Switch exclusive Splatoon 3 will no longer receive regular updates, Nintendo has announced.
Nintendo signaled the end of these updates for the Switch exclusive in a tweet that reassured players that the game will remain online, and that Splatoween, Frosty Fest, Spring Fest, and Summer Nights will continue with some returning themes. That suggests fans will get four seasonal Splatfests a year from now on.
Updates for weapon adjustments will be released “as needed,” and Big Run, Eggstra Work, and Monthly Challenges “will continue for the time being.”
Nintendo’s announcement comes two years after Splatoon 3, a third-person team-based shooter that revolves around firing ink-based weapons, launched on Nintendo Switch. As of the end of March 2024, Splatoon 3 had sold an impressive 11.96 million copies.
The end of regular updates for Splatoon 3 comes ahead of Nintendo’s hotly anticipated reveal of its next-generation console. Nintendo has indicated the Switch 2, as it’s called by the community, won’t be released before April 2025. Given the popularity of the Splatoon franchise, it seems likely that another game in the series will be released at some point.
While Nintendo has yet to say anything about the Switch 2 itself, it has said it expects to have plenty of stock available for launch, which in turn will hopefully combat scalping. Recent alleged details on the power of the Switch 2 weren’t the first rumors to spread about Nintendo’s new console. Other allegedly leaked details have suggested that the device will feature magnetic versions of the Joy-Cons and maybe even let players use their old controllers. If these recent rumors are to be believed, you’ll also be able to enjoy your physical and digital games on the Switch 2, including Splatoon 3.
For more on what may eventually become the Switch 2, you can read everything else we know about the company’s next console.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.