User:Ashbinary/Sandbox/Splatoon 3

This page details prerelease information and/or media for Splatoon 3.

To do: The Splatoon 3 Direct page is not started, and every page is missing some releases from development. These need to be documented. References also need to be added across the entire page.

Splatoon 3, much like the previous games in the franchise, went through an incredibly rocky development, albeit in a significantly different way. The game was a massive undertaking on a brand new engine at the time, and also ended up having a rough development shift in stage design very close to the game's release, which would have lasting effects into the final updates of the game.

Development Timeline

• 2020
  • Dec. 31st - The New Years' artwork is posted on the @SplatoonJP Twitter, with the statement "Save Our Salmons" being mysteriously hidden in the waters.
• 2021
  • Feb. 17th - Splatoon 3 is revealed in a Nintendo Direct.
  • Feb. 18th - A job listing is put out for a "Level Designer" for Splatoon 3.
  • Jul. 6th - More footage is shown of the game in a Nintendo Switch OLED trailer.
  • Sep. 23rd - The second major promotional video for Splatoon 3 is published, giving an early look at the game's Versus mode.
  • Late 2022 - Many of the stages are redesigned in favor of more compact and smaller stages for an unknown reason.
• 2022
  • Feb. 9th - A trailer for Salmon Run: Next Wave is published, with a look at the brand new Sockeye Station and some new Boss Salmonids.
  • Apr. 18th ~ May 18th - Version 1.0.0 of the game (running on firmware revision 14.1.1) is released.
  • Apr. 22nd - A trailer to reveal the game's release date is published, showing minor differences from the final game.
  • Summer - The "approximate" release date for the game. Interestingly, this release window can be seen in various places in early versions of the game, implying that the final date may have been chosen late in development.
  • Aug. 10th - A full 30-minute Nintendo Direct dedicated to the trailer is published, with many differences to the final game in various areas.
  • Sep. 9th - Splatoon 3 is released.
  • Nov. 30th - Chill Season 2022 is added.
• 2023
  • Feb. 28th - Fresh Season 2023 is added, alongside the Wave 1: Inkopolis Plaza DLC.
  • May 31st - Sizzle Season 2023 is added.
  • Aug. 31st - Drizzle Season 2023 is added.
  • Nov. 30th - Chill Season 2023 is added.
• 2024
  • Feb. 22nd - Fresh Season 2024 is added early, alongside the Wave 2: Side Order DLC.
  • Feb. 29th - Fresh Season 2024 is released.

Sub-Pages

Nintendo Direct Announcement (17 February 2021 - 22 September 2021) The first look at the game, in a decently early state.

Return of the Mammalians Trailer (23 September 2021 - 8 February 2022) Building up the hype for the biggest and best Splatoon game.

Salmon Run: Next Wave Trailer (9 February 2022 - 21 April 2022) A quick look at the Salmon Run: Next Wave gamemode in the meantime.

Release Date Reveal (22 April 2022 - 9 August 2022) An incredibly mysterious and unanswered shift in ideology compared to early development.

Splatoon 3 Direct (10 August 2022 - 8 September 2022) A trove of information given out right before the game's release, showing very slight differences in every crevase.