Exclusive Sneak Peek: Unveiling Epic Changes in Splatoon 3's Drizzle Season 2023 Version 50 Update!

Highlights

Splatoon 3 version 5.0 brings new content and bug fixes to Nintendo's popular third-person shooter, enhancing players' experience.

The update brings forth fresh tunes, weapons, equipment, and battlegrounds for Drizzle Season 2023, as well as cosmetic additions and exclusive incentives. Furthermore, enhancements to multiplayer, Salmon Run, Splatfests, and Tableturf Battle have been made, enhancing gameplay and balancing different facets of the game.

Splatoon 3 has released the patch notes for its version 5.0, which introduces significant changes to the popular Nintendo third-person shooter game before the start of Drizzle Season 2023. Despite being available for almost a year now, Nintendo continues to enhance the game by adding fresh content and resolving technical issues that have been affecting players' enjoyment.

Since its launch in September 2022, Splatoon 3 has delighted fans with its new maps, customizable options, and innovative gameplay mechanics for intense ink battles. As the top-selling game in the franchise and one of the most acclaimed co-op third-person shooters on the Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 3 has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the most sought-after titles on the console. Regular updates and themed Splatfests with exclusive rewards ensure that players always have new experiences to look forward to.

Nintendo has released the patch notes for Splatoon 3 version 5.0, which is set to celebrate its first anniversary. This update brings various changes to the game, including new songs, weapons, items, titles, and decorations. Additionally, it provides information on the upcoming Drizzle Season, starting on September 1, 2023. The Drizzle Season 2023 will introduce a catalog of cosmetic elements, two new battle stages and main weapons, 12 additional Tableturf Battle cards, and the return of Salmonid Smokeyard from Splatoon 2.

Aside from new content, Splatoon 3 version 5.0 also addresses various bugs that have affected players' experience. These fixes are related to controls, multiplayer, Salmon Runs, and Splatfests. Furthermore, adjustments have been made to certain weapons and gear to ensure balance in battles. This update allows players to showcase their gear in new ways with the addition of an "Adjust Gear" option, enabling the wearing of headgear and T-shirts in different styles.

The next Splatoon 3 update is scheduled for the middle of Drizzle Season 2023 and will primarily focus on balancing adjustments, in response to the recent changes introduced to a range of weapons in Splatoon 3 version 5.0. September holds great anticipation for Splatoon 3 players, as it marks the commencement of the new Drizzle Season on the first day of the month.

Splatoon 3 Version 5.0 Patch Notes

Season and Catalog Changes

Added data for Drizzle Season 2023, which starts September 1st, 2023. This includes:

A new catalog, including new gear, titles, banners, decorations, stickers, and emotes.

2 new battle stages: Crableg Capital and Shipshape Cargo Co.

2 new main weapons.

8 new sets of existing main weapons paired with different sub and special weapons.

A returning Salmon Run stage from the Splatoon 2 game: Salmonid Smokeyard.

12 new Tableturf Battle cards.

Changes to Gear

Introduced the "Adjust Gear" feature to wear selected headgear and T-shirts in new ways. Select any supported gear from the Equip screen and press the Y Button to adjust it.

Changes to Multiplayer

Added 3 songs that play during battles.

Introducing new additions to the arsenal! These cutting-edge weapons will be readily accessible in the shops as soon as Drizzle Season 2023 begins.

Say hello to the Dread Wringer, a formidable slosher capable of unleashing dual bursts of ink with each swing. With the ability to manipulate your swinging direction, you can now shoot ink in two different directions simultaneously.

But that's not all. Prepare for the raw power of the Heavy Edit Splatling. Though it requires a slightly longer charge time, once fully charged, it surpasses its counterparts by firing at a remarkable speed. Get ready to dominate the battlefield with these game-changing weapons!

New weapons have been introduced and will be conveniently accessible in various shops during the commencement of Drizzle Season 2023. Notably, there have been alterations to the specifications of some primary weapons such as the Splat Brella/Sorella Brella. The recovery time for these brellas, when lost due to launching or damage, has now been reduced from 6.5 seconds to 5.5 seconds.

Undercover Brella: The recovery time for broken brellas has been minimized from 4.5 seconds to 4.0 seconds.

REEF-LUX 450: The spread angle when fired without charging has been decreased by roughly 30%. The spread angle when fired while charged one level has been reduced by approximately 29%.

The specifications for certain special weapons have been updated. For the Killer Wail 5.1, if no target is available within its range, it will now automatically lock onto the last target in the area. Additionally, a display indicator and sound effect have been added to clearly indicate the locked-on target when firing the lasers.

The Zipcaster now allows for attaching closer to the ground compared to previous versions. The damage caused by the explosion from colliding with the ground has also been increased. Furthermore, the radius of this explosion has been expanded by approximately 50%.

Tacticooler: The cooldown time for the special gauge after placing a Tacticooler has been extended, now taking 10 seconds instead of 7.5 seconds.

Changes have been made to the specifications of certain gear abilities. Tenacity now enhances the speed at which the special gauge fills when the conditions are fulfilled.

The maximum impact of the ability increase, when the conditions are met, has been reduced from the equivalent of 2.4 primary abilities to 1.8 primary abilities. Additionally, secondary abilities now have an effect equivalent to 0.3 primary abilities.

Furthermore, the points required for certain special weapons have been adjusted. The points needed for acquiring N-ZAP '85 have been increased from 180 to 190.

When the calculations for X Power, Challenge Power, Anarchy Power, or Splatfest Power are finished, if the results surpass the maximum value for the initial calculated results, a slight portion of the excess value will be included in the final results.

In Challenges like Monthly Challenges or New Season Challenges where rankings are occasionally announced, battles will no longer result in a no contest if a player disconnects immediately after the battle begins, provided that either team consists of four members.

This modification aims to avoid wasting Challenge time on battles that end in no contest due to the opposing team disconnecting.

Changes to Salmon Run

Added a new weapon, Grizzco Dualies.

Made it so that different Grizzco weapons appear, even within the same shift, when a green ? mark is shown on the weapon.

Added items that can be exchanged for fish scales.

Changes to Splatfests

Made it possible to select different stages, even during the same time period, with Splatfest Battle (Open) and Splatfest Battle (Pro).

The addition of a new song for Splatfest Battles has been implemented. Furthermore, a modification has been made to ensure that the song playing in the lobby will automatically change after a specific period following the conclusion of the Splatfest. This altered song will be heard not only in the Splatsville and Inkopolis common areas, but also in the lobby, starting from the conclusion of the Splatfest until the announcement of the Splatfest results.

Added badges you can get based on the number of 10x Battles you participate in or win during Splatfests.

Changes to Tableturf Battle

Made it possible to sort cards by “Rarity.”

Changed the default sorting for Edit Deck and Test Placement to “Sort by Spaces.”

Changes to the Lobby

Now, receive instant notifications whenever your friend uploads a battle replay. Simply open the notification to effortlessly download the replay without the need for a code. Rest assured, these notifications are exclusively sent to your friends.

Modified: Implemented a feature that notifies friends and other players within the same Pool when a rare prize is obtained from the Shell-Out Machine.

Modified: Enabled the ability to utilize the Shell-Out Machine in a Private Battle room, provided that teams have not yet been formed.

Other Changes

Improved functionality to enable automatic reattempt of matchmaking when a communication error occurs, instead of suspending the process.

Added approximately 160 decorations and 140 stickers to Hotlantis.

Added approximately 80 Splashtag banners and 400 titles that you can get from the Shell-Out Machine, etc.

Improved functionality now allows players to initiate recon missions straight from the Stages screen in the main menu. With a specific emphasis on enhancing the gaming experience for the upcoming Drizzle Season in 2023 (set to commence in September), this update also includes necessary tweaks to ensure balanced battles.

We have introduced new primary weapons, enhanced certain special weapons, and made adjustments to various weapons and gear abilities for improved battle experiences.

Moreover, we have made improvements to our special weapons to enhance their usability. Specifically, we have enhanced the Zipcaster to facilitate its usage in close-quarter combat situations while it is active.

Our next update is planned for the middle of Drizzle Season 2023 and should primarily focus on balance adjustments.

Bug Fixes

Fixes to Player Controls

Fixed an issue that allowed players to climb unclimbable walls in rare cases when performing certain actions right after doing a Squid Roll off a wall.

Resolved the problem where the stored shot indicator would persist on other players' screens after a player entered an inkrail while holding a charge shot.

Addressed the issue where firing fully charged shots with the Snipewriter 5H at walls did not successfully ink the walls as intended.

The player movement from a dualie Dodge Roll was occasionally getting stuck at the junction of a grate and the ground.

When opening brellas while walking diagonally forward, they faced downwards more than the usual amount.

Resolved a bug where the durability of the Undercover Brella would occasionally not regenerate after defeating an enemy or aiding an ally in doing so.

Resolved a bug causing the position-indicator icon to disappear for the initial placement of an Ink Mine upon entering a stage.

Resolved an issue where if a player sent a Booyah! or This way! signal right after another player threw a clam or Golden Egg, it appeared as though the other player did not respond with the Booyah! or This way! pose on the thrower's screen.

Implemented adjustments to reduce the occurrence of an issue where pressing the ZR Button to fire a Trizooka shot sometimes resulted in it not firing the next shot if the button was quickly pressed.

Resolved a problem where, in certain instances, the firing of the Trizooka shot would not occur if the ZR Button was repeatedly pressed after the initial shot.

Addressed a glitch that resulted in the player respawning with a partially filled special gauge after being splatted immediately following the firing of their third Trizooka shot, even though the entire special weapon had been utilized.

Improved the player respawn mechanics by ensuring that the special gauge is not partially filled after using the third Triple Inkstrike shot.

Enhanced the performance by reducing the duration of the lock-on cursor when a player executes a Super Jump immediately after activating the Killer Wail 5.1 and targeting an enemy.

Addressed a problem where players couldn't zip to a nearby location despite the Zipcaster's sight indicating it as a viable target when aimed towards the ground.

Resolved an issue that caused players activating the Inkjet or Zipcaster near specific fences to be forcefully knocked off the stage upon returning to their initial position after the effect ended.

Resolved an issue where the weapon and gear an opponent was using would appear in unintended positions after being eliminated while employing the Zipcaster or attempting to activate the Ultra Signal.

Resolved a glitch that occasionally caused players to ascend when a fellow player initiated a Booyah Bomb nearby, enabling them to surpass obstacles of greater height than typically possible.

Fixes to Multiplayer

Improved the situation where ink rain would persist for a brief period following the conclusion of a battle under specific circumstances, particularly when the Ink Storm coincided with the battle's end.

The issue in the Clam Blitz mode causing clams and power clams to vanish before reaching the ground when dropped from a specific height has been resolved.

The unintentional ability for players to scale particular obstacles in Brinewater Springs has also been fixed.

Fixed a bug in Eeltail Alley where ink particles were able to penetrate specific walls if fired from the stage's outer perimeter while using weapons like the Inkjet.

Resolved a glitch in Mincemeat Metalworks that occasionally enabled projectiles to pass through the terrain when aimed at specific walls.

Fixed a bug in Hammerhead Bridge that allowed players to place Ink Mines on specific non-inkable surfaces.

Addressed a bug in Museum d’Alfonsino during Tower Control and Rainmaker modes that enabled players to ink the floor beneath certain boxes, resulting in increased special gauge and score points.

Improved the functionality of the Inkblot Art Academy in Rainmaker mode, ensuring that enemies positioned behind specific delicate walls no longer suffer damage when a Rainmaker shot is directed towards those walls.

Resolved a problem within Sturgeon Shipyard where players occasionally managed to deploy Ink Mines on specific floors that were not capable of being covered in ink.

Resolved an issue at Sturgeon Shipyard where certain walls were inaccessible for swimming, even after being covered in ink.

Addressed a problem at Wahoo World where players could unintentionally reach inaccessible areas without any surface to stand on while traversing the outer edge of the central high ground in swim form.

Addressed a problem in Wahoo World where players occasionally experienced movement restrictions when attempting to execute a Super Jump from atop the orange cones.

Resolved a situation in Brinewater Springs where players could inadvertently observe other players on specific floors through the glass of the display cases positioned beneath said floors.

Fixed an issue in Manta Maria where it was possible to get into unintended areas.

Fixed an issue in Barnacle & Dime where some boxes placed on the stage were not displaying on the Turf Map.

Fixed an issue in Humpback Pump Track where the appearance of certain walls did not change even when inked.

Fixes to Salmon Run

Resolved a problem where players occasionally got stuck in terrain if the explosive blast from a Reefslider overlapped with a Scrapper.

Addressed an issue where other players observed a defeated Scrapper seemingly sliding before it was actually defeated, when the player successfully defeated it with a single attack.

- Improved the alignment of Flipper-Flopper rings to prevent overlapping with the sea, resulting in easier ink retrieval.

- Resolved the problem of Maws getting stuck at specific locations in the water at Sockeye Station, ensuring their proper emergence.

Resolved a problem in Sockeye Station and Jammin' Salmon Junction where players would occasionally get stuck in the terrain after being pushed by a Flyfish emerging from specific locations.

Resolved an issue in Gone Fission Hydroplant where launched brellas from Tenta Brellas would sometimes vanish.

Resolved a problem in Jammin' Salmon Junction where Salmonids occasionally became trapped on walls during special Rush waves.

Addressed an issue in Jammin' Salmon Junction where Golden Eggs that appeared in specific locations would occasionally become concealed within walls.

Fixes to Splatfests

Fixed an issue where, when Keep Going was selected after winning a 100x Battle or 333x Battle, sometimes the stages did not change even when the scheduled update time arrived.

Other Fixes

Fixed an issue where selecting certain titles in certain languages caused the game to crash.

Improved title selection issue: Resolved the problem where simultaneously shuffling and selecting a title, followed by selecting a new title, occasionally resulted in the display of a different title.

Enhanced friend joining indication: Rectified the issue where, during ongoing Regular Battle gameplay, the selection screen for deciding whether to continue did not clearly indicate the presence of a waiting player.

The issue of pressing the L Button to open the menu while using a weapon in the lobby, Grizzco, or the Shoal, causing the player's controls and weapon-related animations to stop functioning properly, has been resolved.

In multiplayer Tableturf Battle, players were occasionally marked as inactive and disconnected when they opened their own deck's Card List after arranging a card's position and then waited for an extended period without making any further input. This issue has been fixed.

Players' nicknames will now properly change in Private Battles through the Shoal even with Use amiibo Username enabled, even if the player's current equipment aligns with the weapons and gear saved on the scanned amiibo. Splatoon 3 is exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch.