Splatoon 3 Patch Notes
The latest update to Splatoon 3, version 9.0.0, brings a host of new enhancements designed to enrich the gaming experience. This update significantly improves amiibo compatibility, multiplayer connectivity, and gameplay balance, making it a pivotal release for fans of the series. Players can now enjoy unique content unlocked by new amiibo figures, such as Callie, Marie, Pearl, and Marina, adding layers of customization to their adventures.
In addition to the amiibo support, the update focuses on refining the game's multiplayer elements. This includes reducing latency for more responsive battles and fine-tuning both main and special weapons to ensure a fair and engaging play environment. The adjustments aim to deliver smoother gameplay and provide a balanced experience, addressing both connectivity issues and weapon effectiveness.
Splatoon 3 Update 9.0.0 Patch Notes
Changes to Amiibo
Support for new amiibo has been added. Players can now use:
- Callie (Alterna)
- Marie (Alterna)
- Pearl (Side Order)
- Marina (Side Order)
Improvements to Connectivity
Connectivity enhancements have been implemented to reduce the delay between sending and receiving data in multiplayer activities. The average latency reduction during general gameplay is about 0.4/60 of a second. For situations involving damage or defeating opponents, the average reduction is approximately 3.4/60 of a second.
Adjustments in Multiplayer
Main Weapon Changes
The specifications for certain main weapons have been modified as shown in the table below:
| Weapon | Changes |
|---|---|
| Squeezer/ Foil Squeezer | * Slowed first shot speed by ~5% and reduced its range. * Slowed movement speed while firing by ~8%. |
| Range Blaster/ Custom | * Decreased damaging explosion radius by ~6%. * Decreased ink splatter radius by ~9%. |
| Snipewriter 5H/ 5B | * Slight reduction in width of spray droplets. |
| Slosher/ Deco/ Order | * Increased ink consumption by ~9%. |
| Heavy Edit/ Splatling | * Slight reduction in the number of spray droplets. * Inking at player’s feet remains unchanged. |
| Wellstring V/ Custom | * Decreased ink splatter radius upon impact by ~8%. |
Special Weapon Changes
Modifications have been made to some special weapons:
| Special Weapon | Change Details |
|---|---|
| Trizooka | * Increased delay between activation and being able to fire by approximately 1/12 of a second. |
Special Weapon Points Adjustments
The points required for certain special weapons have been altered:
| Weapon | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Range Blaster | 200 | 210 |
| Slosher / Order Slosher Replica | 200 | 210 |
X Battles Adjustments
Changed matchmaking for X Battles to reduce the chances of players being matched with those they just faced. However, this doesn’t fully prevent repeat matches. Additionally, Japan and nearby regions can no longer select the Tentatek Division.
Splatfest Modifications
- Players who achieve a Splatfest Title of Ruler or higher can now board the Splatfest Float and take photos with the last allies they won a Splatfest Battle (Open) or Splatfest Battle (Pro) with.
- After achieving a Splatfest Title of Ruler +1 or higher, players can choose additional poses from atop the Splatfest Float.
- Players can select Deep Cut poses on top of the Splatfest Float.
- Those who have downloaded the Expansion Pass can also choose Squid Sisters and Off the Hook poses atop the Splatfest Float.
Salmon Run Enhancements
- Data for a special Big Run has been included.
- A new item exchangeable for fish scales has been added.
- Capsules containing fish scales can now be obtained from the reward meter.
- Gear obtainable from the reward meter will change each shift instead of each month.
Miscellaneous Updates
- The XP required for a weapon’s Freshness to reach 1 ★ has been reduced from 10,000 to 5,000 to facilitate easier attainment of Sheldon Licenses. Total XP required to reach higher star ratings remains unchanged. Weapons with 5,000 XP or more but less than 10,000 XP before the update will reach 1 ★ after using them once in battle post-update.
- New designs have been introduced for some Splashtag banners.
- Connectivity has been optimized by refining internal processes and adjusting communication controls, resulting in faster data transmission between players.
- Performance of certain weapons has been adjusted to balance gameplay, primarily focusing on reducing the effectiveness of weapons that were deemed too powerful.
Weapon Specific Changes
The Squeezer and Foil Squeezer have had their performance reduced to address their high effectiveness despite their difficulty to master. Their shot distance and movement speed while firing have been decreased.
For the Range Blaster and Custom Range Blaster, the explosion and ink splatter radii have been reduced to maintain damage potential while limiting their area of effect.
The Snipewriter 5H and Snipewriter 5B have seen a slight reduction in their ability to maintain inking from a distance.
Changes to the Slosher series, including the Slosher Deco and Order Slosher Replica, aim to align them with the ink consumption patterns of other slosher weapons, balancing their high short-term power against higher ink usage.
The Heavy Edit Splatling and Heavy Edit Splatling Nouveau have been adjusted to prevent them from having an overly strong inking capability during exchange fire scenarios.
Lastly, Wellstring V and Custom Wellstring V adjustments aim to slightly lower their performance in maintaining inking from a distance.
Trizooka changes include increasing the delay before firing to better balance the weapon’s powerful shots.
