The New Maps In Splatoon 3: What Maps Must Be In & What Maps We Need

As spotted by Axios reporter Stephen Totilo earlier this week, Nintendo has filed a new patent relating to mini maps in their games. The aim of the patent is to drastically improve mini maps for players to navigate arenas, and when considering mini-maps and Nintendo’s immediate schedule for the rest of 2022, it’s hard to not think of Splatoon 3.

Splatoon 3 could feature better maps with this new patent

The chaotic paint-splattering shooter has players navigating all sorts of colorful arenas, often with a mini-map to guide themselves. Taking into account Nintendo’s new patent filing, it’s incredibly easy to see the new approach to mini maps being used to navigate maps applied to Splatoon 3, which is due to launch at some point later this year in Summer 2022.

As for the patent filing itself though, the text reveals that the “mini-map approach aims to make it easier for players to understand not just their own position, but the position of helpful items and other areas of import on the map.” The patent reads that cameras will shift “dynamically” in response to “moment-to-moment action,” pointing to a more responsive camera system for players.

Like with all patents though, there’s no guarantee anything concrete will actually come of this new filing. Nintendo might have filed for the new approach to maps and cameras, but that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically implement it in any future games. Whether this patent does actually end up taking effect in Splatoon 3, or any future Nintendo games, we’ll have to wait and see.

The ONE MAP that MUST be in Splatoon 3

One of the fundamental parts of a Splatoon game are the maps that the players play on together. The quality of the maps is directly correlated to the amount of fun that players have in the game. Now there have been Splatoon 1 maps and Splatoon 2 maps of all shapes and sizes in the Splatoon series with some being absolutely excellent while others are…interesting. Today, we’ll be briefly looking at what makes a great map and using that outline to pick one Splatoon map that must be the highest priority of the devs of being ported into Splatoon 3.

If this map is in Splatoon 3 alongside the other maps which hopefully have the same formula, then Splatoon 3 will be a truly spectacular game. What do you think is necessary for a Splatoon map to be good?

Splatoon: Maps We Need In Splatoon 3

Ruins Of Ark Polaris – Salmon Run

So far it is unclear as to whether previous maps in Salmon Run will make an appearance, or get a redesign. Hopefully, they will as all the stages are fun and have challenging elements.

Possibly the best map is Ruins of Ark Polaris – featuring posters warning of bears in the area and a giant crashed spaceship in the background. In terms of gameplay, this stage has large ink rails that can easily transport Inklings, along with multiple mesh grates and different levels to pick Salmonids off from.

Moray Towers – Splatoon & Splatoon 2

Moray Towers is a fun map – it inconveniences players right off the bat as spawns are set high up on a parking garage-like structure, and have a winding path down to the main area. However, if players choose rollers or bucket weapons, this will be easy to cover in ink.

As this fan-favorite stage has been featured in both games so far, it stands to reason that it will return again, possibly with some more minor changes as it had between the two; a larger ‘battle’ area and some ink rails being added.

Shifty Stations – Splatoon 2’s SplatFests

Splatoon 2 introduced Shifty Stations to its roster of SplatFest stages, and they were something to behold. Each stage had a unique twist, taken from the single-player mode – like moving platforms, cannons, or rollers that can be shot away.

Bringing these back to the new game would be amazing, even if just for special events. Specifically, The Bunker Games and Bridge to Tentaswitchia, which feature a dome that entraps Inklings inside, and a long strip of inkable turf that gets closed off after a certain period of time respectively.

New Nintendo Patent Seems to Hint at Mini-Map Improvements in Splatoon 3

A recent Nintendo patent talks about various improvements to in-game mini-maps, making several overt references to Splatoon.

Details on Splatoon 3 have been scant for some time, but with the game still expected to launch sometime this year, there’s obviously plenty of hunger for new information. Interestingly, some of that seems to have emerged courtesy of a recent Nintendo patent, spotted by Axios’ Stephen Totilo on Twitter.

The patent is focused on improvements made to in-game mini-maps, mostly centered around dynamically shifting camera perspectives based on how a match is progressing, and highlighting not only the player but also useful items or areas in the vicinity.

Splatoon isn’t mentioned by name anywhere in the patent, but the mini-map functionality and UI described matches Splatoon 3 very closely, while as Nintendo Life pointed out, there are also references to “ink” and “paint” in there. In all likelihood, these are changes that Nintendo has at least considered making in Splatoon 3, though as is always the case with patents, there’s no guarantee that this will definitely materialize.

Interestingly, in December of last year, another batch of patents filed by Nintendo revealed potential gameplay details on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s sequel.

Splatoon 3 has a Summer 2022 launch window, but given the lack of updates from Nintendo, there are some question marks over whether it will be able to hit that target- especially with the Switch now having another major Summer exclusive release with Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

The Features of The New Maps In Splatoon 3

The first new map shown off in the game is Eeltail alley, this map takes place inside the center of splatsville, the new location of Splatoon 3. The post from Nintendo states that the map has become a hangout spot for the inklings, and with turf war being their main source of entertainment outside, players will be able to take on one another inside this hangout spot. The stage is divided into three levels, which can open up for some interesting tactics with a massive footbridge going over the whole stage, this singular spot is going to provide a chokepoint for players wanting to take control of the area.

The second stage mentioned in the game is a returning map from the first title, Museum d’Alfonsio. This map’s main gimmick was its 5 rotating platforms blocking player’s line of sight as they spun around. This map was considered to be a favorite among fans for its interesting flow and unique setting. Player’s will be able to revisit the map now in Splatoon 3.

Is Splatoon 3 Still coming out?

Good news, Inklings – Splatoon 3 finally has an official release date! It was announced on April 22nd that Splatoon 3 will be released on September 9th, 2022.

What city is Splatoon 3 in?

Splatoon 3 takes place about one and a half years after the events of the Splatocalypse, in a city named Splatsville (also known as the “city of chaos”), stationed within a region called the Splatlands. It is located far away from Inkopolis, the main setting of the first two games in the Splatoon series.

Is Splatoon 3 a real game?

Splatoon 3 is an upcoming third-person shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. Like its predecessors in the Splatoon series, the game consists of competitive online multiplayer matches alongside a story-driven single-player mode.

Is Splatoon 3 Confirmed?

There will be at least two new movement mechanic additions and one new weapon. The weapon will be a bow that shoots out ink strings, while the movements confirmed so far are squid surge and squid roll – both look like they will come in handy.