Inking The Future: What We Could See In Splatoon 4 And Beyond

With Splatoon 3 nearing it's end, let's talk about where the series could go from here

#splatoon

[JangoMango]

In terms of the hub area. I do think an immersive shopping experience would be very novel to go through but i also think it sacrifices the snappy efficiency of going to check what’s available

[DreadclawDragodon]

Hear me out, Tony Hawk Pro Skater like Splatoon spinoff

[squiddler]

I don't think we could ever see fully custom kits even in a separate game mode, but I do think we could absolutely get a limited version of that for all game modes. Specifically a game that keeps the weapon kits we have now, but adds in the option to trade out your sub weapon for one on any alternate version of that main weapon. Essentially instead of only having 2 kits, you'd have 4 combinations where you can mix and match subs and specials as you see fit. If the game were kind enough to give us 3 kits, that'd be 9 combinations in total: way more than the 2 we're used to but still far from the 100+ combos that custom kits would come with.

Also I really really _really_ hope they make a spin-off that's entirely focused on salmon run/side order gameplay. Co-op PvE games like Deep Rock Galactic and Helldivers are more popular than they've ever been, and I could easily see splatoon being just as good if only something like that had the space to be it's own thing, rather than a sidemode in a PvP game. A splatoon rhythm game sounds sick too though

[ipromiseimtrying]

While i agree with some points of this, i genuinely can't like the idea of changing the hero mode campaign to online co-op. I think that could be a separate mode from the hero mode, because when i had first fot splatoon 2 - i didn't have Nintendo online and refused to pay for it. I had 100%ed the story mode twice before genuinely deciding to pay for online membership. I'm sorry but for me, I'm glad that Splatoon has an offline mode. It's so much more enjoyable for those who don't play with friends/solo queue a lot and it's just something cute. Even if it's a tutorial.

[keeganmcfarland]

God, I hope Nintendo doesn't milk the Splatoon franchise to death like how the other triple AAA companies are doing it, and I hope that the 4th Splatoon game will release around later 2020's for the next-gen Nintendo console.
I would love to see a Splatoon spin-off game (like a Splatoon fighting game or a Splatoon rpg/jrpg game for a example) in the future.
Other than that, since Splatoon 3 is the last Splatoon game of inklings vs octarians saga, I think Splatoon 4 will have a fresh and unique start with tropical/exotic environments, new species that's related to allies/heroes or foes/villains, more clothing options, playable idols (such as Squid Sisters, Off The Hook, and Deep Cut), new and original story mode that doesn't involve with octarians stealing the zapfish, new idols (boy and girl band), new and original maps, new side modes, customizable weapons, new splatfest-like events, glowy fingertips/toes and glowy hairtips, unique hairstyles for both inklings and Octolings (alongside with the new species), unique clothing based off from Splatoon manga/dolls, better online servers, darker tone, new and original enemies (including the main antagonist of Splatoon 4) that's alot more threatening and terrifying than octarians, Shifty Station-like stages during Splatfests, more story mode content, and last but not least, bring back the collaborations for Splatoon 4 (such as amiibo, anime/manga, indie/AA game franchise, and indie animation collaborations)!

[TheRidiculousR]

25 v 25 would be too much for the switch to handle, and even if the supposed switch 2 can handle it, it just sounds impractical.
also its probably down to RNG wether or not you win because that amount of players will have noobs and pros balance each other out most likely, i think 4 v 4 v 4 or 8 v 8 would be a better fit

[tammygardner]

I had a idea for a new competitive game mode where the players has a flying drone following them that puts them in a weakened state when splatted and holds them in place you gain points every certain amount of seconds that pass and the teammates can be revived by shooting the flying drone a certain amount each revive takes more ink and is resets on a team wipeout which team wipeout gives five points instantly having multiple teammates downed speeds up the rate at which points are gained

[insertnamehere]

also im gonna say it riht hre right now. the turf war maps arent bigger. they're actually smaller AND because of this they have less content. no cannons, no tornado, some oher things I forget. anyways thats why i hate big run

[Stephen-Fox]

I don't hate any of these ideas, but I do have some thoughts on some of them.

-Splatfests - I just want shifty stations back, man.
-50v50 mode - Nintendo's online solution for splatoon can barely handle 4v4 + 2 spectator slots at the moment. And while I'm hoping there are improvements in S4... I'm not anticipating 5x more stable, particularly if they keep to the peer to peer solution.
-Customization - The more I think about it, the more I want to see the gear system entirely divorced from the clothing system, which would allow for more customization slots since they'd then be freed from balance concerns. Jackets separate from shirts, unlockable pants, hat and masks at once, socks that aren't tied to shoes.
-Spinoffs - Fully agree that it's time for a Splatoon spinoff. I was expecting a Splatoon spinoff before S3 happened, even. The two spinoffs I think I'd most want to see happening are both single player focused; is a tactical shooter (think X-Com), which is probably what I'd give The Great Turf War theming to, and a survival shooter in which your ink slowly evaporates, as per the lore, enemies spawn in uninked areas, and you can expand your base by building some sort of energy field that prevents ink evaporation, and also craft gear. (...But, absolutely, a rhythm game would 100% suit Splatoon's vibe. As would a skateboarding game, be it Tony Hawk style or some sort of Jet Set Radio styled thing. With the extinct humanity I could even see a more platforming focused Splatoon game work of exploring human ruins in order to find... Stuff - Splatoon's movement mechanics are absolutely good enough for a full on platforming game to be built around them which we've only ever seen hinted at the potential of in the single player modes). I also wonder if Salmon Run is being held back by being a mode within Splatoon rather than its own game.

[qwacktrap]

Absolutely agree with your take on salmon run. More modes on that game mode would allow more variety. Especially the endless mode with an upgrade system akin to TF2’s MvM mode. Or bring back the scrapped game mode “Underground” where it prioritizes teamwork more with the harder bosses and the giant golden eggs that slows you down when you have it but gives you more than a normal egg.

[superlagbro]

Tableturfs so forgettable you forgot to mention it in this video lmao

[rogue_sorcerer]

Id like to see in the next game a group mechanic that allows you to join your friends in the hub area with most if, if not all, the facilities being accessible without loading screens. Shops could have a display where you can buy items by interacting with them or through the classic way by talking to the vendor. But the main part if this group mechanic is you can walk into table turf with your friends and play against each other by sitting at two ends if a table or easily join turfwar ranked or salmon run as a team by wandering in and activating the respective games notifying anyone in the group that a game is being started and allowing players to opt in and join them or stay in the hub.

I think being able to interact in this way would be immensely fun and immersive and for anyone who cant play with friends for whatever reason players will default into a non-grouped hub which acts the same as they do now or they can join a random public hub and interact with strangers.

[WhatTheyShouldDo]

I'm in the same boat as you in thinking we'll see a Splatoon spinoff that plays like Hi-Fi Rush, it would be amazing!
Great video!

[spookeih]

With the significant power increase the next system could bring, im confident the gameplay could change a lot (ink can have more accurate physics: I hate it when bombs explode on one side of a wall, yet, still splashes ink on the other side) and all specials could be entirely new. It was pretty obvious Splatoon 3 was developed just to keep the switch momentum going.

[Nightvampirefear]

I'd be interested to see if they do a neat lil crossover with something.
I'm not sure what, but that could be fun to see again!

[Inkovert]

1:50 this but with each win would be SO good

[iridophorium]

What about... Racing game? Not with cars, but using the ink movement mechanics. Also the mechanics where you use a weapon to ink the ground, to go faster when you turn into swimform. It would be a bit more parkour-y, also strafing and normal moving speed would be increased, to make the game feel snappy. And other peoples ink slows you down, and you can't submerge in it like (like in the real game).

You could add like... Inksoles. (If you didn't like that pun then don't read further, there are lots more...)
Like, customizing what goes under your shoes (taking up a separete slot than normal shoe gear) and they have different effects depending on what they are. Examples:

- Slopsicles: Inspired by ice skates. Makes enemy ink into a solid you can skate on for a set amount of time/distance until they need to recharge, meaning you have like a buffer where you keep you normal humanoid movement speed for a bit in enemy ink. (Name: Slop + popsicle, also the blades underneath can be likened to sickles?)

- Eelys: Inspired by heelys. You can like... hm. Heelies are hidden, so maybe they have some kind of effect where your ink becomes harder to spot? Or if you take "being on someones heels" you have a better slipstream like in mario kart? (Name: Eel + heelys. They would be Frye's favorites)

- Bubblades: Inspired by rollerblades. They just go a bit faster, but maybe don't do corners as tight or get more knockback when the player gets bumped. (Name: Bubble + blades, this gives me the visual of the wheels being bubbles, which is silly, so I like it.)

- Briskates: Inspired by rollerskates. They can be the opposite of rollerblades, being good at corners and good at resisting knockback. Or they're better at tricks or something? idk. (Name: Brisk + (roller)skate, I wanted to fit a pun about skates the fish in there but couldn't manage it.)

- Shotsprings: Inspired by jumping shoes. We gotta have silly jumping shoes. They have a higher jump, which makes some parkour-y shortcuts easier and faster. (Name: shot + hot springs + [bouncy] spring)

- Somersilts: Inspired by stilt shoes. Idk... longer jumps? A dash, like dualies? You can do lots of cool flips easier? (Name: somersault + silt + stilts, not my best pun work, I admit)

- Wetskis: Inspired by ski's. uh.... they get extra boosts in downhill or when falling. (Name: Wet + jet ski + skis)

- Crab-ons: Inspired by crampons. They're probably slow, but boost your climbing speed in ink and get a extra boost when going up a ramp, meaning you jump farther too. (Name: Crab + grab on + crampon)

So yeah, you get Inksoles, then you get to have a main weapon and a sub. But the specials can be like in mario kart, where you need to run into a item box (can with a question mark on it) and then you get a random special to use. I am debating whether to put rocket shoes as a special or as a kind of Inksole.


(Gosh, I was going to do other things but ended up brainstorming this... Well, I guess all the brain animations of cool parkour I imagined inklings/octolings doing while listening to music had to get out somehow, haha...)

[KNGDDDE]

I actually really like the idea of custom kits. It's better than having blaster and cooler being spammed for yrs.

[Churro_EYT]

I don't necessarily think that the devs don't want to include more modes for casuals. I believe that there main focus is to not split the player base any more than it needs to be.

By default, in matchmaking terms, the multiplayer player base is split between Regular battle, Anarchy Series, Anarchy Open, X Battle, and Salmon Run. This gets split even more when Challenges and Eggstra Work are available.

I'm not saying that all these modes are split evenly. That's far from the truth. Modes like Anarchy Series, X Battle, and Salmon Run are split even further do to ranks and power having an effects on the matchmaking.

Introducing even more modes would split a declining over time player base even more, giving us dead playlists by the end game of that particular Splatoon game. A perfect example of this is Splatoon 2's ranked modes and Salmon Run. At around the middle lower ranks it's almost impossible to find a game. Your only hope is to stay at C, S or Professional. If you are neither of those ranks, it's going to take you a long time to find a match

Unless a change is made where by the end of a game's lifecycle all playlists are able to match with anyone, no matter their rank or power level to keep that playlist alive, then this problem will continue to occur

You can actually see the effects of this theory yourself with Pretendo. If you play Splatoon 1 on it, anybody from any rank and power can matchmake with each other on Rank and Squad battles. Every playlist in that game is thriving because of it.

It's something that I wish was incorporated into Splatoon 2. The game seems dead because there are numerous players from numerous ranks and power levels that the matchmaking simply doesn't let them play together. Which is fine for a populated game, but when the game doesn't have that many players in it, it pretty much creates dead playlists

But if you lift these restrictions, I guarantee you, you'll find a game on every game mode with ease

[bluemario]

What if instead of a game being set fully in the past/future it has time travel to past/ future respectively