Update from the Squid Research Lab: Introducing some changes to Splatfest rules in Splatoon 2!

All right, listen up, everybody! Our devoted team of squid researchers have been busy investigating the recent Ver 4.0 update for Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch, and they’ve uncovered some interesting new details on how Splatfests will work going forward.

The changes are actually quite significant, so buckle up and pay attention! Two new modes, Normal and Pro, have replaced the previous Solo and Friends modes.

Normal mode

In Normal mode, you can jump into a normal Splatfest Battle on your own, or join up with one to three friends from the same Splatfest team. If you join a match as a group of two or three, random solo players will be matched up to make a group of four.

In this mode, the amount of turf you ink is added to any win bonus you get to determine your Clout. If your team is on a win streak, the game will try to match you against teams in a similar vein of form.

Moreover, when weapons, gear, or general styles of four players in your team meet certain conditions, a nickname and a matching bonus will be given to your team.

Pro mode

Pro mode is for those who want to go solo and push themselves to the limit. In Pro mode, you're judged on your Splatfest Power. Raise it high enough and you could make it into the Splatfest Top 100! In this mode, you increase your Clout by beating the opposing team. You get more Clout for beating teams with a higher Splatfest Power.

Rare battles

Whether you’re playing Normal or Pro, you may be lucky enough to join a rare 10x Battle. If you win one of these matches, your contribution points will be multiplied by 10! And believe it or not, there’s a rumour that a super rare 100x Battle could also occur!

The winners of 10x Battles and 100x Battles may even appear on the big screen in Inkopolis Square, and team nicknames can show up in Normal mode, too. Just think of the bragging rights!

The final Splatfest results are decided based on three factors: votes, Clout from Normal mode players, and clout from Pro mode players.

Even if your side loses the popularity contest, Normal and Pro mode victories can slowly but surely turn the tables! Of course, participants on the winning side will receive slightly more Super Sea Snails as a reward for their victory!

When can I try it for myself?

The next Splatfest kicks off at 15:00 (UK time) on Saturday, 22nd September, and this time it’s all about Retro vs. Modern! Do you prefer things that are old-school cool or hip-and-happening? Are you all about that retro life or do you crave the sleekness of modernity?

Pick a side and you’ll be able to battle it out with the new rules this weekend! Good luck!

The world of Splatoon 2 continues to evolve, so don’t miss out! You can join the Splatoon community on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest, or follow us on Twitter @NintendoUKVS.

Splatoon 2 is available in stores and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch now.