Nintendo says regular updates for Splatoon 3 will stop 2 years after launch

Nintendo has announced that the Switch exclusive game Splatoon 3 will no longer receive regular updates.

Nintendo signaled the end of these updates for the Switch exclusive in a tweet, reassuring players that the game will remain online and that Splatoween, Frosty Fest, Spring Fest, and Summer Nights will continue with some returning themes. That suggests fans will now get four seasonal Splatfests per year.

Weapon customization updates will be released “as needed,” and Big Run, Eggstra Work, and Monthly Challenges “will continue for the time being.”

Nintendo’s announcement comes two years after Splatoon 3, a third-person team-based shooter centered around firing ink-based weapons, launched on Nintendo Switch. As of late March 2024, Splatoon 3 has sold an impressive 11.96 million copies.

The end of regular updates for Splatoon 3 comes ahead of Nintendo’s long-awaited reveal of its next-generation console. Nintendo has stated that the Switch 2, as the community is calling it, won’t be released until April 2025. Given the popularity of the Splatoon franchise, it seems likely that another game in the series will release at some point.

While Nintendo hasn’t said anything about the Switch 2 itself, it has said that it expects there to be plenty of stock available for launch, which will hopefully discourage scalping. Recent alleged details about the power of the Switch 2 weren’t the first rumors circulating about Nintendo’s new console. Other reportedly leaked details have suggested that the device will feature magnetic versions of the Joy-Cons and may even allow players to use their old controllers. If these recent rumors are true, you’ll also be able to enjoy your physical and digital games on the Switch 2, including Splatoon 3.

For more information on what could ultimately become the Switch 2, read on to find out everything else we know about it the company’s next console.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].