Summary
- A fan allegedly sent bomb threats to Nintendo events due to Splatoon 3 frustration.
- The perpetrator was arrested for 39 bomb threats, causing over 700 million yen in damages.
- Splatoon fandom criticizes the man's actions.
After a fan sent bomb threats to an official Nintendo tournament for Splatoon 3, more information has revealed that the fan's motive for the threats stemmed from their frustration with the game after having lost too many times. The 27-year-old was later arrested on charges related to the alleged 39 bomb threats he sent to Nintendo and some of its in-person events, namely the Splatoon 3 Koshien tournament that is held in Japan every year.
Splatoon 3 is the most recent and best-selling entry in the Splatoon franchise, pitting teams of players against one another in various colorful, paint-based game modes that task them with coloring the maps in their respective hues as much as possible. Players can eliminate each other with special abilities, making Splatoon 3 double as a competitive multiplayer shooter while maintaining the family-friendly appeal that is a staple of Nintendo's brand.
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According to a recent thread on Twitter from user OatmealDome, the fan who sent the bomb threats seemingly did so out of frustration, accusing Nintendo of designing Splatoon 3 poorly, which led to his constant defeats. Technically, the perpetrator never explicitly mentions Splatoon 3 by name, but given that the targets for some of their threats was a high-profile tournament for the game, the motive is easily implied.
A Frustrated Splatoon 3 Player Takes Drastic Measures to Retaliate
Some fans on Twitter reacted to the blackmailer's alleged motive, with many ridiculing him for taking such drastic action simply due to their own misgivings in a game made for younger audiences like Splatoon 3. While no one was hurt as a result of his threats, the resulting cancellation of multiple in-person events allegedly led to over 700 million yen in damages, for which the man may be held responsible.
Currently, the person accused of the threats is on trial for the alleged crimes and could face up to a year of jail time, with the final verdict set to come next month, on July 24. Unfortunately, Nintendo is no stranger to threats of violence, as just last year, threats against staff members led Nintendo to cancel its Live Tokyo 2024 event and postpone the Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 tournaments intended to take place there.
Meanwhile, the Splatoon fandom remains resilient, as some fans also turned up to criticize the man for potentially tarnishing their reputation in the eyes of the gaming industry as a whole. Still, they may be able to rejoice in the near future, as rumors claim that Splatoon 4 may be in the works, though details are currently minimal.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- September 9, 2022
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- phive
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Splatoon
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter 4-on-4* ink-slinging battles in this colorful action shooter packed with style and attitude. As a squid-like Inkling, quickly cover your surroundings (and opponents) in ink with wild weaponry and swim through your own color to sneak and splat. Dive into the fresh fun with family and friends and make waves as a team. Get splatted by an opponent? No sweat! The goal in Turf War is to cover the most ground, so respawn and jump back into the inky action.
Keep it current with rotating items, seasonal catalogs, and special events: Variety is the spice of an Inkling’s life, so check out shops daily for a changing array of gear that is as fashionable as it is functional. Timed events like Splatfests bring different types of chaotic competition and content updates add even more weapons and stages. Earn points to get in-game items from season-specific catalogs to dress up your own personal locker and show your style.
Use inky new abilities and weapons to compete, cooperate, or clear up the mystery of the Fuzzy Ooze: Dynamic new moves like the Squid Surge and Squid Roll will help you and your fellow Inklings cover more ground and avoid enemy ink. Take aim with the bow-like Stringer and get slash happy with sword-like Splatanas—these new weapon types join an arsenal of fresh special weapons and sub weapons, too. Work together to collect Golden Eggs and fend off brand-new swarms of invading Salmonids in the co-op Salmon Run mode. Tackle a solo adventure alongside a Smallfry companion to solve the mystery of the Fuzzy Ooze in the offline story mode.
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
