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Splatoon’s June 1 Update Shows Nintendo’s Dedication

Splatoon’s June 1 Update Shows Nintendo’s Dedication

Splatoon is a tricky sort of game. It’s varied, as it offers both single and multiplayer modes, but there have been content complaints. That’s to be expected when multiplayer is the focus, only five maps were available at launch, and one of the online multiplayer modes was locked until enough players reached level 10. There’s the promise of something more, to be sure, especially with a huge August 2015 update, but people with concerns were justified in their uncertainties.

However, something wonderful is happened to help assuage fears and assure us that Nintendo is on top of things. Nintendo held an impromptu Nintendo Direct Micro today. In it, wonderful Splatoon news was revealed. Without fanfare, a new weapon and map were revealed and are now available. More importantly, Ranked Battle Mode is being released early. Most importantly, these improvements act as proof of things to come.

It’s all well and good for Nintendo to say that an August update is coming. But, when such a thing is about three months away, it’s hard to stay strong. A number of things will be in that add-on that, arguably, should have been included in the game at launch. Things like custom matchmaking and being able to choose which maps are used. It’s distressing to know that, by the time these arrive, people may have moved on to other games.

But this June 1 update shows a level of commitment. Nintendo has promised regular content updates for Splatoon , and making sure one arrives days after its May 28 release is proof that yes, there will be a steady stream of extras to keep people coming back to the game week after week until that major August update arrives.

The June 1 Splatoon content is something to be happy about too. Look at what Nintendo has done. It’s provided another map, which is a rather big deal in the world of arena shooters. Companies like Activision and EA charge for additional maps, and here we’re seeing Nintendo coming out with the first of many new, free maps right away. Given the size and nuances of such map, as players need to consider vertical as well as horizontal space, it could take days to master each one. Taking us to Port Mackarel is a big deal.

Splatoon’s June 1 Update Shows Nintendo’s Dedication

As is the new weapon. In fact, I think the N-Zap ’85 could end up being the most notable part of this update. It’s designed to look like a Zapper from the NES. It shows that Nintendo is willing to have fun with the Splatoon updates. It raises expectations. By tapping into the nostalgia factor, it expands possibilities for future add-ons. Now that we know Nintendo will have fun with this, maybe we’ll see outfits featuring iconic characters. Maybe a map will be reminiscent of a location of a previous game. (I would love to see a Metroid map.)

Finally, unlocking Ranked Battle Mode early shows that Nintendo is listening to its community. Now players who care about more hardcore competition can hop into ranked battles, while those looking for more casual, fun matches can keep enjoying the unranked Turf Wars mode.

Splatoon is a winning game for Nintendo and will hopefully kick off a successful series. But that kind of thing can only happen if the company shows it’s willing to offer support. The idea of the August update was nice, but the June 1 update is even more important as it shows that regular add-ons with exceptional bonuses will constantly improve the title and keep people coming back to the game.

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