Splatoon's Next Update is Changing Nearly All Weapons, Here's How

Update 2.2.0 for Nintendo's popular Wii U shooter, Splatoon, will rebalance many of the game's weapons, as well as tweak rankings, rulesets, stages and more. It is scheduled to deploy on October 20.

A complete list of changes, as written by Nintendo, can be found below.

Weapons Adjustments:

• Adjustments will be made to Main Weapons, Sub Weapons, and Special Weapons. View details

Ranked Battle Adjustments

• Adjustments will be made to the rules in Rainmaker and Tower Control modes. View details

Ranking Adjustments

• Rank S users will be matched up with other rank S users more frequently, and rank S+ users will be matched up with other rank S+ users more frequently
• To accommodate this change, the calculation method for ranks S and S+ users will be adjusted. View details

Stage Adjustments

• Walleye Warehouse: Adjustments will be made to prevent users from taking certain shortcuts in Rainmaker Mode
• Saltspray Rig: Adjustments will be made to prevent users from placing Splash Walls in certain places
• Arowana Mall: Adjustments will be made to prevent users from taking certain shortcuts in all modes
• Kelp Dome: Small adjustments will be made for Rainmaker mode
• Flounder Heights: In addition to changing the stage layout in Rainmaker, other adjustments will be made to prevent users from taking certain shortcuts in all modes and to prevent the attachment of Suction Bombs in certain places
• Hammerhead bridge: Adjustments will be made to prevent users from taking certain shortcuts in all modes

Effects Adjustments

• The visual effects of position-tracking for teammates will be less visible.View details
• The launching sound effect of the Inkzooka will be more audible

Battle Adjustments

• Fixed the issue in which the ink refills slightly when beginning to charge an empty Splatling weapon
• Fixed the issue in which the Point Sensors and Disruptors do not function when there is significant lag in the connectivity
• Fixed the issue in which players are able to move the Tower even when they are not on the Tower by swimming in the area bordering the top and sides of the Tower
• Fixed the issue in which the Rainmaker shield does not take damage when the shield is extremely close to a wall
• Fixed the issue in which visual effects do not display when some of the ink hit the Rainmaker Barrier and Splash Walls
• Fixed the issue in which some ink splats occasionally go through thin walls
• Fixed the issue in which rollers occasionally inflict damage through thin walls
• Fixed the issue in which Kraken occasionally inflicts damage against opponents hiding on the other side of a thin wall
• Fixed the issue in which Shooter type main weapons shoot at a faster rate than usual when specific special weapons are activated

Bug Fixes in Battle Dojo:

• Fixed the issue in which Splash Walls do not block opponents’ bombs and blasters

Bug fixes:

• Fixed the issue in which the damage stats for Splattershot Jr., Custom Splattershot Jr., N-ZAP 85, and N-ZAP89 are displayed as higher than they actually are. This only changes the information displayed in the stats. The actual stats will remain the same.
• Adjustments will also be made to make for a more pleasant gaming experience

Released at the end of May, Splatoon has sold more than 1.6 million copies. Nintendo has regularly released new content for the game, the latest of which was the Transformers-themed in-game event that started on August 28.

GameSpot's 8/10 Splatoon review said the game is "the antithesis to the modern shooter, but it primarily deserves recognition for what it is, not what it isn't."

"It's a wonderful game with charm and inventive ideas that work and pave the way for new experiences in an otherwise stale category of games."