is a 2015
third-person shooter
Third-person shooter (TPS) is a subgenre of 3D shooter games in which the gameplay consists primarily of shooting. It is closely related to first-person shooters, but with the player character visible on-screen during play. While 2D shoot ...
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
developed and published by
Nintendo for the
Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
. The game centers around
Inklings
The Inklings were an informal literary discussion group associated with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis at the University of Oxford for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The Inklings were literary enthusiasts who p ...
—
anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
cephalopod
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda ( Greek plural , ; "head-feet") such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, ...
ic lifeforms that can transform between
humanoid
A humanoid (; from English ''human'' and '' -oid'' "resembling") is a non-human entity with human form or characteristics. The earliest recorded use of the term, in 1870, referred to indigenous peoples in areas colonized by Europeans. By the 20 ...
and cephalopod forms and frequently engage in turf wars with each other and use a variety of weapons that produce and shoot colored ink while in humanoid form, or swim and hide in surfaces covered in their own colored ink while in their cephalopodic forms. ''Splatoon'' features several different game modes, including four-on-four
online multiplayer
A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system ( couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...
and a single player campaign.
''Splatoon'' was developed by Nintendo's
Entertainment Analysis & Development division, and originated from a competitive multiplayer ink-based territory control game, which was later expanded to include squid and the ability to swim through ink. The concept was created by lead programmer Shintaro Sato, who had previously worked on games in the ''
Animal Crossing'' franchise. The development team for ''Splatoon'' was generally composed of younger Nintendo employees compared to other games by the company.
''Splatoon'' received positive reviews, with critics praising Nintendo's decision to enter the genre with a new franchise, the game's overall style and presentation, gameplay mechanics, and its soundtrack. However, criticism was directed at the exclusion of
voice chat
Voice chat is telecommunication via voice over IP technologies—especially when those technologies are used among players in multiplayer online games.
Users might use either a VoIP engine system that is built into the game, or a separate ...
and
private lobbies, the small number of multiplayer maps at launch, and issues with online matchmaking. Nintendo provided post-release support for the game by adding new maps and weapons to the game, adding a feature to allow users to create private lobbies and holding time-limited events called "Splatfests". ''Splatoon'' was awarded and nominated for several year-end accolades from several gaming publications. A sequel, ''
Splatoon 2
is a 2017 third-person shooter game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was released on July 21, 2017, and is a direct sequel to ''Splatoon'', which includes a new story-driven single-player mode and various onlin ...
'', was released for the
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a ...
in July 2017, followed by another sequel, ''
Splatoon 3'', which was released on the Nintendo Switch in September 2022.
Gameplay
''Splatoon'' is primarily a team-based third-person shooter that is playable by up to eight players in online four-versus-four matches, although the game also features local one-versus-one multiplayer matches and a single player campaign. Players control an
Inkling
Inkling may refer to:
* Inkling (company), an American educational technology company
* '' The Inkling'', a 2000 album by Nels Cline
* Inkling (Splatoon), a species from the ''Splatoon'' video game series
* The Inklings
The Inklings were a ...
, who have the ability to transform between humanoid and squid forms. In humanoid form, Inklings can shoot ink in their team's color, which can be used to cover the environment or "splat" opposing players or enemies. Transforming into a squid allows players to swim through the ink of their own color, even up walls and through grates, hiding from the enemy and replenishing their ink supply in the process. Conversely, enemy ink is much slower to walk across in humanoid form, cannot be swum through in squid form, and gradually deals damage. Players can use their ink to try and "splat" their opponents, which will send them back to their team's starting point whilst also providing a large splat of ink. In all modes, except for the two-player mode, players can use the
Wii U GamePad to view a map of the surroundings and instantly launch towards the location of another teammate, as well as use optional
gyroscopic controls to assist with aiming.
Players go into matches wielding a primary ink weapon, each with differing statistics and traits, along with a secondary weapon (such as ink-filled balloons, sprinklers, and disruptive fields), and a special attack that can be charged up by covering enough ground with ink. Primary paint weapons range from those whose firing patterns resemble various types of firearms, to melee weapons such as Splat Rollers, Inkbrushes, and Sloshers (ink buckets).
Ink weapons are sold in sets that can be purchased with money earned from matches, with more sets becoming available to the player as they gain experience. In addition, players can customize their character with headgear, clothes, and shoes from the neighboring shops, with more items becoming available as the player's level increases. Each item carries an ability that improves the player's statistics, such as faster respawn time or longer special duration. Additional abilities can be unlocked by gaining experience in battles. When encountering other players in the plaza, players can choose to order an item another player is wearing and purchase it the next day from the back alley dealer named Spyke for a higher price.
The game also supports ''Splatoon''
Amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninte ...
figures, with each figure unlocking a set of missions which unlocks extra equipment (weapons and clothing) and a bonus minigame upon completion, the latter of which can be selected and played on the Wii U GamePad while waiting in lobbies.
Players can also make posts to the game's
Miiverse
Miiverse was a social network for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, created by Nintendo System Development and Hatena, and powered by the Nintendo Network. Integrated into many games, Miiverse allowed players to interact and share their experiences by w ...
community, which appear in-game as graffiti on various buildings.
Multiplayer
Online multiplayer is split into regular (turf war) and
ranked game types. Each of these match types goes through a rotation of two maps, which change every four hours. In ranked games, players gain or drop ranks based on consecutive wins and losses, ranging from C− to S+. Having a higher rank increases the amount of money and experience earned after wins.
There are four modes (rule-sets) used for online matches, all of which need two teams consisting of a maximum of four players each. Turf War is the only mode for regular matches. Ranked matches change between Splat Zones, Tower Control, and Rainmaker.
* Turf War: Each team tries to ink the most turf as possible in their own color of ink within three minutes. The team that covers the most turf in their color ink when time runs out wins.
* Splat Zones (a king of the hill-style mode): Each team tries to control designated areas by keeping them covered in their ink; the team that achieves this get their counter value decreased at a constant rate. The team that has the lowest value on their counter wins.
* Tower Control: Each team tries to board the floating tower located at the center of the map. When a player boards the tower, it moves towards a target located at the end of the opponents' side of the map along a predetermined path. The team that had moved the tower closest to the opponents' side's target wins.
* Rainmaker (a capture the flag-style mode): Players on each team try to pickup the Rainmaker and carry it towards a target on the opponents' side of the map. Once the Rainmaker is picked up by a player, that player can drop the rainmaker only by getting splatted (killed) or going out-of-bounds. The Rainmaker can also be used as a weapon and does not use any ink. The team that had carried the Rainmaker closest to the opponents' side's target wins.
In Battle Dojo, the local multiplayer mode, two players compete to pop the most balloons, with one player using the Wii U GamePad and the other using the TV with a
Wii U Pro Controller or
Wii Classic Controller
The is a game controller produced by Nintendo for the Wii home video game console. While it later featured some compatibility with the Wii U console, the controller was ultimately succeeded by the Wii U Pro Controller. In April 2014, Nintendo d ...
or either controller in conjunction with a MotionPlus-enabled
Wii Remote
The Wii Remote, also known colloquially as the Wiimote, is the primary game controller for Nintendo's Wii home video game console. An essential capability of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact ...
to recreate the GamePad's gyroscopic controls.
Time-limited "Splatfest" events, held between June 2015 and July 2016, were also held in multiplayer play. During these events, players could choose between one of two teams, and earn points towards a player rank and their team based on their performance. Members of the winning team, decided by popularity and overall performance, earned Super Sea Snails, which could be used to re-spec and add additional perks to equipment, with the losing team earning fewer snails.
Following the final Splatfest event, which ended on 24 July 2016, Super Sea Snails can be earned by winning a certain number of matches.
Campaign
Octo Valley is the game's single player campaign in which players are recruited by war veteran Cap'n Cuttlefish to rescue the Great Zapfish, Inkopolis' source of power, from the Octarians, a race of octopuses with whom the Inklings warred in a century-old territorial conflict known as the Great Turf War. Players use a default ink weapon for this mode, which can be enhanced with upgrades or
power-up
In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chos ...
s by collecting Power Eggs littered across the campaign's levels. The goal of each level is to navigate through enemies and obstacles to reach the Zapfish at the end. Each level also contains a hidden "sunken scroll" which reveals
backstories and lore surrounding the setting of ''Splatoon''. After clearing all of the levels in an area, players fight a
boss called an Octoweapon to proceed to the next. Clearing each boss unlocks blueprints that can be exchanged at an
armoury for more weapon options.
Development
''Splatoon'' was developed by
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
commonly abbreviated as Nintendo EAD and formerly known as Nintendo Research & Development No.4 Department (abbreviated as Nintendo R&D4), was the largest software development division within the Japanese video game company Nintendo. It was p ...
. In mid-2013, one member of the ''
Animal Crossing'' development team, Shintaro Sato, created a four-versus-four ink-based territory control game set in a featureless arena.
After management approved making the prototype into a full game, the team started expanding its concepts, creating the ability to hide in ink,
and wanted to somehow incorporate squids.
After coming up with these ideas, the developers had trouble "filter
ngit down" to a "simple, fun game."
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer, producer and game director at Nintendo, where he serves as one of its representative directors. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential designers in the history of video games, he i ...
told the team that there was "no appeal" to the game in that state. Afterwards, the developers added the ability to hide in ink and verticality to the maps, but it still felt unfocused.
The art director sketched different ideas for the player character, including animals, "macho men," robots, and
Mario
is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the '' Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his c ...
,
but the co-directors wanted to include a playable squid.
They also needed the character to be human in order to hold weaponry, but thought that a squid-human hybrid "wouldn't sell".
In January 2014, they realized they could make the player character switch between human and squid forms, which allowed them to come up with other ideas, such as swimming through ink or sustaining damage while maneuvering in enemy ink, which Miyamoto approved of.
From the beginning, the
GamePad
A gamepad is a type of video game controller held in two hands, where the fingers (especially thumbs) are used to provide input. They are typically the main input device for video game consoles.
Features
Gamepads generally feature a set of ...
could display a real-time overview of the map so the player could see which team was ahead,
and at some point, the team considered using urinals and sinks as
warp points. The development team was determined to make interesting sound effects, so they repeatedly pounded slime to create the sound of a squid diving into ink.
The team working on the game is composed of much younger members compared to other teams that work on Nintendo franchises. Game director Tsubasa Sakaguchi and producer
Hisashi Nogami admitted that they, along with the rest of the team, play first person shooters and games on other companies' hardware (such as ''
Call of Duty
''Call of Duty'' is a first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision. Starting out in 2003, it first focused on games set in World War II. Over time, the series has seen games set in the midst of the Cold War, futuristic ...
'' and ''
Battlefield
A battlefield, battleground, or field of battle is the location of a present or historic battle involving ground warfare. It is commonly understood to be limited to the point of contact between opposing forces, though battles may involve troops ...
'') as part of their job, and also because they love video games in general.
Monolith Soft also assisted Nintendo on the development of the game. ''Splatoon'' was revealed in a trailer during Nintendo's E3 2014
Digital Event video presentation, and a demo of its multiplayer mode was playable on the show floor.
The game's single-player campaign was further detailed in a later
Nintendo Direct
Nintendo Direct is a series of online presentation or live shows produced by Nintendo, where information regarding the company's upcoming content or franchises is presented, such as information about games and consoles. The presentations began ...
.
Release

Prior to the game's release, a time-limited multiplayer demo known as the "Global Testfire" was held on 8 and 9 May 2015 and one two-hour block on 23 May 2015. On 15 May, on the
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, United States. It contains a small amusement park, concession stands, and areas for views and fishing.
Attractions Pacific Park
Th ...
in
Santa Monica
Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...
,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...
, Nintendo held a special event called the ''Splatoon Mess Fest'', featuring celebrities and an obstacle course inspired by the game. Fans could also play a demo of the game at the event. A collaboration with
Masahiro Anbe
is a Japanese manga artist best known for his work ''Squid Girl
''Squid Girl'', known in Japan as with the subtitle ''The invader comes from the bottom of the sea!'', is a Japanese manga series by Masahiro Anbe, which was serialized i ...
's ''
Squid Girl
''Squid Girl'', known in Japan as with the subtitle ''The invader comes from the bottom of the sea!'', is a Japanese manga series by Masahiro Anbe, which was serialized in Akita Shoten's ''Weekly Shōnen Champion'' between July 2007 and Feb ...
''
manga
Manga ( Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is use ...
series was announced, which included free in-game costumes released on 6 August 2015. ''Splatoon'' outfits are also featured in the
Nintendo 3DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generati ...
title, ''
Girls Mode 3: Kirakira ☆ Code''. In Canada, ''Splatoon''-themed
frozen yogurt was produced at various Yogurty's locations from June to September. Nintendo UK partnered with Adrenaline Alley skatepark to decorate it with decals and props based on the game and install several Wii U demo stations for the summer. Nintendo also held fan-art competitions on
Miiverse
Miiverse was a social network for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, created by Nintendo System Development and Hatena, and powered by the Nintendo Network. Integrated into many games, Miiverse allowed players to interact and share their experiences by w ...
and
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
.
Wii U Deluxe Set bundles with ''Splatoon'' included were released in North America at
Best Buy
Best Buy Co. Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was rebra ...
stores (as a coupon for a digital copy) Australia, Europe, and New Zealand (on a physical disc). ''Splatoon'' series
Amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninte ...
were released alongside the game, with Boy and Girl Inklings sold separately and a Squid figure sold exclusively as a bundle with either the game or the two other Amiibo. Amiibo figures of in-game pop idols Callie and Marie—collectively known as the "
Squid Sisters"—were released in Japan on 7 July 2016 and internationally on 8 July 2016, along with limited edition recolors of the Inkling Boy, Girl and Squid Amiibo; the Callie and Marie Amiibo unlock in-game music players featuring their songs. Players who pre-ordered the game at
GameStop
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. The company is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operates 4,5 ...
received a download voucher for ''Splatoon''-themed
Mii
A Mii ( ) is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. Miis were first introduced on the Wii console in 2006 and later appeared on the 3DS, Wii U, the Switch, and various apps for smart devices. Miis ca ...
costumes for use in ''
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U''. A bundle containing Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U was announced in a November 2015 Nintendo Direct and was released during the holiday season. Nintendo released a ''Splatoon'' Wii U Deluxe Set containing the amiibo figures in Japan on 7 July 2016. In addition, Nintendo launched two new diorama sets based solely on ''Splatoon'' and its characters around the same time in Japan.
In the United Kingdom, a
lorry
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...
containing a shipment of special edition copies of the game was hijacked in transit, resulting in
GAME
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...
having to cancel all their special edition pre-orders.
Additional modes, along with new maps and weapons, have been introduced to the game through timed updates.
An August 2015 update raised the level cap from 20 to 50, added S and S+ ranks to ranked battles, introduced new
Splatling and
Slosher weapons, private lobbies and party play, and added over 40 new pieces of gear items.
In July 2016, Nintendo announced that the United Kingdom would host a splat-off between 16 July through 7 August 2016.
In December 2015, it was announced that free downloadable content would conclude in January 2016, although Nintendo later announced that downloadable content will continue to be released. Additionally, Nintendo announced that ''Splatoon''s online services will continue to be active, despite the game's final Splatfest having occurred on 22 July 2016.
Reception
''Splatoon'' was well-received when it was revealed. Many in the gaming press were surprised that Nintendo was creating a shooter
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
and praised the new gameplay ideas that distinguished it from other titles in the genre.
On release, ''Splatoon'' received positive reviews, receiving an aggregated score of 81/100 on
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
based on 88 reviews.
GamesRadar
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites '' Total Film'', ''SFX'', '' Edge'' and ''Comput ...
gave the game 3.5/5 stars, praising the game's refreshing take on the shooter genre, while criticising some elements such as lobbies and amiibo-locked content.
GameTrailers
''GameTrailers'' (''GT'') was an American video gaming website created by Geoffrey R. Grotz and Brandon Jones in 2002. The website specialized in multimedia content, including trailers and gameplay footage of upcoming and recently released v ...
gave the game a score of 8.4/10, praising the game's mechanics and presentation, while lamenting that the game felt sparse at launch.
IGN initially scored the game 7.9, praising the gameplay but criticizing the low number of maps and modes at launch and absence of voice chat.
After several major updates were released, IGN released a re-review, increasing the game's score to 8.6/10 because of the new maps and online modes.
Some critics expressed displeasure over the fact that communication errors cause a loss of points in Ranked Battles.
Destructoid
''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022.
History
...
gave the game a score of 8.5, arguing that its shortcomings "can be forgiven in
ismind because of how damn fun it is."
Nintendo Life scored the game nine stars out of ten, considering ''Splatoon'' one of the "most fun" online games available because of the unique way each online match played out due to the ink mechanic, which also helped counteract potential boredom from the low number of maps playable at launch.
Writing for ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide ...
'', Kate Gray praised the visual style of ''Splatoon'' for contrasting realistic shooter games such as the ''Call of Duty'' franchise with a "90s cartoon aesthetic", citing influence by games such as ''
Jet Set Radio'', ''
Super Mario Sunshine'', and ''
de Blob'', along with a catchy soundtrack. However, Gray noted shortcomings in the game, such as a lack of multiplayer maps and modes on-launch making the game feel repetitive, matchmaking issues (such as inconsistent wait times between matches and team composition issues), as well as the lack of features such as voice chat and private lobbies, but defending the criticism by arguing that it was "
intendo'sfirst game in a long time that's really attempted to revitalize and reinvent a genre that often seems stagnant. This sort of daring creative venture will have its flaws, and if anything, we should be glad that it’s Nintendo taking the first step into new territory." Gray concluded by declaring ''Splatoon'' to be "a breath of fresh air—or more accurately 'splodge of fresh ink'—for those who like to shoot stuff, but have grown tired of the endless
bloody churn of gritty, realistic shooters."
Sales
''Splatoon'' debuted at No. 2 in the UK software sales chart in the week it launched, only behind ''
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt''. It is the fifth fastest-selling Wii U game and the fastest-selling new
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
on the console in that country, beating the previous record set by
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include ''Assassin's Creed'', '' Far Cry'', ...
's 2012
launch title
This list includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.
0–9
A
...
''
ZombiU''. ''Splatoon'' debuted at the top of the Japanese software sales chart, with over 144,000 retail copies sold in its launch week and a total of 1.53 million sold by December 2016. In the U.S., 165,000 combined physical and downloaded copies were sold in May 2015, with another 290,000 sold in June and 85,000 in July. By the end of August 2015, over 600,000 copies had been sold in the region. In March 2016, Nintendo announced that one million copies had been shipped in Europe. By the end of June 2015, 1.62 million copies of the game had been sold worldwide, and by the end of March 2021, worldwide sales reached 4.95 million. In May 2016, ''Splatoon'' was announced to be the most successful new home console
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
(IP) in Japan since ''
Wii Sports
''Wii Sports'' is a 2006 sports simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The 1.0 (pre-release) version of the game was released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and the ...
''. The game's soundtrack album debuted at number two on ''
Billboard Japan
''Billboard Japan'' is a sister organization of the U.S.-based music magazine '' Billboard''. It is operated by the Japanese Osaka-based company Hanshin Contents Link (a subsidiary of Hanshin Electric Railway
is a Japanese private railway compa ...
''
's Hot Albums chart and was number 46 on the chart's 2015 year-end list.
Awards
Media
An artbook for the game titled the ''Art of Splatoon'' was released in Japan in September 2015, and in North America and Europe in June 2017. Toy water guns modeled after an in-game weapon were released by
Jakks Pacific in 2017.
In 2016, a series of real-life
virtual concert
A virtual concert, also called V-concert or virtual live, refers to a performance in which the performers are represented by virtual avatars. Virtual concerts can take place in real life, where digital representations of the performers are projec ...
s featuring the
Squid Sisters, known as "Squid Sisters Live" and appearing as holograms, were held at Tokaigi 2016 (
Makuhari Messe
is a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba City, in the northwest corner of Chiba Prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. '' Makuhari'' is the name o ...
) in January, Choukagi 2016 in April,
Japan Expo
Japan Expo is a convention on Japanese popular culture - the largest of its kind in the world - taking place in Paris, France, although it has branched out into a partnership festival - Kultima - and expanded to include some European and US pop c ...
(Paris) in July, and Niconico Cho Party in November.
''Splatoon'' has been adapted into a manga series, which is written and illustrated by Sankichi Hinodeya. It began serialization in ''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic'' in February 2016, and launched in ''CoroCoro Comic'' on 15 May 2017. It has also been published in English by
Viz Media
VIZ Media LLC is an American manga publisher, anime distributor and entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ M ...
. ''CoroCoro Comic'' gave free access to the entire series for a limited time from 22 June – 13 July 2018.
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Splatoon
2015 video games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development games
Nintendo games
Nintendo Network games
Third-person shooters
Video games developed in Japan
Video games featuring protagonists of selectable gender
Video games scored by Toru Minegishi
Video games that use Amiibo figurines
Video games with downloadable content
Wii U eShop games
Wii U games
Wii U-only games
Post-apocalyptic video games
Japan Game Awards' Game of the Year winners
The Game Awards winners