Splatoon 3 Finally Gets An Update With Infamous New Weapon Kits

After months of near radio silence and growing frustration from fans, Splatoon 3 is back in the spotlight.

In a surprise announcement paired with a trailer and detailed Squid Research Lab report, Nintendo has unveiled Version 10.0.0, an unexpectedly massive update dropping this Thursday, June 12. – including brand-new weapon kits, the return of an iconic map, and a much-needed overhaul to the game’s matchmaking system.

The unexpected news comes less than a year after Nintendo stated in September 2024 that no further updates were planned, following the conclusion of the Grand Festival, as posted on the official SplatoonNA Twitter account.

Yet, here we are – and the scope of the update is staggering.

Making Up For Lost Time

Splatoon 3 has faced criticism for its slow pace of content releases, especially when compared to its predecessor. By this point in Splatoon 2’s lifecycle, third kits and many weapon variations had already been introduced – while Splatoon 3 lagged behind on unique content.

This update appears to be Nintendo’s effort to catch up and inject new life into the game.

The Splatlands Collection: A Fresh Arsenal

The headline feature of Version 10.0.0 is the debut of the Splatlands Collection, a set of 30 new weapon kits.

These kits are designed in collaboration with Barazushi and Emberz, the two in-game brands introduced with Splatoon 3.

This isn’t the first time Splatoon has seen post-update-cycle weapons. In Splatoon 2, the Kensa Collection debuted months after the official end of content updates.

While the weapons build on existing designs, their unique combinations of sub-weapons and specials promise to shake up the meta in exciting ways.

Nintendo has not confirmed every weapon in the batch yet, but the first wave has already gone live, and fans are already analyzing potential game-changers.

Here are the weapons and kits we know so far:

• Splash-o-matic GCK-O (Toxic Mist and Ink Storm)
• Carbon Roller ANG-L (Fizzy Bombs and Super Chump)
• Dapple Dualies NOC-T (Splat Bombs and Killer Wail 5.1)
• Painbrush BRN-Z (Splash Wall and Trizooka)
• Tri-Slosher ASH-N (Splat Bombs and the Splattercolor Screen)
• Splatana Wiper RUS-T (Curling Bombs and Trizooka)
• Splattershot Pro FRZ-N (Splat Bombs and Tenta Missiles)
• Splat Charger CAM-O (Sprinkler and Crab Tank)
• Rapid Blaster Pro WNT-R (Suction Bombs and Tacticooler)
• Jet Squelcher COB-R (Burst Bombs and Triple Splashdown)
• Mini Splatling RTL-R (Squid Beakon and Trizooka)
• H-3 Nozzlenose VIP-R (Suction Bombs and Triple Inkstrike)
• REEF-LUX 450 MIL-K (Torpedo and Booyah Bomb)
• Tenta Brella CRE-M (Toxic Mist and Super Chump)

The Return Of Urchin Underpass

In another nostalgia-inducing move, Urchin Underpass, a beloved map from the original Splatoon on Wii U, is making its return. Fully reimagined for the Splatlands aesthetic, it will enter regular rotation once the update drops.

Matchmaking Reborn: Series Weapon Power

One of the most anticipated changes is a major improvement to the matchmaking system. The update introduces a new stat called Series Weapon Power, which tracks a player’s win-loss ratio for each weapon. This allows the matchmaking algorithm to pair players with opponents of similar skill based on the weapon they’re using.

This means players can experiment with new or unfamiliar weapons without being unfairly matched against much stronger or weaker opponents.

It’s a huge step forward in addressing the criticism that Splatoon 3’s matchmaking sometimes failed to properly balance player skill, and it should encourage more experimentation and variety in weapon choice.

Alongside the improvements, the update raises the Freshness cap for all weapons. New in-game badges will reward players for performance and dedication, adding more goals to strive for.

Final Thoughts

While it’s unclear if this update signals a full return to regular content drops or is a one-off surprise, the community is buzzing with excitement and speculation.

But will the new update be enough to win back frustrated fans? What do you think? Tell us in the comments!