Continuing Nintendo’s commitment to the game even after the so-called “Final Splatfest,” Splatoon 3 released another update on March 18, 2026. Nintendo’s third-person (mostly) online shooter has been going strong on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2 since its release on September 9, 2022. As Splatoon 3 has continued to receive updates over the years, it’s nice to see Nintendo’s commitment to keeping it going even after the initial post-release hype died down.
While it’s not unusual for a primarily online game like Splatoon 3 to continue to receive patches for bug fixes and balance adjustments, the game has also received some neat quality-of-life updates and even brand new mechanics like the “Flow Aura” long after its big online “finale” in the Grand Festival back in September 2024. While the new Version 11.1.0 mostly consists of balance tweaks and bug fixes, it’s always nice to see developers continue to pay attention to the player experience.
6 Things Confirmed for Splatoon Raiders
Here’s everything we know so far about the upcomng Splatoon spinoff for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Splatoon 3’s Version 11.1.0 Update Brings Some Much-Needed Matchmaking Changes
Along with some weapon updates to make the game more fair, the biggest surprise of Splatoon 3 Version 11.1.0 are the updates to the X Battle ranked mode for high-level play. To make sure X Battle players aren’t put into unfair match-ups, the game will now base matchmaking on the following criteria:
Splatoon 3 Version 11.1.0 X Battle Updates
- Matchmaking will no longer be done based on current X Power, but will pair players based whose X Power will “likely become similar after accumulating matches”
- If matchmaking takes too long, the system will start loosening what it considers a “similar level of ability,” but criteria has also been tweaked to make sure that both teams will have a “symmetrical” skill level – even in low-activity time zones or regions
- Players in the Tentatek Division (North America, South America, or Europe) with lower than 2000.0 X Power may be matched with Tentatek players with 2000.0 X Power or more
- Matchmaking will now take weapon ranges into account rather than just weapon categories
It’s great to see some matchmaking tweaks since skill disparity has been an issue since Splatoon 3 launched. Many fans had given up on match-ups being fixed this late into the game’s life, assuming that they’d have to wait until a hypothetical Splatoon 4. Getting anywhere in X Battles still won’t be easy, but at least it will be a little more fair.
Splatoon 3 Version 11.1.0 Buffed Many Main Weapons
A number of weapons were also tweaked in Version 11.1.0. All but one of them were buffs, thankfully. From lessened ink consumption to faster movement to damage increases, a lot of players will be happy with their updated weapons.
The dreaded Ultra Stamp special weapon has been nerfed: its damage radius has been decreased by about 10%. 16 main weapons have also had the point requirement to activate their special weapons changed. Only 3 of them, the Splattershot, Hero Shot Replica, and Order Shot Replica, have had the requirement decreased. While they went from 210 to 200 points, the other 13 main weapons have had their requirements increased by 10 points.
Splatoon 3 has definitely had its fair share of balance problems, from the “hallways” of so many stages favoring long-range weapons and poor multiplayer matchmaking sometimes making rank-ups more of a coin flip. But for those who’ve made it to X Battles or even players who put the game down a long time ago, these new changes are great motivations to get splatting again. And considering the lack of news on Splatoon Raiders since its announcement, going back to Splatoon 3 will be a welcome distraction during the wait.
Splatoon 3 Version 11.1.0 Patch Notes
Changes to Multiplayer
- Specifications for some main weapons have changed.
|
Weapon |
Change Details |
|---|---|
|
Splattershot Nova Annaki Splattershot Nova |
|
|
Flingza Roller Foil Flingza Roller |
|
|
Octobrush Octobrush Nouveau Cometz Octobrush Orderbrush Replica |
|
|
Bamboozler 14 Mk I Bamboozler 14 Mk II |
|
|
Bloblobber Bloblobber Deco |
|
|
Douser Dualies FF Custom Douser Dualies FF |
|
|
Tenta Brella Tenta Sorella Brella Tenta Brella CRE-M |
|
|
Dynamo Roller Gold Dynamo Roller Starz Dynamo Roller |
|
- Specifications for some special weapons have changed.
|
Special Weapon |
Change Details |
|---|---|
|
Ultra Stamp |
|
- Points required for some special weapons have been changed.
|
Weapon |
Before |
After |
|---|---|---|
|
Splattershot Hero Shot Replica Order Shot Replica |
210 |
200 |
|
Sploosh-o-matic |
180 |
190 |
|
Splash-o-matic |
200 |
210 |
|
Luna Blaster Neo |
180 |
190 |
|
Blaster |
180 |
190 |
|
Custom Blaster |
180 |
190 |
|
Rapid Blaster Pro Deco |
190 |
200 |
|
Dynamo Roller |
190 |
200 |
|
Inkbrush Nouveau |
180 |
190 |
|
Heavy Splatling Order Splatling Replica |
200 |
210 |
|
Dapple Dualies |
170 |
180 |
|
Splat Dualies Order Dualie Replicas |
190 |
200 |
Changes to X Battles
- Changed the system for matchmaking so that, rather than having players with similar X Power at that time battle each other, now players whose final X Power will likely become similar after accumulating matches will be paired for battles.
- Changed the systems for matchmaking and team division to make it less likely to result in skill disparity between teams, even in time zones or regions where there are not many players.
- In the Tentatek Division, players with X Power less than 2000.0 and players with X Power of 2000.0 or higher may now be matched together.
- Changed the matchmaking system to allow battles against more different weapons than before.
- Released
-
September 9, 2022
- ESRB
-
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
