Splatoon 2

Did You Know?

• Development began in full around October 2015 after Splatoon's free content updates concluded.
• The team considered creating an upgraded version of the Wii U game before deciding on a full sequel.
• The Dualie class and its dodge-roll ability were formulated to give players wholly unique gameplay experiences from the previous title.

Setting

The Splatoon series takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth millennia after human extinction and the rapid evolution of marine life. Splatoon 2 occurs two years after the events of Splatoon in and around Inkopolis Square. The single-player campaign follows the theft of the Great Zapfish, Inkopolis' power source, by the Octarian army, alongside the disappearance of Callie, one half of the Squid Sisters. The Octo Expansion DLC is set in the Deepsea Metro, a subterranean train station where an amnesiac Octoling, guided by a talking telephone and Cap'n Cuttlefish, seeks to ascend by clearing testing facilities to collect four objects called "thangs". Octo Canyon takes place two years after the final Splatfest of Splatoon, in which Marie defeated Callie. Marie, as Agent 2, recruits an Inkling as Agent 4 to investigate the missing Great Zapfish and Callie.

Release

A limited-time global multiplayer demo called the "Splatoon 2 Global Testfire" was released in March 2017, available across six one-hour sessions in one weekend. Another demo session demonstrating Splatfest events was held on July 15, 2017. The game was released worldwide on July 21, 2017. In Japan and Europe, neon-green and neon-pink Joy-Con controllers and Splatoon-themed Pro Controllers were released alongside the game. A game card-free version with a download code was released in Japan, as well as a Switch hardware bundle including a download code; a similar bundle was released in the United States as a Walmart exclusive. New Amiibo figures of Inkling Girl, Boy, and Squid designs were released alongside the game, unlocking exclusive clothing and music tracks and allowing loadout saving. Amiibo of Pearl and Marina from Off the Hook were released on July 13, 2018, and a final trio of Octoling Girl, Boy, and Octopus figures were released in Japan and Europe on November 9, 2018, and in North America on December 7, 2018. Post-release free content updates added weapons weekly and stages irregularly until October 2018; regular updates were extended to the end of 2018. The Octo Expansion DLC was released on June 13, 2018.

Reception

Splatoon 2 received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic and was recommended by 90% of critics on OpenCritic. Critics praised the refinement of gameplay mechanics from its predecessor, with Turf War and Ranked Battles seen as equally enjoyable, though some critiqued the return of timed stage rotations. The game's visual presentation was commended as an improvement over Splatoon due to the Switch's higher fidelity. Some reviewers felt the game lacked innovation, with opinions that it felt "more like Splatoon 1.5" than a definitive sequel. New additions were generally well received: Off the Hook was praised for its chemistry and songs, and the single-player campaign was deemed mechanically engaging. Salmon Run was considered the standout addition, praised for its difficulty and team cooperation, but its time-sensitive availability was widely criticized as illogical and detrimental.