Splatoon 3 Gets New Update for September 2025

Nintendo has released a new update for its popular multiplayer title Splatoon 3, introducing a wide variety of balance changes that are sure to shake up the battlefield. While Splatoon 3 was originally released for the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022, the popular multiplayer title has continued to receive ongoing support at no additional cost to its players.

This is the first major update since Patch 10.0.0 went live on June 11, which made some controversial changes to Splatoon 3. While gamers playing the title on Nintendo Switch 2 noticed some graphical improvements, those playing on the original Nintendo Switch were given a slight graphical downgrade. According to Nintendo, these changes were made in the interest of fairness across both platforms, as the graphical downgrade helped ensure that the original Nintendo Switch could play the title at the same frame rate as its successor.

Nintendo Reveals Splatoon 3 Patch Notes for September Update

Nintendo recently revealed the patch notes for its version 10.1.0 update to Splatoon 3, which went live on September 3, 2025. In order to continue playing the game online, fans on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 will need to download the update. Once players do boot up the game, they may notice that a wide variety of slight changes have been made to Splatoon 3's main weapons. For instance, the Splash-o-matic weapon will now fire shots both faster and farther than it did previously.

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Changes have also been made to some of Splatoon 3's special weapons, altering the way players may use them in combat with one another. For example, the radius of Ink Storm's area-of-effect has been increased by about 18%, allowing players to ensnare even more foes than before. The developers seem to have made a lot of tweaks to the game's weapons, but many of them appear to be somewhat minor.

While Splatoon 3 still has a thriving playerbase, many fans are eagerly awaiting news on the recently announced Splatoon Raiders spin-off game. According to rumors, it's possible that Splatoon Raiders will focus on story and exploration, which would be a major shift from the multiplayer-focused action of the mainline titles. Some people have even speculated that the title could be coming at some point during 2025, though Nintendo itself has not revealed any concrete details about a release window. With a whole new game on the way and a fresh update to enjoy, many fans are feeling optimistic about the future of the Splatoon franchise.

Splatoon 3 Version 10.1.0 Patch Notes

All changes apply to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.

Changes to Multiplayer

Specifications for some main weapons have changed.

Weapon	Change Details
Splash-o-matic Neo Splash-o-matic Splash-o-matic GCK-O	Increased the speed of shots by approximately 3% and extended the flight distance. Decreased the radius inked by spray droplets created by shots by approximately 3%.
.52 Gal.52 Gal Deco	Increased the speed of shots by approximately 39% without changing the flight distance. Increased the amount of ink consumed by approximately 15%.
Splat Brella Sorella Brella Order Brella Replica	Expanded the inking at the point of impact for shots. Expanded the width of inking for spray droplets created by shots. Adjusted how shots spread out to make it so that shots scatter into a wider area than previously.
Splattershot Nova Annaki Splattershot Nova	Reduced the scatter of shots fired while on the ground by approximately 18%.
Clash Blaster Clash Blaster Neo	Increased the radius inked by spray droplets created by shots by approximately 13%.
Douser Dualies FF Custom Douser Dualies FF	Increased the speed of shots fired without doing a Dodge Roll by approximately 33% without changing the flight distance. Increased the speed of shots fired after doing a Dodge Roll by approximately 38% without changing the flight distance.
Recycled Brella 24 Mk I Recycled Brella 24 Mk II	Reduced damage dealt to the canopy before launch by approximately 33%. Reduced damage dealt to the canopy after launch by approximately 20%.

Specifications for some special weapons have changed.

Special Weapon	Change Details
Zipcaster	Increased the radius of the area of the explosion at the landing point that deals 45.0 damage by approximately 9%. No changes to the radius of the area that deals 35.0 damage.
Ink Vac	Increased the amount of opponent ink that can be sucked up. Increased the radius of the ink-shot explosion when the amount of the opponent ink that was sucked up is at the maximum by approximately 10%.
Ink Storm	Increased the radius of the area of effect by approximately 18%.

Points required for some special weapons have been changed.

Weapon	Before	After
Carbon Roller ANG-L	180	170
Big Swig Roller	190	180
Big Swig Roller Express	190	180
Cometz Octobrush	200	190
Bamboozler 14 Mk II	200	190
Custom Explosher	200	190
Nautilus 79	210	200
Custom Dualie Squelchers	210	200
Tenta Brella CRE-M	190	180
Painbrush BRN-Z	180	190
Mini Splatling RTL-R	190	200
Splat Brella Order Brella Replica	200	210
Sorella Brella	190	210
REEF-LUX 450 MIL-K	200	210

In this update, we made specification changes to some main weapons to make their individual characteristics stand out. We also made balance changes to multiplayer based on changes observed after adding the Splatlands Collection.

For three types of main weapons—Splash-o-matic,.52 Gal, and Splat Brella—rather than simple upgrades, we made specification changes to make their individual characteristics stand out.

For Splash-o-matic, we extended the flight distance for shots to make it easier to take advantage of its characteristic where the accuracy of your aim directly applies to your ability to defeat opponents. On the other hand, we decreased its ability to ink to make it more difficult to fight in ways that don’t take advantage of accurate aim, such as maintaining battle lines without direct confrontations or using special weapons with high frequency.

For the.52 Gal, we increased the speed of shots to make it easier to fight by taking advantage of its high attack power to defeat several opponents in a short time and create big opportunities. On the other hand, we increased the amount of ink consumed to make it harder to fight in a way that maintains battle lines over time.

For the Splat Brella, we expanded the area of its inking to make it easier to fight by taking advantage of its ability to defend from attacks to keep opponents in check and maintain battle lines, or to use the canopy to prolong the durations of battles to cooperate with allies. We also created a distinction between it and other Brellas by expanding the area of its shots. This makes it easier to support allies by dealing small, reliable damage, while at the same time making it so that in one-on-one fights, players must get closer than before to fight in ways that can quickly defeat opponents. We have also adjusted the number of points required for special weapons to ensure that special-weapon frequency does not rise higher than necessary as a result of expanding the area it inks.

For other main weapons, we made changes to make them easier to use by shoring up their weaknesses.

As for special weapons, for the Zipcaster we made changes so that it’s easier to fight with in combination with certain main weapons.

For the Ink Vac, we made changes so that when used in one-on-one situations, it is harder to be left open by quickly filling up the ink tank, but it also has greater effect when used well to block opponents’ shots.

For the Ink Storm, by expanding the area of effect, we made it easier to use it to force opponents lying in wait in advantageous positions to move, and easier for allies to fight within the area.

Additionally, we made changes to the points required for special weapons, taking into account changes observed since the addition of the Splatlands Collection.

The next update will focus on changes to the balance of battles.

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