Nintendo has announced the release date forSplatoon 3’s upcoming Wave 1 DLC release, the first part of its recently-revealed Expansion Pass. Excitement surrounding the release ofSplatoon 3in September 2022 has yet to wane, as inklings and octolings alike continue to battle for turf. Much like withSplatoon 2, Nintendo plans to encourage continued support ofSplatoon 3through post-launch content. And it’s arriving sooner than manySplatoonfans may have expected.
UnlikeSplatoon 2, which delivered itspremium post-launch content via the Octo Expansion,Splatoon 3is trying out the now industry standard Expansion Pass. Announced recently,Splatoon 3’s Expansion Pass will be delivered in two different waves. Wave 1 of the Expansion Pass is named Inkopolis and Wave 2 is named Side Order. The full Expansion Pass costs $24.99 and there’s currently no option to order the individual waves separately.
RELATED:Splatoon 3’s C-Side Track ‘Clickbait’ Gets Behind-the-Scenes Video
Inkopolis will be arriving inSplatoon 3surprisingly soon. Nintendo has announced on Twitter thatSplatoon 3players will be able to visit the classicSplatoon 3location starting on February 28. Considering theSplatoon 3Expansion Passwas announced just one week ago, a release date for Wave 1 before the end of the month is a very impressive turnaround.
Wave 1 of theSplatoon 3Expansion Pass focuses heavily on the introduction of a new visitable social location. Players can travel from theSplatoon 3home city of Splatsville back to the originalSplatooncity Inkopolis. All the weapons and gear players are familiar with in Splatsville will also be found in Inkopolis, so there’s no reason not to visit the new city. As a special bonus,Squid Sisters Callie and Mariewill also do performances in Inkopolis whenever there’s a Splatfest going on.
While manySplatoon 3players were hoping for a more substantial combat or story-focused DLC in the Expansion Pass, it’s important to remember this is just Wave 1. Nintendo decided that releasing Inkopolis sooner rather than later would be preferable to holding it back until theSplatoon 3Side Order DLCis ready. No release window has been confirmed for Side Order yet, but the hope is that it’ll arrive this summer or fall at the latest.
Splatoon 3players should also take note that the current catalog,Splatoon 3’s version of a battle pass, is expected to end right around when Inkopolis will be arriving. Those wanting to earn any remaining Chill Season 2022 catalog items should make sure to do so before Inkopolis arrives. A new spring catalog should arrive along with the DLC.
Splatoon 3is available now on Nintendo Switch.
MORE:What Splatoon 3’s Big DLC Could Do to Shake Up The Post-Launch Era of The Game
