In 2015, Nintendo decided to step into the team-based shooter market with a surprising new game calledSplatoon. Released onto the struggling Wii U console on July 01, 2025,Splatoonwas a huge hit, bringing new life to the console. Manyreviews forSplatoonpraised the unique concepts as something only Nintendo could pull off, even if certain multiplayer mechanics were a bit rough.
Recently in an interview, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said thatNintendo wants to create new IP, and not rely onSuper MarioandThe Legend of Zeldaseries forever. The company has created new games likeARMSandRing Fit Adventurethat have seen decent sales, with a character fromARMSeven appearing inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. If anything, the success of theSplatoonseries, which is about to get its third entry in 2022, shows that seeking to develop new IP is exactly what Nintendo should do.
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Splatoon Was a Risky New IP
By the time development began on the originalSplatoon, the Wii U was already out on the market. Nintendo was well aware of its lacking sales, but was obviously still committed to developing new titles for the system. At first, the idea of a non-traditional multiplayer-focused shooter was probably treated as a risky venture by many. Nintendo has clearly established IP that is incredibly successful, so a new shooter about squid creatures with weird mechanics could have been a hit or a miss. Luckily for Nintendo,Splatoonon the Wii U was the former, and the game’s unique concept was enough to bring in many new players. AsWii U sales topped 12 millionat the end of 2015,Splatoonreached over 4 million sales.
While the risky new IP wouldn’t be able to fully save the Wii U, it certainly breathed a bit more life into it. Players were able to take control of an Inkling character, and had fun trying to cover a map in as much of their team’s ink color as they could. The game would eventually get added into Nintendo’s competitive esports circuit.Splatooneven got a manga adaptation, so the game was obviously able to find an audience. In the end,Splatoonbecame the 6th best-selling Wii U game, beating out other popular titles likeSuper Mario MakerandThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.
Of course,Splatoon 2getting announced with a 2017 release surprised almost no one. With the success of a new IP, Nintendo likely wanted to bring it to a new audience on its new console. While some criticized the sequel for being very similar to the first game, it was still very successful on the Nintendo Switch.Splatoon 2has gone on to be one ofthe best-selling Switch games in Japan, only coming behindAnimal Crossing,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate(in which an Inkling was added as a fighter), andPokemon SwordandShield. Overall,Splatoon 2has 11.9 million copies sold, and is one of the top ten best-selling Switch games.
The Hype for Splatoon 3 is Huge
Splatoon 3had trended on Twitter several timesbefore it was even announced. As Nintendo dialed down onSplatoon 2’s live service, many fans were still eager to play in the new world that Nintendo had created. The Nintendo Switch is highly successful as a console, andSplatoonhas become a solid Nintendo IP. There was no doubt aSplatoon 3would be on the way, it was only a matter of time. Time came up at Nintendo’s February Direct, and fans were able to get a glimpse at whatSplatoon 3could offer from new weapons to new stages, and a new city called Splatsville.
Even thoughSplatoon 3was just revealed, it is already one ofthe most talked about games in 2021, among others likeApex Legends,Genshin Impact, andFortnite. None of this would have ever happened if Nintendo didn’t take a chance on a weird new concept back in the early 2010’s. Game development is always a big investment, and unfortunately it doesn’t always pay off. However, many studios find themselves relying too much on established content. Sometimes players will still enjoy it, but sometimes players will come to find it stale and lackluster.
Other studios are focused on remaking existing games, even when it may not be necessary, as many players arequestioning with the possible remake ofThe Last of Us. While it is not always a bad thing to remake games, as Nintendo has shown they also do, it can harm growth if new ideas aren’t injected into the mix. Every studio and game developer will be different, but theSplatoonseries is a perfect example of risk that pays off. Hopefully, Nintendo will continue to impress with its new, original ideas in the future.
Splatoon3is in development for Nintendo Switch.
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