The latest Nintendo Direct, which released in early August, was geared all around Splatoon 3, revealing a host of new weapons and maps. The upcoming sequel, which seems poised to wrap up the trilogy's ongoing single player story mode, will take fans to entirely new locations and allow them to try out gameplay they haven't seen in the previous two Splatoon games. Of course, not everything will be unfamiliar. Returning staples of the franchise like the Turf War game mode will still play a pivotal role in Splatoon 3. Long-time Splatoon fans might even recognize certain maps and weapons from the series' previous entries. That said, there are quite a few new stages and weapons that have already been announced, too, with more set to be added in future updates and DLC.
After over three years of players waiting for Splatoon 3, the game was finally revealed in a February 2021 Nintendo Direct and scheduled for a 2022 launch date. This release window has gradually been refined and now Splatoon 3 is set to come out on September 9, kicking off with a free demo and even a trial of Nintendo Switch Online to celebrate the occasion. Set in the Splatlands region, Splatoon 3 will take players to the city of Splatsville, which will serve as the game's hub area. There, they can connect to online matches, share drawings with other Splatoon friends, and purchase new weapons or clothing items.
Players will also be able to find additional game modes in Splatsville, the hub area which aims to fix Splatoon 2's most annoying problems. Splatoon 3 has added an online card game based around the game's iconic Turf War. Other gameplay additions include Salmon Run Next Wave and three-team Splatfests. There should be plenty of reasons for returning Splatoon fans to pick up the latest game, and newcomers to the series should still be able to dive into the heart of it with relative ease. The same can be said of the maps and weapons available for players to choose from. Splatoon 3 seems to aim for striking a balance between new content and returning favorites, and hopefully there will be something for just about everybody.
Every New Stage Coming To Splatoon 3
Although there are plenty of new Turf War locations in Splatoon 3, the game's stages also include over half a dozen maps from Splatoon and Splatoon 2. Some examples of these are Hammerhead Bridge, which runs between Greater Inkopolis and the Splatlands, and the rotating Museum d’Alfonsino. The Splatoon 3-exclusive stages are themed more specifically around the Splatlands themselves, featuring rugged canyons or markets full of street vendors. Thus far, there are five new maps named for Splatoon 3.
- Scorch Gorge
- Eeltail Alley
- Hagglefish Market
- Undertow Spillway
- Mincemeat Metalworks
The returning maps include Hammerhead Bridge, Museum d’Alfonsino, and Mahi Mahi Resort from the first Splatoon game. Inkblot Art Academy, Sturgeon Shipyard, Makomart, and Wahoo World, on the other hand, are making a comeback from Splatoon 2. Nintendo also confirmed that more maps will be added through DLC and updates, which should help keep the franchise alive for a while given that many fear Nintendo will make Splatoon 3 the last game in the series. This will also be the case for additional weapons.
All New Weapons Confirmed For Splatoon 3
Weapons in the Splatoon series come in a variety of types, and thus far there are two new types of weapon confirmed for Splatoon 3. The first is Stringers, which seem to function similarly to a bow and arrow. Players can charge up attacks, just like drawing back a real bow, to launch ink projectiles even further. Alongside the Stringer is the Tri-Stringer, which can fire in three directions simultaneously. Beyond that, there are also Splatanas, themed after katanas. These melee weapons can also attack at long range, shooting globs of ink when players swipe them back and forth. Like the Stringer, the Splatana Wiper can also released charged attacks. Variants such as the Splatana Stamper have also been teased.
There's also a new sub weapon confirmed for Splatoon 3. Sub weapons are essentially secondary weapons in the Splatoon series, serving more specialized purposes and taking up more ink than most main weapons. Splatoon 3 adds the Angle Shooter, which can tag an enemy and reveal their location to the player who fired the projectile. When used in tandem with the special weapons being introduced to the game, it can make it easy for one team to track down and wipe out the enemy in order to pull ahead in a Turf War.
Splatoon 3's Special Weapons Help Win Turf War
During Turf War, Splatoon players can fill up a special gauge that allows them to unleash a powerful attack and turn the tide during a match or take down Splatoon 3's new bosses and enemies. These attacks are carried out by special weapons, and Splatoon 3 is introducing quite a few of them. Nearly a dozen have been revealed so far. The August Nintendo Direct in particular showed off the Tacticooler, the Wave Breaker, and the Reefslider. The Tacticooler deploys four drinks, one for each member of a team, with varying effects such as temporarily increasing speed. The Reefslider looks similar to an inflatable pool toy, and players can charge it up, ride it into battle, and watch it explode and damage the surrounding area. The Wave Breaker sends out waves that opponents must jump over to avoid taking damage and having their location revealed.
Past Splatoon 3 reveal trailers have shown footage of several other special weapons, as well. The Triple Inkstrike, which serves as a variant to Splatoon's Inkstrike weapon, shoots out three missiles, much like the Killer Wail 5.1 modifies earlier versions of the Killer Wail and utilizes six speakers instead of one. The Trizooka functions similarly, launching three globs of ink rather than the Inkzooka's one. Special weapons like the Big Bubbler and the Ink Vac help protect the player and their allies from enemy ink, while the Crab Tank and Zipcaster change up gameplay temporarily by allowing players to either launch themselves across the battlefield or ride a cannon-wielding mech into battle.
Given that Splatoon 3 releases in early Fall 2022, it's unclear whether fans will be treated to any more big reveals before the release. Many are hoping to see additional footage of the game's new weapons and maps before being left to discover them on their own. For the time being, though, they can at least look back on recent Nintendo Directs to start strategizing ahead of Splatoon 3's first Splatfest.