Nintendo has released an update for Splatoon 3, boosting its visuals and performance on Nintendo Switch 2.
The update, Version 10.0.0, enhances image resolution in the Switch 2 album, improves on-screen movement in Splatsville, Inkopolis, Inkopolis Square, and Grand Festival Grounds, and refines animations for characters like jellyfish and Salmonids during large-scale Salmon Run stages.
Beyond Switch 2 enhancements, the update introduces 30 new weapon kits from the Barazushi and Emberz brands (Splatlands Collection) and reintroduces the Urchin Underpass stage from the original Splatoon on Wii U.
Nintendo noted that the next update will prioritize multiplayer balance adjustments based on the impact of these new weapons.
Splatoon 3 Update: Version 10.0.0 (Released June 11, 2025)
New Features and Content Updates
Updates for Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay include:Enhanced screen detail for sharper visuals.Smoother on-screen movement in these areas:SplatsvilleInkopolisInkopolis SquareGrand Festival GroundsIn Salmon Run, improved Salmonid animations despite high numbers on-screen.Refined animations for select characters, such as jellyfish.Modified the bottom-right corner animation during scene transitions.Increased resolution for images saved in the Nintendo Switch 2 Album via Photo Mode or the controller’s Capture Button.Updates for Nintendo Switch gameplay include:Removed non-essential stage elements unrelated to battles in Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz modes to minimize performance differences with Nintendo Switch 2.In Recon Mode, all elements remain visible as before.The following changes apply to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.
Multiplayer Updates
Introduced a new stage, Urchin Underpass.Added 30 new weapons from the Splatlands Collection - Barazushi / Emberz, available in shops post-update.Splatlands Collection - BarazushiImplemented a Series Weapon feature for Anarchy Battle (Series) for Rank S and higher.In Anarchy Battle (Series) for Rank S or higher, Series Weapon Power is calculated for each equipped weapon, matching players with similar power levels for fairer battles.Series Weapon Power applies across all four modes.Players can view their Series Weapon Power for each weapon by pressing the ZL Button on the Equip screen to access weapon details.Series Weapon Power resets each season, with the highest achieved value recorded in SplatNet 3.In Anarchy Battle (Open), Rank Points per battle now increase by approximately 2.5x.In X Battles, call signs (based on equipped gear) replace nicknames during matches. Post-battle, actual nicknames and IDs (starting with #) appear on result screens, like the match menu and lobby terminal.X Rankings now display players’ actual nicknames and IDs.
SplatNet 3 Updates
Players’ Best Nine is now showcased, highlighting the nine weapons with the highest Series Weapon Power owned by a player.Best Nine rankings are introduced, allowing players to compete based on total Series Weapon Power for their Best Nine.SplatNet 3 notifications now appear in the Nintendo Switch App’s notification box.Additional Changes
Raised the maximum weapon Freshness to 10★.New badges are available for weapons achieving Freshness 6★ to 10★.Weapons with XP exceeding the prior maximum will see their Freshness increase after one battle, proportional to accumulated XP.New badges can be earned based on the number of weapons with Freshness ★★★★ or higher.Other players from Anarchy Battle (Series) and Splatfest Battle (Pro) no longer appear in the Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch 2 “Users You Have Played With” feature.This update adds new weapons, a stage, increases maximum Freshness, introduces a Series Weapon feature for Anarchy Battle (Series), adds call signs to X Battles, and optimizes Nintendo Switch 2 performance.
For Anarchy Battle (Series), a new Series Weapon feature targets Rank S or higher players.
This feature calculates Series Weapon Power for equipped weapons, matching players with similar power levels for balanced competition.
The goal is to encourage diverse weapon use, including the new Splatlands Collection - Barazushi / Emberz weapons.
Multiplayer balance adjustments were also made.
For S-BLAST ‘92 and S-BLAST ‘91, tweaks provide opponents more counter opportunities, addressing the lack of openings at various ranges.
For the Crab Tank, the cannon’s maximum damage was reduced to lower the chance of defeating opponents without evasion opportunities, while making it easier for other special weapons to counter it.
For Toxic Mist, ink consumption was reduced to improve synergy with main weapons, but ink recovery time was extended to prevent repetitive sub-weapon tactics.
This week, Nintendo unveiled Splatoon Raiders, a new Splatoon spin-off exclusive to Switch 2. The announcement came via a trailer on the Nintendo Today! App. No release date was shared, but Nintendo promised more details soon.
