Spongebob v. Patrick: Dawn of the multi-continent Splatfest

Nintendo and Nickelodeon will be throwing a Spongebob Squarepants themed Splatfest competition in Splatoon come April 23.

Spongebob Squarepants has become a pop culture phenomenon worldwide since its premiere on Nickelodeon in July of 1999. It’s seen in more than 185 countries, translated in more than 50 languages, and has the distinction of being the most watched animated program for more than 14 years.

As part of the Splatfest competition, a recurring online competition in which players pick a side and fight it out, players are being asked to pledge alliance to either the titular Spongebob Squarepants, or his starfish companion Patrick Star. Between April 23 at 6 AM PST and April 24 at 12 PM PST, players will battle to determine who in Bikini Bottom is more popular: Spongebob or Patrick. 

In the eyes of Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Spongebob and Splatoon is a match made in heaven.

“Two international pop culture sensations meet when the SpongeBob SquarePants Splatfest comes to Splatoon. Fun partnerships like this take advantage of the crossover appeal that family-friendly franchises like Splatoon and SpongeBob provide. Personally, I’m team SpongeBob all the way.”

This will be the first Splatfest in which players will be matched from both North America and Europe. The competition will be accessible to anyone who has a Wii U with a working internet connection and a copy of Splatoon.

This Splatfest is also a great time to try out “Sheldon’s Picks,” added in a recent software update, consisting of eight new weapon combinations. Inklings enter the fray with a main, sub and a special weapon. New sets mean more options.

For players first experiencing Splatoon with this new Spongebob Splatfest, helpful advice straight from Tsubasa Sakaguchi, co-director of the game, is available in a series of Top Tips videos, covering basic skills players will need to master.