In addition to new weapons, shops and stages, the recent Splatoon 3 Direct also shed some light on the modes offered when the game launches on Nintendo Switch. Multiplayer Modes include Splat Zones, which is essentially controlling zones by splattering them in Ink; Tower Control where players must ride the tower to the goal; Rainmaker where one must carry the Rainmaker to its destination; and Clam Blitz for collecting clams and throwing them into the goal.
Anarchy Battles offer ranked play solo or with friends, and there are also Private Battles. Lobbies provide new features like the Test Range for trying out weapons and practicing while queued. You also have “Ghosts”, which are your online friends appearing as 3D holograms. This allows you to drop in on friends in the middle of a battle or party up and start a battle as the same team. You can also invite friends to your games.
Battle Replays are available for watching old matches with Fast Forward, the ability to Skip to certain parts, and PoVs for each player. Replays can be uploaded and shared online. There’s also the Locker Room, which essentially is your display of weapons, gear and style. You can also view recent players’ lockers to see their styles.
Splash Tags, which display one’s name before battles, have customizable banners, badges, and titles. However, there are also emotes which can be performed upon winning. These are from the in-game catalogue in Hotlantis using points earned from battles. New catalogues are added every three months for the next two years.
When traveling through Splatsville, you can also indulge in Table Turf Battle. This is essentially a 1v1 competitive spin-off of Turf War with cards. There are 150 cards to collect in-game, with all players receiving Starter Decks.
Salmon Run Next Wave also received some new gameplay and details. New Boss Salmonids are also showcased, like Slammin’ Lid, which protects Salmonids on the ground and attempts to crush players when they get too close. There’s also Big Shot which fires heavy projectiles from a distance that create shockwaves.
Eventually, a King Salmonid called Chohozuna appears before the job is complete. Players can fire Golden Eggs to deal massive damage to it. There’s a time limit though, and you must deal as much damage as possible to drive it back. Salmonids will also invade the city every few months with the return of Big Run.
Splatoon 3 is out on September 9th for Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for even more details from the Direct.