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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Splatoon

Splatoon is a third-person shooter video game franchise developed and published by Nintendo.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Splatoon is a Nintendo third-person shooter franchise set in a post-apocalyptic future. It centres on ink-based multiplayer battles and features squid-like characters called Inklings.

What it is

Splatoon is set in a far-future, post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by evolved marine life. The main playable characters are Inklings and Octolings, who can transform between humanoid and cephalopod forms.

Key details

The series is a third-person shooter built around ink weapons and territory control. Its core modes emphasise team-based online multiplayer, though single-player content is also included. The first game launched in 2015 for Wii U, with later entries Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 on Nintendo Switch.

Why it matters

Splatoon became one of Nintendo's major original intellectual properties from the Wii U era onward. It is recognised for combining competitive shooting mechanics with a colourful, family-friendly presentation.

In short

  • Nintendo-developed third-person shooter franchise.
  • Gameplay focuses on covering territory with coloured ink.
  • Best known for online team-based multiplayer matches.
  • Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth after human extinction.
Canadian angle

Nintendo's Splatoon games have been released in Canada on the same major console platforms as in other regions and are part of the Canadian video game market and Nintendo's Canadian player base.

Quick questions

What is Splatoon?
Splatoon is a Nintendo third-person shooter franchise centred on ink-based battles and online team play.
Who created Splatoon?
The franchise was created by Hisashi Nogami and Shintaro Sato.
What platform did Splatoon first release on?
The first game was released on the Wii U in 2015.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splatoon
    Supports: Series description, creators, genre, setting, platforms, release history
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splatoon_(video_game)
    Supports: Original game details, Wii U release, gameplay structure, sequel history
  3. Inkipedia — https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Splatoon
    Supports: Gameplay summary, original release date, multiplayer format
  4. Inkipedia — https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Splatoon_(series)
    Supports: Franchise overview and series classification