All Articles: Splatoon

Splatoon manga coming to North America in Fall 2017

CoroCoro Comics published a manga series based on Nintendo’s Splatoon in Japan after the game’s launch in 2015. Serialized in CoroCoro magazine, the series, which was written and illustrated by Sankichi Hinodeya, was eventually compiled in two volumes.

This weekend, Viz Media announced (via Twitter) that they’re translating it into English for a North American release this Fall.

We don’t currently have any more details than that, but fans will get the chance to dive back into the world of Splatoon this July when Splatoon 2 launches for the Nintendo Switch.

Posted in Etcetera, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged ,

Mario Kart 8 sells 8 million copies as Nintendo updates their best-selling Wii U and 3DS titles

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Nintendo fans are absolutely giddy with excitement about the company’s upcoming Switch console, but we shouldn’t forget about the Wii U and 3DS. Earlier this week, the consolemaker updated investors on their best-selling titles for the Wii U and 3DS, as of September 30, 2016.

As the biggest-selling Nintendo-published game on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 recently tallied total sales of eight million copies. The game’s success was measured using worldwide numbers for retail sales and digital downloads. While Mario Kart 8 is far and away the most popular game for the Wii U, Splatoon’s sales (4.57 million copies) are pretty impressive for a new franchise. Here’s the full top ten:

Best-Selling Nintendo-Published Games on the Wii U

  • 1. Mario Kart 8 — 8 Million
  • 2. New Super Mario Bros. U — 5.45 Million
  • 3. Super Mario 3D World — 5.19 Million
  • 4. Nintendo Land — 5.13 Million
  • 5. Super Smash Bros. For Wii U — 4.99 Million
  • 6. Splatoon — 4.57 Million
  • 7. Super Mario Maker — 3.73 Million
  • 8. New Super Luigi U — 2.74 Million
  • 9. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD — 1.98 Million
  • 10. Mario Party 10 — 1.94 Million

Over on the 3DS, Pokemon X/Y proved that the RPG franchise is still first in the minds of Nintendo fans, with total sales of 15.64 million copies. Once again measured using worldwide numbers for retail sales and digital downloads, it finished slightly ahead of Mario Kart 7, which almost lapped its console-based big brother with total sales of nearly 14 million copies. Here’s the full top ten:

Best-Selling Nintendo-Published Games on the 3DS

  • 1. Pokemon X/Y — 15.64 Million
  • 2. Mario Kart 7 — 13.94 Million
  • 3. Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire — 13.18 Million
  • 4. Super Mario 3D Land — 10.98 Million
  • 5. New Super Mario Bros. 2 — 10.6 Million
  • 6. Animal Crossing: New Leaf — 10.34 Million
  • 7. Super Smash Bros. For 3DS — 8.35 Million
  • 8. Tomodachi Life — 5.3 Million
  • 9. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon — 5.03 Million
  • 10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D — 4.52 Million

The Wii U has struggled on store shelves since it was released in late 2012. The console currently has an install base of just 13.36 million, which is just a shade over 10% of the Wii’s final sales total. Meanwhile, the 3DS can claim an install base of 61.57 million, which is impressive, but still a far cry from the record-breaking sales of 154.02 million units for the DS.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Splatoon Testfire Demo returns next week

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If you haven’t tried out one of the Wii U’s biggest hits yet, Nintendo is bringing back the Splatoon “Testfire Demo” next week. Splatoon’s Testfire Demo will be available to download from the Wii U eShop from Thursday, August 25, through Sunday, August 28. Wii U owners will be able to jump into a match between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) on those four days.

Participants in the Testfire Demo will be able to choose from four different weapons (Splattershot Jr, Splattershot, Splat Roller, and Splat Charger) and two Stages (“Saltspray Rig” and “Walleye Warehouse”) as they battle it out in Splatoon’s Turf War Mode.

Splatoon was originally released for the Wii U last May. Since then, more than four million copies of the game have been sold worldwide, and it’s possible it’ll receive an upgraded re-release for the Nintendo NX next year.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo releases alternate Splatoon covers to celebrate this weekend’s Splatfest

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“Pledge your allegiance to Team Callie or Team Marie with this nifty printable alternative box art!”

Whether you’re “Team Marie” or “Team Callie,” I think we can all agree that alternate covers are the best. And Nintendo certainly thinks so, as the consolemaker’s Squid Research Lab has designed a pair of printable covers for Splatoon to celebrate the final Splatfest. So head over to the blog and download them now… and don’t forget to use Legal Size Paper.

This weekend’s supersized Splatfest will begin on Friday, July 22, at 5:00 AM (Eastern Time). Players will be able to battle it out for 48 hours until a winner is crowned on Sunday, July 24, at 5:00 AM (also Eastern Time). Good luck to both sides and may the best Squid Sister win.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Splatoon’s final Splatfest on July 22 will force players to choose between Callie and Marie

goldenpixel-splatoonSo it’s come to this. Nintendo has announced that Splatoon‘s next Splatfest will be the final Splatfest.

Set to kick off on July 22 and scheduled to run for 48 hours, the final Splatfest will ask players to make the ultimate choice… Callie or Marie?

The Splatfest’s final scores will be tallied using the results from all regions, but individual matches will be segregated. Players from Japan will only be matched with other players from Japan, while players from North America and Europe will be matched against each other. Splatoon owners will be able voice their choice for Callie or Marie at the Inkopolis Plaza kiosk beginning on Monday, July 4, at 10:00 PM (Eastern Time). Until then, keep checking your email inbox, because Nintendo is going to send out a survey asking players to choose the stages for the “Squid Sisters Showdown” Splatfest.

Mark it on your calendar, the final Splatfest will begin on Friday, July 22, at 5:00 AM (Eastern Time) and the Callie versus Marie melees won’t stop until Sunday, July 24, at 5:00 AM (also Eastern Time). Good luck to both sides and may the best Sister win.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Splatoon will hold a big party for its first truly global Splatfest

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Throughout the year, Nintendo has been trying to bring the global Splatoon community closer together with Splatfests that involve all three regions.

Back in February, a Pokemon-themed contest gave players in North America, Europe, and Japan the same choice for the first time… though matches were restricted to players within the same region. But last month, European and North American players were finally able to directly compete against each other in a Splatfest celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants.

Today, Nintendo announced that the upcoming Splatfest will invite players from all three regions to be matched against each other for the first time. And what will they be fighting over? Miitomo, of course.

Taking a cue from the communication app, this Splatfest will ask players to choose between a “Fancy Party” or a “Costume Party.” It’s not The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones, but it’s a start. The Splatfest Kiosk is now available in Inkopolis Plaza to make your choice, and the contest will begin on Friday, May 13 at 11:00 PM (Eastern Time). Players will be able to battle it out all day Saturday before a winner is crowned on Sunday, May 15, at 6:00 AM.

Good luck and don’t get inked!

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Splatoon’s Squid Sisters will get their own Amiibo figures on July 8

There’s no question that Splatoon‘s Squid Sisters, Callie and Marie, have become Nintendo’s newest stars. Obviously, the game’s fantastic online multiplayer modes struck a chord with Wii U fans in 2015, but the freshest MCs in the business stole the show every time they introduced new maps or hosted a Splatfest. And now, thanks to their popularity, Nintendo plans to immortalize the Squid Sisters in plastic with an Amiibo 2-Pack this Summer.

The Squid Sisters 2-Pack will be released on July 8, and it’ll be priced at $24.99. After tapping either of the Amiibo figures to the Wii U GamePad, Callie and Marie will bust out some “squidtastic dance moves” in a series of brand new music videos. More Splatoon figures will be available this Summer as Nintendo will also re-release the Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, and Inkling Squid Amiibo in new colors on July 8. The Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl will be sold individually for $12.99 apiece, or you can grab all three figures in a special 3-Pack for $34.99.

Believe it or not, Callie and Marie performed their first live show at the Niconico Tokaigi gaming event in Japan. You can get a glimpse of their mind-melting performance after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo is teaming up with Nickelodeon for a SpongeBob Splatfest

spongebobsplatfestBrace yourselves… the SpongeBob Splatfest is coming.

Nintendo is teaming up with Nickelodeon to decide, once and for all, who is the greatest resident of Bikini Bottom. Players in the US and Europe will be able to visit Splatoon‘s Inkopolis Plaza today to register their choice for SpongeBob SquarePants or his starfish pal, Patrick… even though everyone knows the best character on that show is the squirrel in the spacesuit (Google tells me her name is Sandy).

This jumbo-sized Splatfest begins on Saturday, April 23, at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time), and will be the first time that North American and European players can be matched together. Participating Inklings (but not Squidward) will be able to splat it out in Turf War for 30 hours and the Splatfest will end on Sunday, April 24, at 3:00 PM.

Now, someone get that freakin’ theme song out of my head.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged