Just in time for your holiday break, Splatoon 2 is getting a gigantic new update that adds a bevy of new content to everyone’s favorite squid squad shooter. Check out the announcement trailer below!
The update will be rolled out over time, with most of the update’s content launching periodically after November 23rd and the new Clam Blitz mode closing out the update in Mid-December.
Starting tomorrow, players will be able to customize their inklings with new hairstyles: two for the males, and two for the females. This’ll definitely help you add a more personal touch to the look of your inkling, but that’s not all you’ll be able to kit your squid kid with. A whopping 140 new gear items are being added, some being completely new, and others being ones that didn’t make the jump from Splatoon 1. Another gear-related part of the update is the addition of in-lobby gear changes. Players can now change gear sets in the lobby while waiting for the next game to start, meaning you can change your style without wasting any splatting time.
New maps are another big addition to the update, with four announced right off the bat. MakoMart, a new grocery store stage, will be available first on Black Friday, November 24th. It looks to be packed with obstacles, twists, and turns, so matches here are no doubt going to be excitingly hectic. Joining it later over time are Shellendorf Institute, a more open museum-themed stage, and two returning stages from Splatoon 1 – Walleye Warehouse and Arrowana Mall. Finally, the update is also adding in a new Salmon Run stage, Salmonid Smokeyard, which features a new fan-lift system for quick traversal around the stage.
Other new miscellaneous features include new music thanks to two new in-game bands, the ability to take photos of you and your friends’ Inklings in-game by tapping amiibo, and a new infinite leveling system. Gone is the previous level 50 cap, as it now goes all the way up to 99. Even then, players can “prestige” their Inkling by talking to Judd, who will then set their character back to Level 1★ instead of regular Level 1, at which point they can start leveling all over again.
The pièce de résistance of this update comes in the all-new battle mode, Clam Blitz. Scattered around the game’s maps are randomly-spawning Golden Clams, which are integral to how the game is played. Collecting these clams will cause them to follow you, and if you collect 10, they’ll merge into the football-like Power Clam, which can now be tossed between allies. The point of the game is to get 100 points by dunking these Power Clams into the enemy team’s basket, located conveniently right next to their base. However, each basket is guarded by a protective (and respawning) barrier that must be destroyed by using up a Power Clam first, meaning you’ll need to strategize with your teammates to have one player break the barrier at the right time so the others can toss in their treasure. And considering that you can splat someone to steal their following Golden and Power Clams, and you’ll need to strategize fast if you want to win.
All of this new content is sure to breathe new life into Splatoon 2, whether you’re a new squid on the block or a Grizzco. veteran. Either way, all of this free new content is sure to provide Splatoon 2 players with even more hours of entertainment when it launches in two days on November 23rd.
