Splatoon 3 DLC revealed at Nintendo Direct

Splatoon 3 revealed its latest DLC during the Nintendo Direct hosted on February 8. The expansion is available on the Nintendo eShop now!

Splatoon 3 is one of the most popular games for Nintendo Switch nowadays. As of December 2022, the game has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. With a growing player base, Splatoon 3 has established itself as one of the most successful franchises developed for Nintendo.

Upon release, Splatoon 3 was praised for the amount of content included in the base version. Now, the game is adding more paid content for fans of the franchise.

The DLC is called Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Inkopolis & Side Order.

Splatoon 3 DLC now available

The name Inkopolis & Side Order is a reference to the original city where the first Splatoon game took place. The new DLC allows players to return to play in Inkopolis instead of Splatsville.

Players can access the Inkopolis Plaza through the subway station in Splatsville. All the shops from the original Splatoon are available, including Shrimp Kicks, Jelly Fresh, Cooler Heads, and Ammo Knights. The Squid Sisters are back as well, during the Splatfest, players will get to enjoy their performances.

Players can visit Spyke, and the Great Zapfish can be found on the top of the Inkopolis Tower. All weapons and gear will be the same in both cities.

The drop is split into two, the first part of the launch, the return to Inkopolis, is available now. The second part has December 31, 2024, as its release date, but players are expecting it to drop sooner.

Side Order is a single-player campaign mode featuring an Octoling. In the trailer, we can see the Octoling facing an alternative version of Inkopolis Square. This version is modern looking and completely colorless.

The map is covered in white, which players have speculated to be bleached coral, based on some branches that can be seen on the plaza. Bleached coral is a phenomenon that happens when water temperatures rise, and coral dies. Other fans noted that it could be snow since you can observe white specks floating in the air.

According to some speculations, the Octoling featured on Side Order could be Agent 8. We don’t know what happens to Agent 8 after the Octo Expansion in Splatoon 2. The images that flash during the trailer show the Octoling having some kind of internal struggle. The new campaign could take players through Agent 8’s journey of struggle as an Octoling soldier.

Another theory points out that it could be a clone of Agent 8. Coral has the ability to clone itself, and we have seen clones in previous games.  

Despite it being a two-part drop, players only have to purchase the pass once. It is available on the Nintendo eShop for $24.99. Players that want to get into the game can purchase a bundle that includes the game and the Expansion Pass for $84.99. The base game sells for $59.99.

Will there be a Splatoon 4?

Splatoon 3 is the final installment of this trilogy. The developers have been clear that Splatoon 3 is the end of this story, but it doesn’t mean other games are not in the works. If Splatoon 4 comes out, it will likely feature new characters and an entirely new story.