Splatoon 3: Unveiling the Long-Awaited Side Order DLC - Get Ready for an Epic Surprise!

The Splatoon 3 Sizzle Season began earlier this month, bringing players new stages, gear, and weapons. Additionally, a new Splatfest has been announced for July 14-16, centered around the debate of the best ice cream flavor: vanilla, strawberry, or mint chip. While it's exciting to see this new content being released, there has been a lack of information regarding one of the game's major post-launch updates, the Side Order story DLC.

The Side Order DLC was revealed during the February Nintendo Direct as part of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass, which consists of two waves of content. The first wave, Inkopolis, was launched later in February and added the iconic Inkopolis hub world from the previous Splatoon games, along with returning shops and a performance by the Squid Sisters during Splatfests. However, since the release of this first wave, there has been little news or updates about Side Order, leading to speculation that this second wave of DLC may still be far from its release.

The Latest Nintendo Direct Was the Perfect Chance to Showcase the Side Order DLC

If the Side Order DLC was originally planned for a later release this year, then the recent Nintendo Direct would have presented the ideal opportunity to showcase it. Interestingly, Splatoon 3 already had a dedicated segment in the Direct, announcing the July Splatfest. This was unusual, as most Splatfests are typically announced on Twitter. The amount of attention given to Splatoon 3 for an announcement that would usually warrant just a Twitter post seems like a missed chance for a more significant Splatoon 3 reveal, such as a new trailer or even the release date for Side Order.

The post-launch story expansion, Side Order, is highly anticipated by many Splatoon 3 fans, particularly because it appears to focus on Splatoon 2's idol duo, Off the Hook. The absence of this group in Splatoon 3's single-player campaign, where both Splatoon 1's Squid Sisters and Splatoon 3's Deep Cut played prominent story roles, is noteworthy. Side Order seems to aim to continue the narrative from the final Chaos versus Order Splatfest in Splatoon 2, which ended with a victory for Team Chaos. This aspect of the series has yet to come into play in Splatoon 3's story, but it holds significant implications for future Splatoon titles.

Splatoon 2 fans loved the Octo Expansion's post-launch story content, which introduced a new single-player campaign with its own missions. Unlike Side Order, the Octo Expansion had a shorter gap between its announcement and release. It was announced in March 2018 during a Nintendo Direct and launched just a few months later in June 2018. Side Order, on the other hand, has taken longer, suggesting that it might be a much larger DLC than initially anticipated.

The retail listing on the Nintendo eShop mentions that Side Order will be released by December 31, 2024. While this date is likely a placeholder, the fact that it states 2024 instead of 2023 might mean that Nintendo plans to release the second wave of the Splatoon 3 expansion next year. If this is true, it would be an unusual timeline for a DLC to have, with almost a year passing between announcement and launch. This longer timeline could explain why Side Order was not featured in the recent Nintendo Direct and why there has been limited information about the DLC since its announcement. However, this news could be disappointing for fans eagerly awaiting more Splatoon 3 story content.

Splatoon 3 is available for Nintendo Switch.