Fans of video game developers have a decent idea what they can expect going into any new year. Tentpole games like Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok, and Elden Ring are set to define 2022 (assuming there aren't delays), and Nintendo has a strong line-up announced for this year. Following hits like Monster Hunter Rise and Metroid Dread in 2021, there's a lot to suggest 2022 could be one of the Switch's strongest years yet thanks to games like Breath of the Wild 2 and Splatoon 3.
However, much of Nintendo's release schedule is vague. The early months are set with Pokemon Legends: Arceus on January 28, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope on March 24, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land on March 25. Third-party games such as Triangle Strategy will also fill its library, releasing March 4. From there less-defined release windows appear, like Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp in the spring, as well as Bayonetta 3 and Breath of the Wild 2 sticking by "2022" releases. Splatoon 3 is also without a defined release date, but it seems an obvious choice to fill Nintendo's summer schedule.
Splatoon's Release History
The summer and holiday seasons are, generally speaking, when developers aim to release games - particularly if they cater to younger audiences. This isn't always the case; many games also release around March given it marks the end of the fiscal year. Yet it's hard to argue with the sales potential of hit franchises debuting games when audiences are off from school and work, particularly leading into December's gift-giving holidays like Christmas and Hannukah.
For Nintendo, holiday games tend to be heavy hitters like Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda. With Legends: Arceus releasing in a few weeks, soon after Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in November 2021, it's hard to say whether The Pokemon Company will have another major title this holiday. Breath of the Wild 2 seems a more sensible choice for Nintendo's holiday blockbuster, likely announcing its release date during an early Nintendo Direct or the online-only E3 2022. While the first Breath of the Wild came out in March 2017 to coincide with the Switch, entries like Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword have historically dropped around November.
Meanwhile, the Splatoon franchise has a history of summer releases. The original game launched in May 2015, and Splatoon 2 hit shelves in July 2017. This isn't to say Splatoon 3 won't be a heavy hitter; Splatoon 2 was the ninth highest-grossing Switch game as of September 30, 2021, according to a Nintendo Investor Relations report. As a multiplayer-focused franchise with a punk attitude, it just makes sense to release in time for summer vacation.
Splatoon 3 as a Multiplayer Juggernaut
Many Nintendo franchises are single-player, from exploring in The Legend of Zelda and Metroid to platforming in Super Mario, Kirby, and Yoshi's Island. A multitude of them have come to include multiplayer modes, like Kirby and the Forgotten Land's co-op or battling friends in Fire Emblem, but only a few series center multiplayer. Spin-offs like Mario Party and Mario Kart, as well as Super Smash Bros. are the stand-out examples, but Nintendo hit it big with Splatoon in a way the Switch-era franchise ARMS did not.
Among the Switch-exclusive games scheduled for 2022, Splatoon 3 is the only dedicated multiplayer offering. Blockbuster single-player games like Breath of the Wild 2 or Bayonetta 3 make sense over the holidays, but Splatoon 3 has a lot more staying power if it releases this summer and updates throughout the rest of the year. This would also make up for the potential lack of a Super Mario spin-off, though rumors say a Nintendo crossover-focused Mario Kart may be in the works.
Splatoon 2 lasted a long time, with its "Octo Expansion" releasing in June 2018; almost a year after the base game. Though it is odd Nintendo decided to develop a second title in the multiplayer third-person shooter franchise for Switch when it could have expanded upon Splatoon 2 instead, precedent suggests the title will be another multiplayer juggernaut to keep its console alive. Summer 2022 looks to be the best time for a release, but fans will have to wait and see what Nintendo announces next.
Splatoon 3 is scheduled to release in 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.