Splatoon has evolved significantly from its original state at launch, with fourteen stages and over seventy weapons available to gamers. Considering how popular the game has been, and how it's managed to maintain that popularity, it's safe to say at this point that the launch of this new IP has been a resounding success. Splatoon has done very well despite the Wii U's sales troubles, and it's practically a given that we'll be seeing the franchise return in the future in some form.
Famitsu recently talked with Hisashi Nogami, Tsubasa Sakaguchi, and Yusuke Amano – the producer and co-directors – to talk about the game's development and the future of Splatoon (translations courtesy of Nintendo Everything). They talked about how most stages are based on marine products with the exception of Urchin Underpass, which was based on a real life road visible from Nintendo's headquarters. Seita Inoue – the art director – regularly sketches things in his immediate vicinity and drew a night view sketch of Jujo Road. The art team saw this sketch around the time that they were planning stages, and decided to include it due to its slightly more realistic nature.
When talking about the regular updates this game gets, the team reconfirmed that they will no longer be updating the game with new gear, stages, rules, etc. after January, though they will still put out occasional balancing patches when needed. Additionally, splatfests will continue to take place for the "foreseeable future". When asked why the updates are ending, they said it's because players would have trouble remembering all the content if too much is put in. While the team wouldn't talk about the future of the Splatoon franchise, they did talk about the extremely positive reception it's received and they seem open to continuing that in some way.
For the full breakdown of the interview, check it out here.
What do you think? Have you been satisfied with all the content in Splatoon? What would you like to see out of a 'Splatoon 2'? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 56
I'm sure with the NX being revealed in the coming months and perhaps even launching in 2016, Nintendo are keen to move all their resources into producing a sequel. It's obvious they can produce the game in a short time frame so maybe it'll be a launch title. I assume those who did the updates were only a small team while the rest were busy working on the next game.
I think their reasoning behind their last response (at least the one featured in this article) is pretty dumb. On topic though; I really enjoyed Splatoon and it was super fun. My main complaint was the overall method it was handled at first.
For what ever reason, when I read "It's been a good run" and saw the Splatoon picture, for a split second I thought the servers were being shut down and had a heart attack. I know they would never do that this soon, but it's a morbid thought.
I think the NX is going to receive updated semi sequel games quickly released within the first year or two. Titles like Super Smash Bros for NX or Splatoon NX. Essentially they would be the full Wii U versions already available, but made to look more pretty and with more content. Kind of like games like Street Fighter 2 which received all sorts of updated versions with more content.
This would be a quick way to build a solid NX library out of the gate.
I wish Nintendo never announced the NX because I'm really sick of people fantasising about it.
Splatoon will continue, from what I think. I think Nintendo knows that the game has been a great success, and will not abandon this IP. I definitely see another game coming up, whether it's on NX or Wii U, or its a sequel or a spinoff. All I know is that Splatoon is not being abandoned by Nintendo any time soon.
splatoon is one of the best shooters to date and it took shooter of the year and multiplayer game of the year of 2015 which was well deserved
@JosieC84 I know right
@Cheesehead302 That would especially suck for those who got the game for Christmas yesterday.
I just want the sequel to be called "Spla2n" (Spla-TWO-n) or some other variant of this terrible pun.
But in all seriousness, these are the features I want to see in a sequel:
·Turf Wars that can be played in local multiplayer, either split-screen or with one person looking at the TV and the other on the NX controller, provided it has its own screen. Splatoon would be 10x more amazing if you could play it locally with friends.
·A more expansive hub world. I want to be able to traverse the entire city of Inkopolis. You can see several skyscrapers and other such structures in the background of Inkopolis, and it's such a shame you can't access them, as they are out of boundaries.
·A lengthier story mode with added 2-player co-op, more bosses, and innovative new gameplay elements. Imagine some sort of underwater level where your Inkling has to wear a protective waterproof body suit and swim to the depths of the ocean floor to save a Zapfish stolen by a giant kraken! Or a level where your Inkling has to soar through the sky via a jetpack and blast a plane of Octolings carrying stolen cargo! There's unlimited potential for possible new gameplay mechanics.
@JosieC84
Agreed
For SplaTWOn (love the above auggestion):
1. Definitely turf wars with 2 local players.
2. Aerial manuevers for the Squid kids during battle. Right now, jumping only gets you splatted.
3. Gotta do something about marking incoming super jump landings. Gives away jumper and whoever they are jumping to. I think they should all be stealth or allow for a short period of invincibility.
4. Otherwise, stay true to the formula.
@Cheesehead302
great, now I can't stop thinking about it.
why did you say that
Anyone want a better single player in the sequel?
I want that, and a slightly more intricate CC.
A longer single player campaign, better local (or couch co-op online play), would be pleasant.
Dang already? I just got the game. lol Haven't played it yet since I'm waiting for my Gamepad to return from repair, but I'm pretty excited about it.
@JosieC84 this happens with every new console. Go to threads on Sony sites or Microsoft fan sites right after the consoles had been mentioned. Heck I've already scene ps5 threads floating around.
@Not_Soos They actually mentioned something about how every map is accessible within Inkopolis by train. Otherwise, I think some kinds of vehicles should show up in a sequel.
...And there goes Nintendo's policy of updates/additional content as a regular service. : (
@bluedogrulez
That's why you wear Stealth Jump shoes. Also no to invincibility on jumpers. It's part of the strategy. Do I wear stealth jump or quick jump? Or Ink Resistance? You decide.
@MagicalDreamer No.
There will definitely be a sequel. In my opinion, they've barely fleshed out the possible ideas for Splatoon, so I'm hoping the next one will be a lot more expansive as they learn from the first one and have more time to make the second one. And probably a lot more resources will go into making the second one now that the franchise is a success.
Let's not forget that Nintendo stated it would not make the same errors with launch title games for the NX as it did worth the Wii U.
This means an unprecedented Launch Title line up including :
SPLATOON 2
MARIO 3D WORLD
F Zero
METROID
BAYONETTA 3
A top end sports title
A mature rated game
MONSTER HUNTER NX
Yoshi!
Smash NX
Battalion wars3 lol
Pokemon game
A new and original Ip
The NX will also support 4 -8 HD screen controllers. All personalised to their owners and available with local play...
The Future is very bright!
(goes buys Nintendo shares)
Everyone else plays on their old ps4 and xbones
@bluedogrulez I think the jumping mechanic is fine. You are penalised for 1. Getting splatted and 2. Taking advantage of a quick route to the front.
In 4 player local teams, this would work differently as you could communicate tactics.....
So that means no DLC then? Sigh... the one game where i actually want to pay for extra content..
They could at least continue until May, the game's 1 year anniversary!
@FragRed Are you kidding? It'll be THE launch title. If it's not, then I guess that...
NIntendo is DOOOMED
@FragRed How do you know that? We never knew when Splatoon was put into development.
@JosieC84 Then potentially more people would think Nintendo was going mobile-only.
Splatoon 2 will not be a launch title for the Nx if it releases in 2016.
The only thing I really want in a sequel is local split screen multiplayer turf wars. Other than that, I'm 100% satisfied with this fantastic new franchise. My biggest surprise of the year, no doubt.
Really, for this debut title, what more I would want is a last round of Octo Valley. Perhaps a rebound by the Octarians, where it sums up with a balance and acceptance of the two races. But then, that'd feel like a setup for a sequel, but maybe we can work in a setup for such a resolution? Might work to drum up anticipation of a sequel.
@NintyMan @amiiboacid The Splatoon development cycle was around 20 months until the first release of the game (in May 2015). In total, it's a more-than-2-year development cycle when all additional content is taken into account. It's a medium-sized development time for a Nintendo game.
@JosieC84 By far the best comment here!
@Mr_Pringles Splatoon is about adapting gear and weapons to the map rotation and mode.
@JosieC84 Looking back, I agree. Of course doing would make people think Nintendo was going mobile only but that concern would've already disappeared as a result of how lame Miitomo looks. In contrast, NX for 2016 will continue to plague the internet until a release year is confirmed next year at some point.
Splatoon has been brilliant ashame the extra content has too end but don't worry hopefully we will get a sequel in afew years.
@amiiboacid well at E3 2014 they had only done about 10% of the game.
At least the splatfests continue!
I've loved what splatoon has become, it's won universal praise and been a commercial success on a struggling platform AND been respected by the fps loving dudebro gamers which is inkredible (sorry )
HOWEVER.....let's not forget it was built around an already existing game engine and was absolutely bare-bones on release day! Way more content has surfaced after release than before which imo Isn't right at all. Very UN--Nintendo in fact. I certainly prefer games to be more complete at release, regardless of followup content!
The other issues I have are the truly abysmal local multiplayer options which have never been improved or expanded upon and the amiibo content still being locked behind a 'pay-wall' with a higher price than the game itself! Of course others might feel differently but I don't want people to except the game as a classic without balancing the bad stuff first. Otherwise every game might release with no content on disc in future 0_o
@bluedogrulez As for air maneuvers, the problem with that is I'm pretty sure Nintendo wouldn't add that in, because they don't want everyone's heads turned to the sky, they want them turned to the ground inking everything.
I thought the initial content was actually fine as it helped me learn the mechanics without getting overwhelmed. The drip feed of new stuff helped to keep servers busy and meant it sustained long-term interest. I preferred it that way personally- helped keep it "fresh"...
@Cheesehead302 although, you have reason to worry, I'm still mad at Nintendo for turning off the Wii and DS servers. Mario kart DS was so fun online, tomorrow would be great on the Virtual Console on the Wii U
@Not_Soos Splatoon: the seaquel
I'm surprised it's going to have such a sudden stop. It's easily one of (if not thee) most updated game Nintendo has had and has given away some good stuff. I was wondering when the train would come to the station though.
@NintyMan Stating the obvious isnt it? NX being the next NTDO console - so yeah, that checks out...and no definite timeframes on development. Wow..thanks for your valuable insights.
@JosieC84 "I wish Nintendo never announced the NX because I'm really sick of people fantasising about it."
You and me both, and the worst part is, it hasn't even been formally announced.
Spla-Two-n should have the following:
I just don't think splatoon is one of those games you can have a sequel for. Everything that people are mentioning for possible updates for a sequel would be far better suited for just a regular update, not a new game. The only suggestion I found to be a bit intriguing was the idea of being able to explore all of inkopolis.
Spla2oon
2 player online multi-player please, and voice chat
@JosieC84 Ha! Wait until Nintendo releases the specs and then the complaints start rolling in. (Not saying it will be under powered....just that gamers complain...a lot)
ON TOPIC: I do hope that these guys either pull this kind of momentum for the sequel or get parsed out to work on new projects...its obvious they have great ideas.
@SanderEvers That's not entirely true. They had completed a good number of guns, stage modes, and a few extra stages before the game's release, but opted to roll-out the content slowly over the summer. There were annoying (and vocal) people on video game forums who claimed that Splatoon had a lack of content and were going to boycott it until all of the initial content was released. There were talking points about how Splatoon wasn't worth the full price at launch, and other stuff.
Now DLC and additional content has to be made directly after the development of a game is finished. That way critical team members aren't re-assigned to other projects and newbs don't have to come in and figure out how to work with the system. There was a point where they had released all of the initial content, and started releasing the additional content they created after the game was 'finished.' I'm not one hundred percent where the cut-off between the two types of content was...But the fact remains that they stretched the initial content out three months, and development was ended less than half a year after the game's release. I'm guessing the additional/DLC content development went on for two months, three max, and stretched until the end of the year.
Compare this with how Mario Kart 8 and Smash Brothers 4, which didn't hold back any content upon release and went on to drastically increase the amount of content they had in them over the course of at least a year. I get the impression that they were either in a hurry to wrap-up Splatoon and move on to other projects or that they didn't want to risk investing too much development time on a new and untested IP.
In other words, development for Splatoon NX begins in January.
I just got Splatoon and quite like it so far, though I wish my brother could play online with me, not just in battle dojo. It seems to me like there's a lot of content, so I'm OK with them stopping next month. Playing a bit of the single player campaign I feel like they could make a fairly cool Splatoon platformer. If not that, then it might be nice to incorporate some of the single player features (like the sponges) into the main game to have more cool platforming in with the shooting.
Its troubling when a young developer says an old man Nintendo excuse like: 'players would have trouble remembering all the content if too much is put in'. It's up there with Nintendo's excuses for swerving online play and HD.
@mjc0961 Actually the games been finished since late August.
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