorful shooter arrives on Nintendo Switch this Friday.

The Inklings return in Splatoon 3, and they're ready to explore the barren wastelands outside their city.

Splatoon 3 is almost here. The colorful shooter arrives on the Nintendo Switch tomorrow, kicking off what will be a busy fall season for the console. Like previous entries in the series, this four-versus-four online shooter revolves around inking the most territory, and this time, Nintendo has added a wealth of new modes and mechanics to keep the experience feeling fresh, including new stages, special weapons and an expanded solo campaign.

Here's everything you need to know about Splatoon 3 ahead of its launch, from its release date to where you can buy the new  Splatoon-themed Nintendo Switch OLED console .

Read more :  Splatoon 3 Review In Progress: Do You Need It Over Splatoon 2?

Release date

Splatoon 3 launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on Sept. 9.

What time does Splatoon 3 go live?

If you buy Splatoon 3 digitally from the Nintendo eShop, you'll be able to play as soon as the game goes live at midnight ET on Sept. 9. That means if you live on the West Coast, you can start playing Splatoon 3 tonight (Sept. 8) at 9 p.m. PT.

Preorder bonuses

Splatoon 3 is available to preorder at various retailers, some of which are offering an extra bonus alongside the game. You can see the best offers below:

If you're looking for just a copy of the game, you can preorder Splatoon 3 right now at Amazon.

Preorder Splatoon 3 at Best Buy and you'll receive a free Inkling keychain (valued at $10) along with the game.

Nintendo eShop

Nintendo is offering double Gold Points for buying Splatoon 3 through the Nintendo eShop. Until Sept. 30, you'll receive 600 Gold Points when you buy the game digitally through Nintendo's online store, which is worth $6 in credit for other eShop purchases.

If you preorder Splatoon 3 either in-store or online at Target, you'll also get a free pair of Splatoon-themed sunglasses with the game. The offer expires on Sept. 10 and will only be valid while supplies last.

Splatoon Switch OLED

The Nintendo Switch OLED Splatoon 3 Edition is for those looking for a graffiti aesthetic.

Ahead of Splatoon 3, Nintendo has released a Splatoon-themed Nintendo Switch OLED system . The console is on sale now and comes with a specially themed dock and purple and yellow Joy-Con controllers. The system will cost $360, slightly more expensive than the standard Switch OLED.

• See Splatoon Nintendo Switch OLED at Amazon
• See Splatoon Nintendo Switch OLED at Walmart

Splat in style with the Splatoon 3 Switch Pro Controller.

On top of that, Nintendo will launch a Splatoon-themed Switch Pro Controller. It goes on sale alongside the game on Sept. 9 and features blue and yellow grips, as well as Splatoon splatters and logos across the body. The controller will retail for $75.

In addition to the game, Nintendo is releasing three new Splatoon Amiibo figures: Octoling (blue), Inkling (Yellow) and Smallfry. The figures are slated to launch sometime this holiday.

Nintendo will also be reprinting older Splatoon Amiibo ahead of Splatoon 3's release, giving you another chance to snag them. When scanned in the game, Amiibo can be used to save your "freshest fits" gear load outs.

• See Inkling Girl (Neon Pink) Amiibo at Amazon

At launch, Splatoon 3 will feature 12 different multiplayer stages, including a handful of returning and refurbished maps from the first two Splatoon games. You can see the full list of launch stages below:

• Scorch Gorge
• Eeltail Alley
• Hagglefish Market
• Undertow Spillway
• Mincemeat Metalworks

Returning stages

• Hammerhead Bridge (Splatoon 1)
• Museum D'alphonsino (Splatoon 1)
• Mahi-Mahi Resort (Splatoon 1)
• Inkblot Art Academy (Splatoon 2)
• Sturgeon Shipyard (Splatoon 2)
• Makomart (Splatoon 2)
• Wahoo World (Splatoon 2)

More stages will be added to the game as part of free post-launch updates.

Following its release, Splatoon 3 will receive a regular stream of free updates. These will arrive every three months for two years, and will introduce new weapons, stages, modes and other content to the game.

Nintendo has also confirmed it will release a "large-scale" paid DLC for Splatoon 3. No other information has been announced yet, but the teaser image included silhouettes of Pearl and Marina, the popular idols from Splatoon 2. Nintendo says more details "will come at a later time."

Large-scale paid DLC is planned for #Splatoon3 . Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/Zc641Kso8N — Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) August 10, 2022

Splatoon 3 launches on Sept. 9. We recently went hands-on with the game and thought it feels familiar but features exciting possibilities . Ahead of Splatoon 3's release, Nintendo is giving  Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack  subscribers the chance to play Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion at no additional cost.

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What is Splatoon 3’s release date and time?

It’s been a long wait, but Splatoon 3 ‘s release date is almost upon us. With the game coming out so soon, community hype is at an all-time high: fans are already speculating about what new gear they’re going to find, what secrets they’ll discover in the new Return of the Mammalians story mode, and, of course, which weapons are the best.

After initially pushing for a summer 2022 release, Nintendo delayed Splatoon 3 until early fall to ensure that the game was as polished as possible. (“A delayed game is eventually good. A bad game is bad forever,” says the old Miyamoto meme quote.)

Now that fans are about to get their hands on the game, we’ve compiled a cheat sheet on the game’s release date and time for wherever you are in the world.

When does Splatoon 3 release?

Splatoon 3  will be released on Sept. 9. If you pre-ordered the game digitally, it will unlock at midnight in your time zone. (Yes, this means that Australian players will get their hands on the game first.) If you pre-ordered a physical version from the Nintendo Store or a third-party retailer like Target or GameStop, they should have the game available when they open on Sept. 9. Stop by the store as soon as possible to pick up your pre-order or see if there are any non-claimed copies left. If you ordered a copy for delivery, it should arrive on Sept. 9 or shortly after.

To enjoy everything the game has to offer, including its expansive multiplayer modes, a  Nintendo Switch Online membership is required. Make sure to subscribe before booting up the game so you don’t experience any interruptions in play.

Splatoon 3  is currently available for pre-purchase with a $59.99 price tag on the  Nintendo Store .

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What exact time does the next Splatoon 3 Splatfest start? Dark Chocolate vs. Milk Chocolate vs. White Chocolate Splatfest start time

Splatfests provide Splatoon 3 players the opportunity to participate in the silliest of debates, all while supporting their favorite idol. For a short period, the chaotic city of Splatsville turns into a neon wonder, and players can choose one of three teams to represent for the festivities. After a flavorable fight, the next bought will have you support your favorite sweet.

The game will ask you: what’s your favorite chocolate: dark, milk, or white? That is back-to-back events focused on food or drink themes. But what time can you actually start playing the Splatfest and flaunt your titles, badges, and new wares?

Related: Which Splatfest team won in Splatoon 3?

Splatfest start time by time zone

The start time of Splatoon 3 Splatfests is usually midnight (00:00) UTC. Check below to see how that applies in your time zone.

• North America: Friday, February 10, 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
• Europe: Saturday, February 11, 1 AM BST
• Japan: Saturday, February 11: 5 AM JST

Related: All Splatfest ranks in Splatoon 3

Players can pick their Splatfest team a week before the festivities start as part of the Sneak Peek; you can do so at a Splatfest voting booth in the Splatsville square once it shows up.

Splatfest Sneak Peeks and how they work

The Splatfest Sneak Peek lasts during the week leading up to the Splatfest and allows you and other players to choose their team . During the Sneak Peek, leveling up the Catalog earned players conch shells and levels up your Splatfest Tee, and earning conch shells counts towards your team’s final results. This Sneak Peek starts on Friday, February 3 .

How long does the Splatfest last? Finish time by region

Splatoon 3 Splatfests will last for 48 hours . The first 24 hours will consist of standard Turf War gameplay, pitting one team against another, while the final 24 hours will consist of Tricolor Turf War matches, with all three teams engaging in 4v2v2 mayhem.

• North America: Sunday, February 12, 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
• Europe: Monday, February 13, 1 AM BST
• Japan: Monday, February 13, 5 AM JST

Splatoon 3 Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

• Main Weapons
• Sub Weapons
• Best Weapons
• Best Specials
• Gear Abilities

News and Events

Release Date and Time: When Did Splatoon 3 Come Out?

★ Version 1.1.2 Update Details ★ Tips and Tricks: Beginner's Guide to Splatoon ┗ Best Weapons | Best Specials | Best Sub Weapons ★ All Game Modes and Rules ┗ Turf War | Anarchy Battles | Salmon Run ★ Hero Mode Walkthrough | List of Bosses

Splatoon 3 was released on September 9, 2022, and is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Read on to see its release date and time, including a countdown to when Splatoon 3 comes and where you can get the game!

List of Contents

When Did Splatoon 3 Come Out?

Splatoon 3 release time, where to get splatoon 3, release date announcement trailer, splatoon 3 release info.

• Related Guides

Released on September 9, 2022

Splatoon 3 is now available to play in all regions and all servers are currently active as well, allowing you to enjoy online play. The game was officially released on September 9, 2022 !

Released at Midnight Local Time

Like the majority of Nintendo Switch exclusives, Splatoon 3 released at midnight local time. The game was available to play as soon as the clock hit midnight on September 9th in your time zone. Players in eastern time zones were able to start playing earlier than those in western time zones.

Note that changing the time zone on your system or console does not affect the release of the game! Release time will depend on the region of the store the game was purchased from.

Regions in Order of Release Time

Players with accounts from regions near the top of the following list can play the game earlier than those near the bottom.

Pre-orders Available Before Release

Before the official release of Splatoon 3, you could pre-order the game from the Nintendo eShop and select stores, so you can play it immediately on September 9th. Some retailers even offered special pre-oder bonuses when pre-ordering from their store.

Pre-order Bonus Guide: Where to Pre-order

Demo Version Available on August 27

A Demo version for Splatoon 3 entitled Splatfest World Premiere was available to download on the Nintendo eShop . An online event took place on August 27 where everyone could participate and play the brand new Splatfest battles.

Demo Guide Splatfest World Premiere Date and Time

The release date for Splatoon 3 was officially announced alongside a gameplay trailer on April 22nd, 2022. The gameplay trailer featured a fast-paced round of Turf Wars, presented a new map, and showcased several new weapons including the Tri-Stringer !

Splatoon 3 is the lastest entry to the third-person ink-filled shooter series. The game will be released on September 9th, 2022, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch family of systems.

Engage in Turf Wars , 4-on-4 online battles where both sides stake their claim to territories the only way squids know how - high-octane ink combat! Splatoon 3 also features a Story Mode where Agent 3 will have to face off against the Octarians. Learn the secrets behind Alterna, the Fuzzy Ooze, and how they will lead into the "Return of the Mammalians.” The co-op mode Salmon Run also makes its return where you'll have to team up and fend off waves of dangerous Salmonid bosses! 

Splatoon 3 Related Guides

• Latest News and Events

• Pokemon Splatfest Dates and Time

Updated 10/9/2022

Splatoon 3 is celebrating the upcoming release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet! Read on to learn the dates and time of the upcoming Pokemon Splatfest

• Available Platforms

Updated 9/10/2022

Splatoon 3 will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022!

• Release Date Countdown

Updated 9/14/2022

Splatoon 3 will release on September 9, 2022. See more details on its release and a countdown to its release date!

• Splatoon 3 Direct Summary

Updated 9/27/2022

The Splatoon 3 Direct will came out on August 10, 2022. See all the new features introduced in the direct!

• Splatfest World Premiere Guide

Updated 8/31/2022

Splatfest World Premiere is a limited-time event available in the demo for Splatoon 3. Find out how to download the demo and all the contents included!

Pre-order Bonuses

Updated 9/7/2022

Several goodies are in store for those who are interested to pre-order Splatoon 3. Compare the different bonuses available in this guide!

• Preload Guide

Updated 9/5/2022

Splatoon 3 is now available to preload. Learn how to prelaod the game from the Nintendo eshop, as well as other benefits!

• Multiplayer Features

Updated 9/28/2022

Splatoon 3 will have several online and local multiplayer features available. See all the things you can do with other players in our guide!

New and Returning Features

Updated 9/11/2022

Splatoon 3 retains a lot of what fans loved from Splatoon 2 but also adds and improves on known features! Check out what's new!

• amiibo Guide

Updated 10/11/2022

Learn how to scan amiibo at Splatsville and all the rewards you can claim!

Nintendo Treehouse Live Summary

Updated 8/26/2022

The Nintendo Treehouse: Live released on August 2022 showcased many of the upcoming features available in Splatoon 3. See a detailed summary in our guide!

Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model and Pro Controller

Updated 9/1/2022

A special edition Splatoon 3 NIntendo Switch OLED Model and Pro Controller are set to release in celebration of Splatoon 3. Learn its release date, price, pre-order guide and system features!

• All Trailers and Gameplay Videos

A number of trailers and gameplay videos have been released for Splatoon 3. Check them out to learn more about the inkoming game!

Splatoon 3 Review and Ratings

Updated 9/26/2022

Read our thoughts and opinions about Splatoon 3 in this review!

All Free Update Contents and Release Dates

Check out all the free updates and contents coming to Splatoon 3!

• SplatNet 3 Guide

Updated 10/5/2022

Check out where and when to download SplatNet 3!

Save Data Rewards and Benefits

Updated 10/3/2022

Check out the Rewards and Benefits from having a Splatoon 2 Save Data!

• Will There Be DLC?

Check out the possible DLCs coming to Splatoon 3!

• Nintendo Server Maintenance

Updated 9/16/2022

See if Splatoon 3 is currently undergoing server maintenance and when Nintendo will get them back up!

• Splatfest Results

The most recent Splatfest has just finished and results are already in! Read on to learn who won the Splatfest.

• Is Splatoon 3 the Last Game?

Updated 10/10/2022

Read our thoughts as to why Splatoon 3 is unlikely to be the last Splatoon game.

Splatoon 3 Sweepstakes Rewards?

Read on to learn more about the My Nintendo Sweepstakes and the prizes you could get!

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Walkthrough Menu

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• Is Splatoon 3 Multiplayer?
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• Is Agent 8 in the Game?
• All Main Weapons
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How to level up fast in Splatoon 3

Eating food and playing Anarchy Battles will help you max XP in Nintendo’s multiplayer shooter

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In Splatoon 3 , most of the weapons and other items, such as locker upgrades , are locked behind a level gate. You’ll need to get to level 30 to unlock every weapon and hit level 100 in the catalog to unlock every reward. From our experience, that can take a very long time. Learn how to speed up the leveling process by following our Splatoon 3 guide.

Use your food tickets

Using experience food tickets is an easy way to gain XP quickly. There are three experience food tickets:

• The Pescatariat - Increases battle XP by 50%
• The Pescatariat Royale - Doubles battle XP
• Marigold’en Garden Greens - Doubles battle XP for all teammates

Interact with the Staff at the Crab-N-Go , which can be found in the Lobby , and eat one of the foods listed above to boost your experience gain. These boosts last for 20 matches , so try your best to win to gain the most XP possible.

You can get food tickets from Hero Mode, the Shell-Out Machine, Salmon Run, and the catalog.

Knock out your opponents in Anarchy Battles

In Turf War, the amount of experience you gain depends on three things:

• Time Bonus (3 min.) - +300 XP
• Ink Bonus (Get at least 500p) - +500 XP
• Win Bonus - +600 XP

If you win, you’ll get 1400 XP per game , but if you lose, you’ll only get 800 XP. With a food ticket buff, you can double this for more experience, but it’ll still take a long time to reach level 30 by limiting yourself to Turf War.

In Anarchy Battles, the amount of experience you gain depends on four things:

• Time Bonus - +100 XP per minute
• Progress - +5 XP per progress (e.g. taking the rainmaker 60% of the way is Progress 60)
• Win Bonus - +1500 XP
• Knockout Bonus - +2500 XP

Getting knockouts in Anarchy Battles is much easier said than done, but if you do, you’ll get 2500 bonus XP. If you’re using a food ticket and you get a knockout, you can get up to 5000 XP per game . This’ll let you speed through your catalog and your levels to quickly gain all of your rewards.

The downside to Anarchy Battles is that you can lose very fast and gain little to no experience, which will waste one of your food tickets. Anarchy Battles can be an inconsistent and demoralizing way to get experience, so there is nothing wrong with using your food tickets in Turf War.

Win or clear once a day for 7500 Catalog XP

The catalog has 100 base levels with rewards at each level. It’ll take a long time to reach the max level, but if you win one Turf War or clear one Salmon run a day , you’ll get 7500 bonus XP, which is almost one entire level. The daily reset is at 8 p.m. EDT , so make sure to get a win or clear before then!

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Splatoon 3 Releases Update 7.1.0

• Nintendo's latest update for Splatoon 3 focuses on bug fixes in Side Order DLC, Salmon Run tweaks, and Splatfest improvements.
• Update 7.1.0 features a long list of bug fixes to numerous areas of SPlatoon 3, including a number of game breaking issues inside of Side Order.
• The cooperative Salmon Run mode received a tweak and Splatfest has new music available for all players.

Nintendo launches update 7.1.0 for Splatoon 3 , which addresses a long list of bugs to various game modes including Side Order, as well as tweaking Salmon Run and the upcoming Splatfest. Originally launching in September 2022, Splatoon 3 continues to prove itself as one of the fastest selling games on the Nintendo Switch. Splatoon 3 not only became Japan's best-selling game in 2022, but over the first three months, it also flew by 10 million copies sold worldwide.

As the game slowly approaches its second anniversary later in 2024, part of the success of Splatoon 3 has been Nintendo's continued support of the title, both through smaller updates and events like community-driven Splatfests, while also supporting the game with premium content. Though DLC updates, Splatoon 3 has added a roguelite mode called Side Order , while also bringing back popular elements from past games in the franchise, like the hub world of Inkopolis. Nintendo also continues to release new patches for the game, with the latest one bringing a laundry list of bug fixes.

Splatoon 3 Side Order: How to Get All Badges

Revealing the details of Update 7.1.0 on their support site, Splatoon 3 players can now download the latest patch for the online shooter. The biggest piece of this update centers on fixes lingering bugs that are impacting numerous activities in Splatoon 3 especially the latest DLC Side Order. In fact, while inside Side Order's Spire of Order the music could suddenly stop playing, or the point calculation screen could display a higher number than what was actually earned, or other odd behaviors. In fact, the update contains a fix for a Splatoon 3 player reported problem where once the Side Order story was completed , a communication error appeared and prevented the end cutscene from playing entirely.

Outside of bug fixes, this latest update does make a few changes to the popular co-op Salmon Run mode in that the time for players who are not on the host system to pick up Golden Eggs has been shortened immediately after throwing or depositing one. The upcoming Splatoon 3 Splatfest event is also getting brand-new music called Suffer No Fools that is set to play during Splatfest Battles and Tricolor Battles. Better yet, the song will be free to all players, so the paid DLC is not required to hear the song.

Alongside the music change, Nintendo has also teased free content for players partaking in the Splatoon 3 SpringFest event , with new pastel colored sunglasses, as well as 9 new pairs of shoes. The special themed gear works similarly to previous DLC distribution, so players will need to check their SRL New Channels on the Switch in order to claim the content once it's available.

Splatoon 3 Update 7.1.0 Patch Notes

Changes to splatfests.

• This song will play regardless of whether the player has downloaded the DLC.

Changes to Salmon Run

• For players not on the host system for multiplayer, shortened the time until those players pick up Golden Eggs touched immediately after depositing or throwing another Golden Egg.

This update focuses on adding a song for Splatfests.

The next update, which is planned for the middle of Fresh Season 2024, will make changes to things like battles.

• Fixed an issue with the Order Brella Replica’s canopy where the ink shown on it relative to the damage taken was less than the Splat Brella and the Sorella Brella.
• Fixed an issue in Clam Blitz mode where, when you did not have a clam, it was possible to swing rollers with shorter intervals than normal by alternately swinging the roller and performing the clam-throw action.
• A feature for rewatching this cutscene has been added to the Spire of Order entrance.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented the player from controlling the character after the cutscene looking up at the Spire of Order.
• Fixed an issue where, when continuously playing Side Order, the in-game music sometimes stopped playing.
• Fixed an issue where, when the player pressed the + Button to open the pause screen with certain timing after entering a floor, the floor’s music sometimes did not play when the player closed the pause screen.
• Fixed an issue where, due to reasons such as activating Broken-Armor Jump midair, sometimes when staying airborne at a position high up in the air, the player is treated as having fallen outside the stage despite being in a position where they can return to the stage.
• Fixed an issue where the jump height when jumping off a bounce pad was not uniform.
• Fixed an issue where, when restarting after making a mistake on a floor where a Bonus Challenge occurred, the icon in the upper left showing the bonus conditions was sometimes displayed overlapping with those different from the original conditions.
• Fixed an issue where the color of the mark indicating what you are aiming at sometimes differed from the color of the player's ink due to the Homing Shots color chip.
• Fixed an issue in Rotational.Floor where players sometimes clipped into terrain when getting stuck between a Whirling Accelerando and the terrain.
• Fixed an issue where, when a Parallel Canon touched an active inkrail, it would sometimes blow the player away significantly.
• Fixed an issue where, when pressing the A Button on the point-calculation screen at the end of a run at the Spire of Order, the earned points displayed was sometimes higher than the number of points actually obtained.
• Fixed an issue where the “High Score!” that displays in Side Order Stats sometimes did not update properly.
• When your final ranking in Chill Season 2023 meets the requirements, you will automatically earn a badge when you connect to the internet and go to the lobby after applying the updated data.
• You can check your final ranking on SplatNet 3.
• Fixed an issue where pressing in the Left Stick on the screen where you ask Murch or Spyke to add gear abilities sometimes prevented you from performing any further actions.
• Fixed an issue where the time limit could not be changed when using the Random function to select a Tableturf Battle stage in multiplayer.

The third installment of Nintendo's popular paint-style ink-slinging third-person shooter. Splatoon 3 gives players a whole new world to explore with an interesting singleplayer mode and all the multiplayer madness that players have come to know and love from the series.

Franchise Splatoon

Platform(s) Switch

Released September 9, 2022

Developer(s) Nintendo

Publisher(s) Nintendo

Genre(s) Third-Person Shooter

ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence

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This is the timeline of the known events and history of the games of the Splatoon series until now.

• 1 The End of the Human Era
• 2 Before the Mollusc Era
• 3 Start of the Mollusc Era
• 4 The Great Turf War and surrounding events
• 5 Before the events of Splatoon
• 6.1 Octo Valley
• 7 Events of Squid Sisters Stories
• 8.1 Octo Canyon
• 8.2 Octo Expansion
• 9.1 Return of the Mammalians
• 9.2 Side Order
• 11 References

The End of the Human Era

• Around 12,000 years ago - Humans live as the dominant species of Earth, with their history being implied to largely mirror that of real life humanity, apart from reaching a further point of technological advancement than has been reached in reality.
• Around 12,000 years ago - While academic circles warn of significantly rising sea levels, no policy is enacted to deal with the situation. [1] Meanwhile, the world becomes embroiled in warfare. [2]

• Around this time, the professor also creates an artificial intelligence for the purpose of passing down humanity's knowledge to the next form of intelligent life, in hopes that humanity's mistakes would not be repeated. [7] [8]

• In The Art of Splatoon , a concept manga is shown that indicates the cause of the sudden dramatic rise in sea levels was a nuclear missile hitting Antarctica, melting the ice. [9] This information has thus far never been repeated in other official material, so it is unknown if it is still considered canon to the series proper.
• 12,000 years ago - Some humans survive the flooding and reside in Alterna , a shelter and settlement located under what was once Mt. Fuji, while others who try to escape to other underground domes perish.
• 12,000 years ago - Another group of survivors leave Earth in search of a new planet. They create the space shuttle Ark Polaris , and bring with them many of Earth's species in cryogenic stasis.

• Around 12,000 years ago - Alterna's leaders are replaced by the next generation, who, desiring to see Earth's surface again, create the Spirit Lifter . During the first launch test, the energy from the rocket's boosters overload the cavern's liquid crystals, provoking a violent chain reaction that causes the stone walls to break and rain debris on the settlement. This kills most of the inhabitants of Alterna, leaving the rest to die shortly after. [11]

Before the Mollusc Era

• 12,000-2,000 years ago - For 10,000 years, there is no known activity of sentient life. [ Citation needed ]
• 12,000-7,000 years ago - After Alterna's collapse, many of the liquid crystals that once covered the cavern's walls fall into the waters below and break into microscopic fragments, being absorbed by generation after generation of the sea creatures living in Alterna's waters. As the crystals had repeatedly absorbed the wishes of the humans in Alterna, the crystals retained these feelings and passed them onto the creatures that absorbed them, resulting in sea life gaining something reflecting humanity's desire to return to surface of Earth. These crystals also accelerate the evolution of the sea creatures together to whatever more was in the polluted waters of the settlement, until one day they set foot on dry land, eventually leaving Alterna and reaching Earth's surface. The region surrounding Alterna eventually becomes known as the Splatlands .
• 12,000-7,000 years ago - At some point global water levels recede, allowing the terrestrial flora as well as some surviving animals such as birds and insects to flourish again and expand throughout the globe over time.
• Around 10,000 years ago - When trying to reach the edge of the solar system, the Ark Polaris is damaged by debris, damaging its navigational system and forcing the crew to go back to Earth. Having run out of fuel needed to land, the Ark Polaris drifts in the Earth's orbit for the next 10,000 years.
• Around 7,000 years ago - Sea marine evolved creatures, reach the surface from Alterna's facilities, and begin a fast expansion through the world. At the same time, a squid is born with "unique characteristics". This squid is considered a prophet by their fellow squid for numerous revelations they share, and eventually comes to be considered a progenitor to the modern-day Inkling . [12]

Start of the Mollusc Era

• 2,000 years ago - Judd is released from his capsule and becomes the judge of the earliest known Turf Wars . [5]

The Great Turf War and surrounding events

• Over 100 years before the events of Splatoon - Inkopolis and Calamari County are founded. Calamari County's customary chorus is composed to celebrate and respect the bounty of the sea.
• 127 years before the events of Splatoon - Craig Cuttlefish is born.
• Over 100 years before the events of Splatoon - DJ Octavio is born.
• It is implied that the Splatlands were not affected by this flooding in the same way, due to the three lights that appeared and consumed the disaster. [13] As a result, the Great Turf War does not appear to have affected the Splatlands, at least not to the same extent as Inkadia, and Inklings and Octarians in the area seem to have remained at peace with each other.
• During the Great Turf War - Cap'n Cuttlefish forms the original Squidbeak Splatoon as its leader, together with two other Inkling members, Sheldon 's grandfather Ammoses Shellendorf , and possibly Judd.
• During the Great Turf War - Ammoses Shellendorf creates blueprints for several weapons, including the Hero Shot .
• During the Great Turf War - The Octarians are victorious throughout the first battles of the Great War, aided by their Great Octoweapons, as well as the fact that Inklings were unable to wake up early enough in the morning to defend themselves. [14]
• During the Great Turf War - As the Octarians storm the Inkling's central stronghold, a power cord accidentally being unplugged causes their weaponry to deactivate, which allows the Inklings to defeat them. Judd delivers the verdict of the Inklings' victory. [5] [15]
• After the Great Turf War - The Octarians are forced into hiding into Octo Valley and Octo Canyon, where they live in underground domes once built by humans as shelters. [16]
• After the Great Turf War - Inkopolis' Great Zapfish is born, and its electricity is used to power the city. [5]
• After the Great Turf War - In the wake of the Inkling's victory, Turf Wars go on to become a popular competitive sport.

Before the events of Splatoon

• Before the events of Splatoon - The Octarians' underground domes show signs of collapsing, and begin to lose power.
• At least 34 years before the events of Splatoon - Barry C. is born. [17]
• 23 years before the events of Splatoon - Spyke is born.
• 19 years before the events of Splatoon - Pearl is born. [18]
• Likely 17 years before the events of Splatoon - Callie and Marie are born in Calamari County.
• 16 years before the events of Splatoon - Marina is born. [18]
• At least 14 years before the events of Splatoon - Harmony is born. [17]
• At least 14 years before the events of Splatoon - The former Agent 3 is born.
• At least 12 years before the events of Splatoon - Agent 4 and Agent 8 are born.
• At least 7 years before the events of Splatoon - The current Agent 3 is born.
• Pearl also participates in a Youth Folk-Singing Contest, though it is unknown if it is exactly the same event that Callie and Marie participated in, or a contest from a later year. The destructive power of her voice causes some damage to the event's venue. [20]

Events of Splatoon

• Before the events of Splatoon - After moving to Inkopolis , Callie and Marie , now known as the Squid Sisters , begin their career as hosts of the Inkopolis News program, where they announce the current battle stages and Splatfests .
• Annie , Moe , Crusty Sean , Jelonzo , and Sheldon begin operating their shops at Booyah Base. Spyke also works from a back-alley in Inkopolis Plaza.
• Squid Squad becomes active, marking a turning point in Inkling music. Their song Splattack! is considered to have set the standard for battle music, and Now or Never! goes onto be covered by numerous other musical groups.

Octo Valley

• Shortly before the events of Octo Valley - The Great Zapfish providing electricity to Inkopolis is stolen by the Octarians , along with several smaller Zapfish .
• A young Inkling, having recently moved to Inkopolis, [21] follows Cap'n Cuttlefish down a manhole in the Plaza, ending up in Octo Valley .
• Cap'n Cuttlefish recruits the Inkling as Agent 3 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon , enlisting them to help recover the stolen Zapfish.
• With Cap'n Cuttlefish's guidance, Agent 3 recovers several Zapfish and does battle with three of the Great Octoweapons . After the defeat of the Octowhirl , Cuttlefish is captured by DJ Octavio , though his identity is not known to Agent 3 at that point.
• Having received an SOS signal from Cap'n Cuttlefish, Agent 1 and Agent 2 make contact with Agent 3, taking over the role of guiding them through Octo Valley, now with the new goal of rescuing Cap'n Cuttlefish.
• After recovering a few more Zapfish, Agent 3 then battles the Octomaw , before eventually reaching the final area of Octo Valley. After clearing this area, they then finally reach DJ Octavio.
• At one point during Agent 3's battle with DJ Octavio, Agents 1 and 2 hijack the radio waves of Octavio's performance to play Calamari Inkantation . This battle is witnessed by many Octarians, being interpreted as a concert with DJ Octavio as the opening act for the Squid Sisters. [22] At least two known Octarians, Marina and Agent 8 , are inspired by the song to defect from the Octarian military after the battle and before the events of Splatoon 2 . [5]
• After DJ Octavio's defeat, Cap'n Cuttlefish is rescued and the Great Zapfish is recovered, restoring Inkopolis' power supply. DJ Octavio is imprisoned in a snow globe to prevent him from causing further trouble.

Events of Squid Sisters Stories

The events of Squid Sisters Stories were set in between the events of Splatoon and Splatoon 2 , starting with the final Splatfest of the first game.

• Just over 1 year into their career as Inkopolis News presenters, the Squid Sisters host their final Splatfest , with Marie winning. This final Splatfest causes the Squid Sisters to reach new heights of popularity, becoming the biggest stars of Inkling society.
• Callie and Marie spend an increasing amount of time apart as their careers take different paths following the release of their solo singles. Callie makes many guest appearances on variety shows, where filming often continues until late at night. Meanwhile, Marie becomes a frequent guest on music shows, in addition to performing solo at live concerts.
• Crusty Sean quits his job as the store manager of Shrimp Kicks in order to open a food truck, the Crust Bucket .
• Annie also apparently quits her job at Cooler Heads, in search of a more detail-oriented job involving less interaction with people.
• Marie takes a trip to Calamari County to visit her parents, intending to stay for three days. She invites Callie to go with her on the train, but due to having an appointment Callie refuses and promises to meet up with Marie there the following day.
• The day Callie is meant to meet Marie in Calamari County, she fails to show up entirely. Marie attempts to get into contact with Callie through her manager and by calling their shared apartment, but is unsuccessful.
• Marie cuts her trip short and returns to Inkopolis to search for Callie. Finding their apartment empty with no sign of Callie, Marie then goes to Octo Valley, finding Cap'n Cuttlefish's shack deserted but otherwise undisturbed, with the exception of the snow globe beside it that previously contained DJ Octavio having been shattered.
• Marie returns to Inkopolis to find that the Great Zapfish has once again been stolen, though the citizens of Inkopolis seem relatively unfazed by the situation as they expect it won't be long before it is returned.
• In hopes of quickly finding help, Marie goes to Inkopolis Square in hopes of recruiting someone to aid in finding Callie and the stolen Zapfish, leading into the events of Splatoon 2' s Octo Canyon.

Events of Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2 takes place 2 years after the events of Splatoon .

• Before the events of Splatoon 2 - The Ark Polaris crash-lands back on Earth, with all of its inhabitants dying in the process, with the sole exception of one of the bears , then known as Bear #03. Bear #03, having somehow gained knowledge from thousands of years of dreaming, uses the navigational equipment of the Ark Polaris to search for another mammal left on Earth, instead finding the ruins of Alterna . He repairs the facilities of the settlement and begins using them to research the remaining liquid crystals. Eventually, by compounding the crystals with his own fur, he learns to create a substance capable of turning any creature it touches into a mammal. [23]
• Before the events of Splatoon 2 - Grizzco Industries is founded by Bear #03, now known as Mr. Grizz , for the purpose of acquiring the Golden Eggs that were to be used to power the Spirit Lifter , [24] which also had an unknown role in the creation of Fuzzy Ooze . [23]
• Before the events of Splatoon 2 - Marina defects from the Octarian army to become a citizen of Inkopolis after listening to the Calamari Inkantation , becoming a huge fan of the Squid Sisters in the process. She meets Pearl , and the two eventually become the pop idol duo Off the Hook .
• Before the events of Splatoon 2 - Jelfonzo is born after splitting off from Jelonzo [25] , and goes on to run his own clothes store, Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe .
• About a year and a half before the events of Splatoon 2 - Inkopolis Square, once a run-down area with a minor crime problem, undergoes redevelopment efforts, eventually becoming a popular hangout spot for Inkling youth. [26]
• Three months before the events of Splatoon 2 - A cleaner at Calamari Research Labs, where Judd 's cryogenic capsule is stored as a historical relic, accidentally unplugs the capsule. This causes the cell stored in the capsule to multiply, leading to Li'l Judd being born. [4] [27]
• Cap'n Cuttlefish and Agent 3 go on a research trip to the cape, leading to their absence for the events of Octo Canyon, and possibly setting up their presence in Octo Expansion . [28]
• The Salmonids presumably begin their great migration that occurs every 70 years, moving to waters near Inkopolis . [29]
• Annie starts an online retail service in the form of the Splatnet Gear Shop .
• Squid Squad disbands, with the band's former bassist, Quinn, eventually becoming part of the new musical duo Diss-Pair .
• The Chirpy Chips also briefly disband at some point, but reunite shortly after with the release of Blitz It! and Wave Prism . [7]
• Ammo Knights relocates to Inkopolis Square's Galleria, with Sheldon continuing to run the store.
• Off the Hook become the hosts of Inkopolis News , which is now filmed in Inkopolis Square, taking on the responsibility of announcing the current battle stages and Splatfests.

Octo Canyon

• Picking up where Squid Sisters Stories left off, Marie recruits Agent 4 to the New Squidbeak Splatoon in order to help find Callie and the stolen Zapfish in Octo Canyon .
• After Agent 4 defeats the first Octoboss they encounter, Marie calls in Sheldon to assist them as well by providing in-development weapons to Agent 4.
• Eventually, after the defeat of Neo Octostomp , a brainwashed Callie makes contact with Agent 4 and Marie, telling them to leave. Marie doesn't initially recognize the caller as Callie, until she contacts them again after the defeat of the Octo Shower , when she recognizes her by the fact that she's holding the phone upside down.
• With Marie shocked by the realization that Callie is working with the Octarians, she continues guiding Agent 4 through Cephalon HQ until they eventually reach the final boss . Here, DJ Octavio reveals that he is the one responsible for Callie's disappearance, having brainwashed her with a pair of "hypnoshades".
• Agent 4 does battle with DJ Octavio and the brainwashed Callie, as the two perform a remixed version of Callie's song Bomb Rush Blush . Eventually, Marie and Sheldon arrive, with Sheldon driving a flying truck that Marie stands on. Marie takes aim and shoots Callie's hypnoshades off with a charger, then begins singing her own song in an attempt to snap her out of her hypnosis, resulting in a combination of their two solo songs being performed. This eventually leads to the final phase of the battle, where Callie, freed from her hypnosis, joins Marie in singing Spicy Calamari Inkantation as Agent 4 defeats DJ Octavio with a modified Rainmaker provided by Sheldon.
• With DJ Octavio defeated once more, the Great Zapfish is returned again to Inkopolis, now resting around Deca Tower , and Callie and Marie are reunited. Off the Hook report on these events on Inkopolis News, playing the Squid Sisters' new single Fresh Start on their program to celebrate.

Octo Expansion

Octo Expansion is written so that it could possibly happen both before or after the events of Splatoon 2 's Octo Canyon, depending on the order they are played in. As such, its placement in the timeline is not entirely certain. [7]

• Over the course of 12,000 years leading up to the events of Octo Expansion - As Inkling and Octarian society develops, Commander Tartar , the artificial intelligence created by the professor, strays from its original intended purpose of passing on humanity's knowledge. Its disgust for the new species' needless warfare and obsession with fashion, as well as its insanity caused by thousands of years of isolation, [8] leads it to give itself a new directive of destroying the current life on Earth and creating a new form of life to replace it.
• Numerous identical beings, all known as C.Q. Cumber , are also at some point created by Kamabo Co. in order to operate the Deepsea Metro. [30]
• Before the events of Octo Expansion - Exactly 10,007 subjects enter Kamabo Co.'s testing program, though it is unknown exactly how many of these subjects were killed for their DNA. At least one subject, Iso Padre , is known to be currently surviving, having given up on the program after only completing two stations.

• Shortly before the events of Octo Expansion - Agent 3 battles an Octoling in Octo Valley . This battle is interrupted when both of them are attacked by an unknown assailant. Agent 3 and the Octoling, along with Cap'n Cuttlefish , are then presumably captured and taken to the Deepsea Metro.
• During the events of Octo Expansion : The Octoling, now having lost all memory, is awoken in an abandoned subway station by Cap'n Cuttlefish. Cuttlefish calls a truce so that they can find a way to escape together.
• After finding a way through this abandoned area, the Octoling and Cuttlefish find themselves in the metro's Central Station , which is empty except for a ringing telephone, which the Octoling answers.
• The Telephone tells the Octoling about "the promised land", which it says they can only reach if they prove themselves by collecting the four " thangs ". It gives them a CQ-80 and CQ Card, and deems them "applicant 10,008". Cuttlefish interprets "the promised land" to mean the surface, and nicknames the Octoling "Agent 8" as a shortening of their applicant number. Agent 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish then board the Deepsea Metro train.
• Meanwhile, Pearl and Marina are on Mount Nantai , where they have found a radio that allows them to make contact with Cap'n Cuttlefish. After the situation is explained to them, the two agree to help Agent 8 and Cuttlefish escape the metro.
• With the help of Cap'n Cuttlefish, Pearl, and Marina, Agent 8 completes several test stations in the Deep Sea Metro, and eventually collects all four of the thangs, bringing each one back to the Central Station.
• With all four thangs collected, the Telephone asks Agent 8 if they are ready to enter "the promised land", to which they agree. Following this, the Telephone assembles the thangs into a giant blender, claiming it to be the door to the promised land.
• Agent 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish enter the blender, which nearly leads them to be blended before Marina hacks into Agent 8's CQ-80 to activate the distress signal. This prompts Agent 3 to suddenly smash through the ceiling, destroying the blender and knocking themselves unconscious.
• Agent 8 takes the employee model CQ-80 that was in Agent 3's possession, using the blueprints of the test facility stored on it to find an exit, while Cuttlefish stays behind until Agent 3 wakes up.
• As Agent 8 makes their way up through Kamabo Co.'s testing facilty, they eventually lose contact with Cap'n Cuttlefish, who is apparently attacked and captured by a partially sanitized Agent 3. As they reach the Spinal Phase and try to take an elevator to the surface, Agent 8 is attacked by Agent 3 as well, leading to a battle.
• Agent 8 defeats Agent 3, knocking them unconscious once more but freeing them from their mind control. After this, the elevator continues its ascent, leading Agent 8 and Cuttlefish to the surface, where Pearl and Marina arrive in a helicopter to meet them.
• As Pearl and Cuttlefish celebrate the escape, the NILS Statue that contains the entire facility rises from the ocean. It is at this point the Telephone finally reveals its identity as Commander Tartar, and its goal of destroying Inkopolis and creating a new "ultimate lifeform". The statue's mouth opens to reveal a cannon full of sanitizing ooze aimed at the city, and begins charging enough energy to be capable of destroying the entire world.
• Marina determines that the statue is solar-powered, and comes up with a plan to, using her prototypical Hyperbombs , entirely cover the statue in ink to make it unable to fire its weapon, then have Pearl hit the statue with a shockwave from her voice. With only three minutes before the statue finishes charging, Agent 8 is tasked with manually detonating each of the Hyperbombs.
• Despite being unable to reach a full charge, Tartar prepares to fire the statue's cannon anyway. Pearl uses the Princess Cannon to create a massive beam from the power of her voice, intercepting the cannon's own beam and destroying the statue, and Tartar with it.
• After the events of Octo Expansion - Pearl and Marina return to Inkopolis Square, taking Agent 8 with them.
• After the events of Octo Expansion - Kamabo Corporation is described to be "in disarray" after the defeat of Tartar. Despite this, the Deepsea Metro continues operating without interruption.

Events of Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 takes place 5 years after the events of Splatoon 2 , and 7 years after the events of Splatoon .

• Before the events of Splatoon 3 - Cuttlefish passes down his title as Captain to Agent 3 , leaving the position of Agent 3 open to new recruits.
• Agent 8 keeps in contact with Off the Hook
• Marina starts Project Memverse to help Agent 8 and sanitized Octolings who lost their memories from Kamabo Co. .
• The city of Splatsville develops rapidly, as many Inklings and Octolings move there following the results of Splatoon 2' s Final Fest .
• Hammerhead Bridge has finished construction, connecting The Splatlands and Inkadia .
• One year before the events of Splatoon 3 [31] - Ammo Knights once again relocates, this time to Splatsville.
• The band Deep Cut become hosts of Anarchy Splatcast , a television and radio show that fulfills a similar role to Inkopolis News for residents of Splatsville.
• The former members of Squid Squad , with the exception of Quinn, form a new band, Front Roe , with a new band member replacing their former bassist.
• A train route is constructed between Splatsville and Inkopolis Plaza , allowing easier travel between the two areas.
• Annie returns to working at Cooler Heads , though she continues to operate the Splatnet Gear Shop in addition to this.
• Fred Crumbs takes a job at Shrimp Kicks , while Sheldon's protégé Shelly and Donny take over the Inkopolis Plaza location of Ammo Knights.
• Yoko from Ink Theory forms a side project, Yoko & the Gold Bazookas .
• Off the Hook go on world tour, inviting Agent 8 along.

Return of the Mammalians

• The Great Zapfish supplying electricity to Splatsville is stolen, which is reported on by Deep Cut on Anarchy Splatcast.
• A young individual living in the Splatlands , along with their companion, a friendly Smallfry , enters a manhole in Splatsville, ending up in the Crater . Here they meet Craig Cuttlefish , who recruits them as the new Agent 3 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon . Suspecting the theft of the Great Zapfish to be the work of the Octarians , Cuttlefish guides Agent 3 throughout the Crater, which has been infested with Fuzzy Ooze .
• As Agent 3 reaches the center of the Crater, they are confronted by DJ Octavio , who accuses Cuttlefish of being responsible for the disappearance of his troops.
• Agent 3 defeats DJ Octavio, who denies being responsible for the theft of the Great Zapfish. The conversation is interrupted as the ground beneath them collapses, with Agent 3 getting separated from Cuttlefish and losing most of their gear.
• Agent 3 wakes up on Future Utopia Island , a site of Alterna , which had been located beneath the Crater. Here, they are greeted by the rest of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, comprised of the previous Agent 3, who is now Captain, as well as Agent 1 and Agent 2 .
• With the New Squidbeak Splatoon acting as mission control, Agent 3 begins to explore Alterna in hopes of finding Cuttlefish. In the first kettle they enter, they are also introduced to the computer system of Alterna, O.R.C.A. , who appears to be the one assigning Agent 3 the objectives to complete in each mission.
• As Agent 3 attempts to leave the first site, Deep Cut appear, having apparently followed them into Alterna after their fall. Apparently thinking that the New Squidbeak Splatoon is after the "treasure" located in Alterna, they boast that they are the only ones who may take it before making their exit.
• Agent 3 continues making their way through Alterna, attempting to follow the signals Marie believes are coming from a tracking device on Cuttlefish. The signals are actually coming from the treasure Deep Cut is after, which each member individually attempts to battle Agent 3 over.
• After Agent 3 defeats Frye, Cuttlefish makes contact with the New Squidbeak Splatoon, telling them that he's been kidnapped and is now locked in a dark room.
• After Agent 3 defeats Shiver, Cuttlefish makes contact with them again, but the conversation is interrupted by his captor, who reveals himself to be Mr. Grizz . The call then apparently loses signal.
• Eventually, Agent 3 defeats Big Man in battle, taking the final piece of the treasure. The New Squidbeak Splatoon then uses this treasure to construct a device which the Captain uses to cut off the fur surrounding the Alterna Space Center , allowing the team entry so that they can save Cuttlefish.
• Deep Cut appear to demand the treasure, and Marie allows them to have it since they don't need it anymore. Deep Cut are touched by her generosity, leading them to apologize for fighting Agent 3, as well as ask Marie to be their boss, which she reluctantly accepts.
• With Deep Cut now joining the New Squidbeak Splatoon in supporting Agent 3, they make their way into the space center. When they finally reach Cuttlefish, they find him dried-up and seemingly lifeless. It is also at this point when they finally see Mr. Grizz, who is now revealed to be a giant bear. Mr. Grizz escapes on Alterna's rocket, ready to use it to cover the world in Fuzzy Ooze.
• The Captain cries upon finding Cuttlefish's body, the hydration of which revives him, though he is now apparently stuck in the form of a floating dried squid.
• Deep Cut then appears and assists Agent 3 in getting to space, where they battle Mr. Grizz on the surface of the rocket. After a certain point in the fight, Mr. Grizz absorbs the Fuzzy Ooze on the rocket and knocks Agent 3 and Smallfry into space. The two are saved by the sudden appearance of DJ Octavio in the Octobot King L3.Gs, who proceeds to assist Agent 3 in finishing the battle as Deep Cut and the Squid Sisters perform Calamari Inkantation 3MIX to hype them up from the ground. Smallfry is then apparently transformed by some sort of power, becoming gigantic.
• Together, they defeat Mr. Grizz, who apparently comes to peace with the fact that the world cannot return to the time of mammals in the final moments before he dissolves into Fuzzy Ooze.
• Agent 3, Smallfry, and DJ Octavio return to Earth, and Splatsville's Great Zapfish is restored to its rightful place. Deep Cut reports this on the news, along with the release of the new Squid Sisters single Wave Goodbye , apparently only realizing at that moment that the Squid Sisters were in fact their new bosses Agents 1 and 2.
• After the events of Return of the Mammalians - After the defeat of Mr. Grizz the radio depicting a bear with a salmon in its mouth gets relocated to Alterna and is replaced by a new one depicting a salmon with a bear instead. Grizzco Industries runs the same like before. Li'l Judd starts to wear a headset.

• Order seizes control of the Memverse in an attempt to use it to create a world of perfect order. It begins forcibly connecting Inklings and Octolings to the Memverse to "grayscale" them, erasing their free will.
• Agent 8 and the Pearl Drone find themselves in what seems to be Inkopolis Square , but without color or signs of life. They free Marina from Order's control.
• ↑ Splatoon - Sunken Scroll 25
• ↑ Log001: The Fall of Humanity
• ↑ Splatoon - Sunken Scroll 27
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Art of Splatoon 2 , pages 112-113
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Story description from Splatoon Base
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 27
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Famitsu - Splatoon 2 one year anniversary developer interview (English translation)
• ↑ 8.0 8.1 Telephone's character profile from Splatoon Base
• ↑ The Art of Splatoon , page 315
• ↑ Log003: A New Sky
• ↑ Log004: Humanity's Final Day
• ↑ Log006: The Land of Fresh Beginnings
• ↑ Splatoon 3 - Sunken Scroll 2
• ↑ Splatoon - Sunken Scroll 12
• ↑ Splatoon - Sunken Scroll 13
• ↑ The Art of Splatoon , page 312
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Art of Splatoon 3 , page 77
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Art of Splatoon 2 , pages 86-87
• ↑ Splatoon - Sunken Scroll 17
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 1
• ↑ Agent 3's character profile on Splatoon Base
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 2
• ↑ 23.0 23.1 Log.exe: Return of the Mammalians
• ↑ Log.exe, retranslated from Japanese
• ↑ 3 March 2018 Famitsu interview with Splatoon developers
• ↑ The Art of Splatoon 2 , page 119
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 26
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 25
• ↑ Splatoon 2 - Sunken Scroll 18
• ↑ C.Q. Cumber's character profile on Splatoon Base
• ↑ Splatoon 3 - Sunken Scroll 13
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Splatoon 3 Releases Update 7.2.0

Splatoon 3 gets a new update that changes the way some weapons and Special Weapons work, and fixes a number of bugs plaguing the game.

• Splatoon 3 update 7.2.0. released for April 2024, focusing on weapon adjustments before Springfest Splatfest.
• Constant balancing updates aim to eliminate unfair advantages, with next update featuring weapon adjustments and new content.

Splatoon 3 has released its 7.2.0. update for April 2024. The adjustments to the game come just prior to the upcoming Springfest Splatfest. As a number of the updates have to do with weapons and Special Weapons, fans may want to practice a bit before the Splatoon 3 Springfest to ensure they've adapted to the changes made.

Splatoon 3 has seen a lot of new content recently, with the most expansive being the Side Order DLC Wave 2 release . The new story mode campaign also adds the ability to revisit Inkopolis Square and watch Off the Hook perform live during Splatfests. Although Splatoon 3 is beginning the approach to the end of its two years of promised support, it doesn't look like the content being added to the game or the balancing process is slowing down.

Splatoon 3 Side Order: All Cipher's Shop Items (& How to Unlock Them)

Splatoon 3 's 7.2.0 update is now live, and players will need to install it to play online effective immediately. The update has altered the layout of the Undertow Spillway map, but the majority of the update has to do with balancing weapons and Special Weapons.

Both versions of the Splattershot Pro and the Nozzlenose have seen their damage increased, and moving speed while firing has been improved for Dapple Dualies. The radius of ink splatter and damage explosions for the Luna Blaster and the S-BLAST have been increased respectively. The shot spread of the Splattershot Nova has been reduced while on land, the Sploosh-o-Matic has expanded collision detection to make it easier to hit enemies, and the Painbrush has been updated to improve its inking width while moving and to reduce the time it takes for ink to start regenerating.

The Special Weapons Big Bubbler , Splattercolor Screen, Triple Splashdown, and Kraken Royale have also all seen tweaks. Damage to the inner device and top section of the Big Bubbler has been reduced, while damage done by the Splattercolor Screen has been increased. The time it takes between rising and landing with Triple Splashdown has been reduced, but the radius of the damage done has also been reduced. Lastly, players super jumping to someone using the Kraken Royale will no longer jump to them directly, but will instead place them where the player was when they activated Kraken Royale.

While some of these changes may be more well-received than others, Splatoon 3 is constantly re-evaluating the battlefield to try and diminish any unfair advantages weapons and Special Weapons have. The development team is already gearing up for the next update, which will also include weapon balance adjustments alongside new Sizzle Season content .

Splatoon 7.2.0 Update Patch Notes

Changes to multiplayer.

• The terrain in Undertow Spillway has been changed in all modes.
• Specifications for some main weapons have changed.

Weapon Change Detail

Sploosh-o-matic/Neo Sploosh-o-matic

• Slightly expanded shots’ collision detection with players to make it easier to hit opponents.

Splattershot Pro/Forge Splattershot Pro

• Maximum damage has been increased from 42.0 to 45.0.

Splattershot Nova/Annaki Splattershot Nova

• Reduced the shot spread while on land by approximately 8%.

H-3 Nozzlenose/H-3 Nozzlenose D

• Maximum damage has been increased from 41.0 to 44.0.

Luna Blaster/Luna Blaster Neo Order Blaster Replica

• Increased the radius of the ink splatter at the point of impact with terrain or when detonated midair by approximately 20%.

S-BLAST '92/S-BLAST '91

• Increased the radius of the 50.0-damage explosion for long flight-range shots by about 11%.

Painbrush/Painbrush Nouveau

• Increased inking width when holding the ZR Button to ink while moving forward by approximately 18%.
• Shortened the time before ink starts recovering after holding the ZR Button to ink while moving forward by approximately 1/6th of a second.

Dapple Dualies/Dapple Dualies Nouveau

• Movement speed while firing is now about 5% faster.

Specifications for some Special Weapons have changed.

Special Weapon Change Details

Big Bubbler

• Reduced damage dealt to the inner device and top section by approximately 22%.

Splattercolor Screen

• Increased the damage dealt to opponents who touch the screen from 30.0 to 40.0.

Triple Splashdown

• Reduced the amount of time it takes for the player and ink fist to start dropping after they rise up by about 1/6th of a second.
• Decreased the radius of the 60.0-damage explosion by approximately 13%.

Kraken Royale

• Made it so that Super Jumping to an ally using Kraken Royale will Super Jump to the location where that ally started using Kraken Royale rather than the ally’s current position.

Points required for some Special Weapons have been changed.

Fixes to Player Controls

• Fixed an issue where charger shots sometimes hit the ground at the player’s feet feet when changing direction while quickly firing after swimming.
• Fixed an issue causing brella canopies to disappear roughly 16/60th of a seconds sooner when launched at the same time that they ran out of durability compared to when not launched.
• Fixed an issue with the Recycled Brella 24 Mk I that sometimes prevented it from firing if the canopy was destroyed at the same time as attempting to fire immediately after closing it.
• Fixed an issue in which, after using Killer Wail 5.1 and performing a command that emptied the special gauge during a Super Jump, the next time the player used Killer Wail 5.1, the special gauge would instantly emptied empty the moment it was used.
• Made it so that the New Squiffer’s aim would not become unstable by fixing an issue with the Zipcaster where, when the player took damage while jumping after clinging to a wall, their upper-body posture would become unintentionally unstable.
• Fixed an issue in which, when defeating an opponent at the same time that they used Triple Splashdown, the sound effect indicating the activation of Triple Splashdown would sometimes not play even though the ink fists from Triple Splashdown would occur.
• Fixed an issue in which the effects of the Respawn Punisher gear ability would be applied if a player was defeated by an opponent equipped with Respawn Punisher and then fell off the stage or into water before being defeated by another player.
• Fixed an issue where sometimes, when a player participates with an unstable wireless environment, defeating that player while they were using a Special Weapon would cause the next Special Weapon that that player uses to not be displayed correctly.

Fixes to Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue in Tower Control mode where the tower would sometimes not progress when a player was submerged in ink in the corner of the top surface of the tower.
• Fixed an issue in Marlin Airport where players would sometimes land in a different location when using Super Jump to go to certain locations near the spawn point.
• Adjusted the display position of the Turf War map to Ffixed an issue at Marlin Airport where players inside the Spawner would sometimes not fit on-screen by adjusting the display position of the Turf War map.
• Fixed an issue at Marlin Airport where, when using the Zipcaster near moving terrain, the player would sometimes end up clipping into the terrain when the effect ended.
• Fixed an issue at Marlin Airport that allowed players to get from certain inkrails onto fences that they were not intended to be able to get on.
• Fixed an issue in which, when launching a brella’s canopy while standing on a rising terrain in Bluefin Depot and Marlin Airport, the canopy would sometimes not move straight forward.

Fixes to Salmon Run

• Fixed an issue where, if a Golden Egg was thrown off the stage after transferring between inkrails, the Golden Egg would sometimes reappear far away when returning to the stage. Instead, it will now return to the base of the last inkrail ridden.
• Fixed an issue in which, when a Fish Stick was standing in a Flipper-Flopper's area, the inking status of the top of the Fish Stick affected the determination of whether the area had been inked back.

Other Fixes

• Fixed an issue causing some terrain to not be displayed correctly at Inkopolis Square when a Splatfest or Big Run is taking place.
• Fixed an issue where, when trying to join a room with a password and accidentally entering an incorrect password, matchmaking would sometimes be started alone without a message informing players that the password was incorrect.

The third installment of Nintendo's popular paint-style ink-slinging third-person shooter. Splatoon 3 gives players a whole new world to explore with an interesting singleplayer mode and all the multiplayer madness that players have come to know and love from the series.

• International

Trump hush money trial

Israel-Hamas war

Columbia University protests

Trump criminal trial wraps for the day after opening statements and first witness

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse

Key takeaways from opening statements and the first witness in Trump's hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell

Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness — a former National Enquirer publisher — was called Monday in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of a former president.

Each side got their first chance to lay out a theory of the case for jurors. Prosecutors told jurors that the reimbursement of hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels was part of a larger conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The former president’s attorneys responded by telling the jury that Trump was innocent and not involved in the creation of the 34 business records he’s charged with falsifying. They also pointedly added that there’s “nothing wrong with trying to influence an election.”

Here are key takeaways from Monday:

• Prosecutors say Trump schemed "to corrupt the 2016 presidential election": The district attorney’s office framed the case for jurors as illegal payments to try to influence illicitly influence the 2016 election that Trump then tried to illegally cover up by falsifying business records. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo walked the jury through Trump’s efforts, along with Michael Cohen and former American Media Inc., chief David Pecker, to keep damaging information from coming to light during the 2016 election.
• Defense says Donald Trump is innocent: Defense attorney Todd Blanche began his opening statement with a simple assertion: “Donald Trump is innocent.” Blanche told the jury that the story isn’t as simple as prosecutors laid out and argued that Trump was not involved with any of the business records he’s accused of falsifying beyond signing the checks. Blanche didn’t dispute the paper trail existed, but he argued to the jury there was nothing illegal about signing non-disclosure agreements — or trying to influence an election.
• Tabloid publisher testifies first: Prosecutors called former AMI CEO David Pecker as the first witness in their case against Trump. He testified for less than 30 minutes Monday morning before the trial adjourned for the day. He’s expected to continue testifying Tuesday. Colangelo teed up the former tabloid publisher as a key player in Trump’s “catch and kill” scheme to control the public narrative about him ahead of the 2016 election.
• Gag order hearing will lead off court on Tuesday: Before the trial resumes Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan is holding a hearing on allegations that Trump violated the judge’s gag order barring discussion of witnesses. The district attorney’s office asked the judge to fine Trump $1,000 for each of several gag order violations leading up to and since the trial started. In addition to the fines, prosecutors want the judge to remind Trump he could be imprisoned if he continues to disobey the order.
• Trump was thinking about the $175 million bond hearing down the street: Meanwhile, other lawyers for Trump were in a courtroom a block away arguing over the legitimacy of the $175 million bond Trump posted to appeal the judgment in his civil fraud trial. Trump, who could not attend the civil hearing because he’s required to attend each day of the criminal trial, railed against Attorney General Letitia James.

Fact check: Trump falsely claims Michael Cohen’s crimes "had nothing to do with me"

From CNN’s Daniel Dale

Speaking to reporters Monday after opening statements in his criminal trial in Manhattan, former President Donald Trump declared that the crimes committed by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen “had nothing to do with me.” 

Cohen is expected to be a key  witness for the prosecution . Trump said: “The things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. He got in trouble; he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me. This had to do with the taxicab company that he owned, which is just something he owned – and medallions and borrowing money and a lot of things – but it had nothing to do with me.” 

Facts First:  Trump’s claim that Cohen’s prison sentence “had nothing to do with me” is false. Cohen’s three-year sentence in 2018 was for  multiple crimes , some of which were directly related to Trump. Most notably, Cohen was sentenced for  campaign finance offenses   connected to a hush money scheme  during the 2016 presidential campaign to conceal Trump’s alleged extramarital relationships -- the same hush money scheme that is central to this prosecution against Trump. Cohen was  also sentenced to two months in prison , to run concurrently with the three-year sentence, for  lying to Congress in 2017 in relation to previous talks about the possibility of building a Trump Tower in Moscow, Russia , including about the  extent of Trump’s involvement in the aborted Moscow initiative  and about when in 2016 the discussions ended. (The discussions continued into June 2016, the month after Trump  became the presumptive Republican nominee , and did not conclude in January 2016 before the first votes were cast, as Cohen had claimed.)

Referring to Trump as “Individual-1,” Cohen  said  at the time of his 2018 guilty plea for making false statements to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: “I made these statements to be consistent with Individual-1’s political messaging and out of loyalty to Individual-1.” When Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to the campaign finance violations, he  said  he broke the law “in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office,” Trump. 

David Pecker is an important witness in prosecutor's quest to prove criminal intent, legal analyst says

From CNN's Elise Hammond

David Pecker will be back on the stand on Tuesday to continue testimony in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump. Not only is he the first witness to answer questions from the prosecution, but he is also a critical piece of how the state is trying to prove criminal intent, one former federal prosecutor said.

Criminal intent means that “not just an act happened, but an act happened for a purpose,” said Elliot Williams, a CNN legal analyst. “The defendant did something wrong to carry out some criminal purpose.”

As the then-chairman of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer, Pecker was involved in numerous “catch-and-kill” schemes he orchestrated on behalf of Trump, and he allegedly helped broker the deal with adult film star Stormy Daniels which is at the center of  the case.

“It’s not just the catch-and-kill payments, but catch-and-kill payments for the purpose of concealing information from voters in the context of an election,” Williams explained, referring to the 2016 presidential election. 

Williams said it’s likely that prosecutors will focus much of their questioning trying to uncover what was discussed in meetings between Pecker and Trump.

The question at the heart of the argument, Williams said, is if the payments were intended to conceal information from voters, “or was it just Donald Trump saying, ‘Well, you know, this is embarrassing to my wife and my kids, I really want to keep this hidden.’”

Read about the stages of Trump's criminal trial — and what they mean 

From CNN's Lauren del Valle, Jhasua Razo and Gillian Roberts

Former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial is expected to take six to eight weeks from start to finish.

This trial, related to a  hush money payment  to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, is the first of  four ongoing criminal cases  that are expected to head to trial for the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee.

Now that opening statements are done, prosecutors are presenting trial evidence through witness testimony and exhibits. David Pecker, the ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, will resume testimony Tuesday.

Defense attorneys can cross examine the prosecution’s witnesses and typically aim to discredit their testimony. Witnesses’ responses are considered evidence, but not the questions posed by an attorney.

Read more about the stages of the trial, and what they mean here.

Michael Cohen jabs back at Trump's claim that Cohen's crimes have nothing to do with him

From CNN's Laura Dolan

Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, jabbed back at his former boss in response to comments Trump made about him outside the courtroom Monday.

Speaking to reporters in the courtroom hallway after court concluded, Trump said Cohen’s crimes have “nothing to do with me."

“He got in trouble, he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me,” said Trump. “This had to do with the taxicab company that he owned, which is just something he owned — and medallions and borrowing money.”

Shortly after those comments. Cohen posted on social media, “Hey Von ShitzInPantz … your attacks of me stink of desperation. We are all hoping that you take the stand in your defense. 

Cohen, who is Trump’s former attorney, served time in federal prison after pleading guilty to breaking federal campaign laws when he facilitated the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, which is directly linked to the charges against Trump.  As for the taxi medallions that Trump referenced, Cohen was also sentenced for tax evasion related to a taxi medallion enterprise and lying to a bank in relation to a home loan. 

Trump is under a gag order and was ordered by Judge Juan Merchan not to comment about any witnesses in the trial.

CNN's Daniel Dale contributed to this post.

See courtroom sketches from today's Trump trial

No cameras are allowed inside the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump's hush money trial is underway, but a sketch artist captured the scene as opening statements unfolded and the first witness took the stand.

Biden builds early advertising edge as Trump spends millions on legal fees

From CNN's David Wright

President Joe Biden and his allies have nearly tripled Donald Trump’s network in ad spending over the last month and a half while the former president has had to devote millions of campaign funds to legal expenses — and sit in a New York courthouse for his hush money trial.

Since March 6, after Super Tuesday when Trump effectively secured the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, through April 21, Biden’s campaign and other Democratic advertisers spent $27.2 million on advertising for the presidential race, while the Trump campaign and GOP advertisers spent about $9.3 million, according to AdImpact data.

Ad spending data (presidential race, March 6 to April 21)

• Democrats: $27,153,293
• Republicans: $9,344,948

During that time, Biden's campaign has spent millions in key battleground states, including $4.1 million in Michigan, $3.9 million in Pennsylvania, and at least $2 million in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia. And the Biden network has used its plentiful airtime to promote the administration’s first-term record and slam Trump, focusing on key issues such as the  cost of living  and  abortion rights .

Meanwhile, Trump’s network has failed to match that effort since he became the presumptive nominee, though a pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., recently ramped up its advertising, booking over $1 million worth of airtime in Pennsylvania to coincide with Biden’s recent campaign swing through the state last week.

Trump has also benefited over that stretch from a nearly $3 million anti-Biden campaign from outside groups aligned with the oil and gas industries, which have been  running ads  in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, criticizing California fuel standards  defended  by the Biden administration. But despite some recent signs of activity, Trump’s network has been significantly outspent on the airwaves since his general election matchup with Biden came into focus. And  the latest round of FEC filings  shows how Biden’s fundraising edge is enabling that advertising advantage, as Trump’s ongoing legal battles drain millions from his campaign coffers.  

How we got here: A timeline of the Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels hush money case

From CNN’s Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell, Annette Choi and Gillian Roberts 

The first criminal trial of a US ex-president is underway in New York, where former President Donald Trump faces charges from the Manhattan District attorney related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. 

This is the first of four criminal cases expected to go to trial for Trump, also the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee. CNN compiled a timeline of the key events leading up to the historic trial. 

Here’s how we got here: 

• September 2016: Donald Trump discusses a $150,000 hush money payment understood to be for former Playboy model Karen McDougal with Michael Cohen who secretly records the conversation . McDougal has alleged she had an extramarital affair with Trump beginning in 2006, which he has denied. 
• October 7, 2016: The Washington Post releases an "Access Hollywood" video from 2005 in which Trump uses vulgar language to describe his sexual approach to women with then show host Billy Bush. 
• October 27, 2016: According to prosecutors, Cohen pays Daniels $130,000 to her attorney through a shell company in exchange for her silence about an affair she allegedly had with Trump in 2006. This $130,000 sum is separate from the $150,000 paid to McDougal. Trump has publicly denied having any affairs and has denied making the payments. 
• November 8, 2016: Trump secures the election to become the 45th president of the United States. 
• February 2017: Prosecutors say Cohen meets with Trump in the Oval Office to confirm how he would be reimbursed for the hush money payment Cohen fronted to Daniels. Under the plan, Cohen would send a series of false invoices requesting payment for legal services he performed pursuant to a retainer agreement and receive monthly checks for $35,000 for a total of $420,000 to cover the payment, his taxes and a bonus, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors also allege there was never a retainer agreement. 
• January 2018: The Wall Street Journal breaks news about the hush money payment Cohen made to Daniels in 2016. 

See the full timeline.  

Trump is also facing charges in 3 other criminal cases

From CNN’s Devan Cole, Amy O'Kruk and Curt Merrill 

The hush money criminal trial against former President Donald Trump is just one of  four criminal cases  he faces while juggling his presidential campaign.

The former president is facing at least  88 charges  over the four criminal indictments in Georgia, New York, Washington, DC, and Florida. Trump has pleaded not guilty to every charge in these cases. 

Here's a recap of each case: 

• Hush money:  Trump was first indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush-money payment to an adult film star in 2016. Prosecutors allege Trump was part of an illegal conspiracy to  undermine  the integrity of the 2016 election. Further, they allege he was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, including the $130,000 payment. 
• Classified documents:  Trump was indicted in June 2023 by a federal grand jury in Miami for taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the government’s attempts to retrieve the materials. The National Archives said in early 2022 that at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from the estate, including   some that were classified . The charges were brought by special counsel Jack Smith. 
• Federal election interference:  Smith separately charged the former president last August with four crimes over his efforts to reverse the 2020 election results. The indictment alleges Trump and a co-conspirator "attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them ... to delay the certification" of the election. That case is currently on hold as the Supreme Court weighs Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in the matter. 
• Fulton County:  State prosecutors in Georgia brought a similar election subversion case against Trump and others. An Atlanta-based grand jury on August 14, 2023, indicted Trump and 18 others on state charges stemming from their alleged efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 electoral defeat. A trial date has not yet been set in that case. 

Read more about  the four criminal cases  Trump faces.  

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