Summer 2022 is a broad window, and Nintendo will wait until it’s almost over to release Splatoon 3. With the recent announcement of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 launching in July, it seemed likely the launch of the upcoming third-person shooter would come sometime after. And that is indeed the case. Splatoon 3 will take fans to the Splatlands on September 9.
Nintendo announced the new release date in an April 22 blog post alongside an almost 4-minute gameplay trailer, showcasing the new Eeltail Alley map and “the stringer — a new bow-shaped weapon type that enables you to sling ink sideways and vertically.
While there are still some things we don’t know about Splatoon 3, it is clear that the vibrant shooter will involve the series’ staple four-versus-four paint-soaked matches across new and old arenas alike. Inklings and Octolings return, of course, along with a single-player campaign and a co-op Salmon Run Mode.
To celebrate the new release date announcement, Nintendo is giving away Splatoon 2‘s Octo Expansion DLC for free. The catch is that you’ll need to be a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member to get it (so it’s kind of free).
Splatoon 3‘s development was announced near the beginning of 2021. Stay tuned for more on the shooter as we approach September.
