Tricolor Turf War, the newest mode added to ink-based shooter Splatoon 3, shakes up the old Turf War model by adding a third team into the mix. This mode will feature prominently in Splatfests, special events which pit themed teams against each other. Deep Cut, a new three-member idol group introduced in Splatoon 3, will serve as the hosts of these three-way battles, and with the demo Splatfest behind them, fans have already begun to speculate about possible themes for upcoming Tricolor Turf Wars.
Splatfests in Splatoon and Splatoon 2 had two teams competing, and it was likely not difficult to come up with a plethora of themes. Past events included Cats vs. Dogs, SpongeBob vs. Patrick, Trick vs. Treat, and Time Travel vs. Teleportation. However, coming up with groups of three related items may be more difficult. The first Tricolor Turf War event pitted Team Rock against Team Paper and Team Scissors, but it remains to be seen what other three-way themes will show up in the future. Nintendo could take this opportunity to reference other games, bring back old Splatfest themes with a third factor added in, or come up with something entirely new.
Mario vs. Luigi vs. Peach
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A previous Splatfest held to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario franchise pitted the size-shifting Super Mushroom against the invincibility-granting Super Star, with Team Mushroom claiming victory. A Tricolor Turf War would provide the perfect opportunity for the iconic plumber to return - this time facing off against his brother Luigi and a third character such as Princess Peach. While Peach is the obvious choice to lead the third team, other characters such as Yoshi, Princess Daisy, Rosalina, or even Donkey Kong.
Alternately, a Tricolor Turf War event could be held focusing on the villains of the Super Mario series. Bowser could face off against Wario and Waluigi, or Bowser Jr. could attempt to take on his father. Multiple Nintendo properties could even see representation in a three-way Splatfest that pits iconic villains against one another, such as Kirby's King Dedede or Donkey Kong's King K. Rool. A villain-themed Splatfest could be used to celebrate Halloween or introduce new clothing or weapons featuring a dark aesthetic.
Edelgard vs. Dimitri vs. Claude
Fans of Splatoon took one look at the red, yellow, and blue coloration of the first Tricolor Turf War and immediately drew connections to Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude, the leaders of the titular houses in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Edelgard leads the red-colored Black Eagles, while Dimitri heads up the Blue Lions and Claude represents the Golden Deer. Each house represents a different area of Fodlan and features a unique cast of characters. In Three Houses, players must choose which house to side with as Fodlan enters war.
Fire Emblem is a property that has not yet been represented in any Splatfests, so using the house leaders as a theme would be a unique opportunity opened up by Tricolor Turf Wars. A Splatfest featuring Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude could also serve to promote Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, a musou-style spin-off of Three Houses that released earlier in 2022.
Tea vs. Coffee vs. Soda
Food has been a common theme in Splatfests, with past offerings including Rice vs. Bread, Pancakes vs. Waffles, and Pineapple vs. No Pineapple. The new Tricolor Turf War format could easily be used to settle an enduring debate on caffinated drinks. Unlike the first Tricolor Turf War, where Team Rock scored a decisive victory in all regions, this Splatfest could easily see different regional results - Team Tea would likely have an advantage in Asia, Team Coffee in Europe, and Team Soda would stand the best chance in the Americas. Nintendo could even use this opportunity to pair with a sponsor - Deep Cut's Big Man would make an excellent star in a Coca-Cola advertisement.
Alternately, Splatoon 3's Tricolor Turf Wars could feature the return of previous Splatfest themes with a third team added. For example, Pancakes vs. Waffles could become Pancakes vs. Waffles vs. French Toast, while Ketchup vs. Mayo could add Mustard to the mix. They could even pit previous Splatfest hosts against each other, with the Squid Sisters taking on Off the Hook and Deep Cut in a three-way battle. While there were balance issues discovered during the first Splatfest, future Tricolor Turf Wars could become more competitive battles where each team gives it their all.
Splatoon 3 will release on September 9, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.