New Splatoon 2 content is coming to the Nintendo Switch right in time for the holiday season. The content will be rolled out with two software updates in November and December, adding a number of new features fans will enjoy such as new stages, new gear and cosmetic changes, raising level caps and new game modes.
The upcoming update will include four fun, stages: Makomart, Shellendorf Institute, Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall. The update releases Makomart first on November 24, and the stage resembles a massive superstore. The other stages will not be released with the update right away, but Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall may be familiar to some players as the stages were originally from the first Splatoon game. The Salmon Run Stage also gets its own update with the addition of Salmonid Smokeyard which has “a wide gap on the beach dividing two upper platforms, with fan lifts being the quickest way to traverse its two platforms.” Players must work in teams to conquer this stage.
New gear and cosmetic items will be added, with “approximately 140 pieces of gear are being added, including new shoes, headgear, and clothes.” Gear swapping protocol has changed to allow “gear to be swapped out without leaving the match room,” which also allows players to participate in the next battle with the same players from the previous match. Inkling hairstyles have four new additions (two for females, two for males), giving players opportunities to change up their characters a bit and make them unique. Items from the original Splatoon game will be returning to Splatoon 2 as well, and winter gear will be added within the span of both updates.
The December update adds Clam Blitz, a new mode where “competing Inklings are tasked with collecting clams scattered around the stage. After one is picked up, the clam follows the player and the objective is to throw the clam into the basket near the opponent’s base.” Teams must earn 100 points to win, and during the competition there are obstacles such as barriers, super-powered clams and the chance to steal opponent’s clams making the new game mode that much more action-packed and challenging.
Hardcore levelers will have more grinding to do to reach the new maximum 99 level cap while amiibo enthusiasts will appreciate new amiibo options; using compatible amiibos will allow players to take and share photos from certain Battle Stage locations and Inkopolis square, with the option to add various filters to the photos as well.
Splatoon 2’s free update will officially release November 23 and a second free update will be released in December.