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Splatoon 2 - Huge Holiday Updates (New Stages, Clothes, Weapons, Mode, Stages, Etc)

Da-Kid

Member
https://youtu.be/U1gyg1HjPOY

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 21, 2017 –
Nintendo continues to roll out additional content for the Splatoon 2 game for the Nintendo Switch system, and is now releasing two free software updates with a ton of new content and a new way to play. The first free update hits on Nov. 23 and adds a new stage for Salmon Run, new gear and new hairstyles for Inklings, as well as many other features, with additional new battle stages rolling out beginning Nov. 24. The second free update will be available mid-December and introduces a frantic new Ranked Battle mode called Clam Blitz, which involves picking up clams around the stage and trying to throw them into your opponent’s basket.

“These free new additions to Splatoon 2 deliver surprises to fans to keep the fun going,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This new content significantly expands the game and provides a great value for players, regardless of whether they purchased it on launch day or have it on their holiday gift lists.”

The two free updates include the following content:

Nov. 23 Update
Four New Battle Stages:
While four new battle stages are coming to Splatoon 2, they won’t all be available immediately after downloading the update. Like with previous additions, the stages will roll out over the subsequent weeks, giving players new surprises as they play throughout the holiday season and beyond. The first new battle stage, MakoMart, will be available to play on Black Friday, Nov. 24, with Shellendorf Institute, Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall coming soon. The new MakoMart stage is a giant superstore-style stage, so what better time to play than on Black Friday! Shellendorf Institute is new to the series, while Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall are popular stages returning from the original Splatoongame.

New Salmon Run Stage: Fan-favorite multiplayer mode* Salmon Run is getting a new stage. After downloading the update, Salmonid Smokeyard will be added to the stage rotation. In Salmonid Smokeyard, a wide gap on the beach divides two upper platforms, with fan lifts being the quickest way to traverse the two platforms. Teamwork is required to use the fan lifts effectively.

New Gear: Approximately 140 pieces of gear are being added to Splatoon 2. These include shoes, headgear and clothes, like a motocross mask, and additional winter clothing (perfect for the cold weather!), as well as returning items from the original Splatoon game.

New Battle Music: Two new bands have been gaining popularity in Inkopolis! The punk-flavored Bottom Feeders and classically trained avant-garde-style Ink Theory are contributing new songs to the already music-rich game.

New Hairstyle: When customizing an Inkling, four new hairstyles will be available to choose from – two each for female and male characters.

Higher Level Caps: Currently, players are maxed out at Level 50. After downloading the update, the new maximum level will be raised to 99. If players talk to Judd when they reach Level 99, they’ll have the option to reset their level display to Level ★1 so they can continue raising their level.

New amiibo Functionality: Tapping a compatible amiibo figure after the update will let players take and share in-game photos in preset locations in Battle Stages, in addition to being able to take photos in Inkopolis Square. Players can also add fun filters to their images.

Convenient Gear Swapping: Players that want to change gear between battles in Regular Battle, Ranked Battle and Splatfest Battle (Solo) won’t have to exit to the lobby anymore! After downloading the update, gear can be swapped out without leaving the match room, making it quicker to get back to splatting. For Regular Battle, this also means players can play the next battle with the same players.

Mid-December Update
Clam Blitz:
In Clam Blitz, competing Inklings are tasked with collecting clams scattered around the stage. After one is picked up, the clam follows the player. The objective is to throw the clam into the basket near the opponent’s base. The first team to score 100 points wins! But, of course, this being the fiercely competitive world of Splatoon 2, things are not as easy as they seem. The baskets are protected by a barrier, which much be destroyed first. After collecting 10 clams, the player will earn a Power Clam. These super-powered clams are the key to breaking the barrier, so strategy will definitely be involved in which clams are used to destroy the barrier and which are used to earn points. Not to mention the extra-satisfying opportunity to steal opponents’ clams by splatting them…

Can't wait.
 
Sounds great! Is there an option to change hairstyles for existing characters?

The only problem with this is that it means my wife will likely be stealing my Switch more often to play. She always says "I'm not a gamer" but is addicted to splatting. Guess I'd better binge on Skyrim for the next couple of days before this comes out.
 

Hinedorf

Banned
Splatoon 2 is one of my biggest surprises of the year. I would consider it my second favorite Switch game. I'll be jumping into this over the Thanksgiving weekend for sure.
 

fetus8

Member
Praise be to Nintendo for releasing these huge patches and adding FREEE meaningful content to an already amazing game.

ALSO:
Convenient Gear Swapping: Players that want to change gear between battles in Regular Battle, Ranked Battle and Splatfest Battle (Solo) won't have to exit to the lobby anymore! After downloading the update, gear can be swapped out without leaving the match room, making it quicker to get back to splatting. For Regular Battle, this also means players can play the next battle with the same players.
OMG FINALLY
 

Da-Kid

Member
Sounds great! Is there an option to change hairstyles for existing characters?

The only problem with this is that it means my wife will likely be stealing my Switch more often to play. She always says "I'm not a gamer" but is addicted to splatting. Guess I'd better binge on Skyrim for the next couple of days before this comes out.

You can change your hair style at anytime since the beginning. Pants,eye color, skin color too.
 

DonF

Member
The update looks beyond awesome! But I don't see any mention of new gear :( I have almost all gear
Edit: ok lol just saw tons of new gear! Nice!
 
new interview about the update

Nintendo is releasing a massive Splatoon 2 update in time for the holidays
Producer Hisashi Nogami explains the importance of a constantly evolving game

https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/21/16684430/nintendo-switch-splatoon-2-holiday-update-interview

interesting part

This series of updates is expected to keep things going until around February of next year, and Nintendo has said that it plans to keep supporting the game for a year after launch. Nogami notes that the updates could potentially extend further than that, saying that the team is currently in the “planning stages” for what that future support could look like. Whatever it ends up being, though, these kinds of updates aren’t just a way to keep Splatoon in the spotlight. They’re intrinsic to the game itself.

we might get more than a year of updates
 

Si2k78

Member
Praise be to Nintendo for releasing these huge patches and adding FREEE meaningful content to an already amazing game.

ALSO:
Convenient Gear Swapping: Players that want to change gear between battles in Regular Battle, Ranked Battle and Splatfest Battle (Solo) won’t have to exit to the lobby anymore! After downloading the update, gear can be swapped out without leaving the match room, making it quicker to get back to splatting. For Regular Battle, this also means players can play the next battle with the same players.
OMG FINALLY

Really happy about this. But seriously, welcome to 2008 Nintendo
 

zeioIIDX

Member
Walleye Warehouse was probably my favorite stage (at least in my top 3 for sure) so I'm hyped as hell for the return. Finally. These Splatoon updates have always been on point and frequent, love how dedicated the devs are. I really hope the new music is good though, that's one spot where Splatoon 2 disappoints when compared to the original game, in my opinion.
 

Pila

Member
Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

This thing will never stop being funny lmao

Excited about this giant update! Not having a brand new ranked mode was pretty much my only issue with Splatoon 2.
 

goldenpp72

Member
This is a much more exciting update than I anticipated. While I haven't stopped playing, this will help saturate my time spent in it for sure. It's hard to belive how long it's been since a new mode was introduced for the PVP side.
 

Tadaima

Member
As a big fan of Salmon Run, I was really looking forward to trying the new stage. It's not bad, but isn't quite as engaging and well-thought-out as I was hoping. The long beach really slows the action to a halt, and getting splatted on the other side of the floating platforms can lead to being inadvertently neglected by teammates for longer than necessary. I also had some problems respawning due to a high concentration of enemies on the other side of the platforms. And it seems that large chunks of the open stage will go unused for the duration of the match.

I do like the idea of the platforms since they clearly do encourage teamwork, but on the whole the stage is a bit of a let-down.
 

Giant Robo

Neo Member
Not a fan of the new Salmon Run stage, unless you're very coordinated team it feels like you only have half a stage to really use, especially when it's tide.

Getting splatted on the other side or having flyers spawn there really screws your team over too.
 
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