Splatoon is a third- person shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, which was released worldwide in May 2015. The game centers around characters known as Inklings—beings that can transform between humanoid and squid forms, and hide or swim through colored ink sprayed on surfaces using gun, bucket, or brush -based weaponry. Splatoon features several game modes, including 4-on-4 online multiplayer, and a single player campaign.
Splatoon was developed by Nintendo 's Entertainment Analysis & Development division, and originated from having a competitive multiplayer ink -based territory control game, which was later expanded to include squids and the ability to swim through the ink. The concept was created by lead programmer Shintaro Sato, who had previously worked on titles in the Animal Crossing franchise. The development team for Splatoon was generally composed of younger Nintendo employees compared to other titles by the company.
Splatoon received positive reviews upon its unveiling and release, with critics praising Nintendo 's decision to enter the genre with a new franchise, the game's overall style and presentation, gameplay mechanics, and its soundtrack. Criticism was directed at the exclusion of voice chat and private lobbies, the small number of multiplayer maps at launch, and issues with online matchmaking. Nintendo provided extensive post-release support for the game by adding new maps and weapons to the game, adding a feature to allow users to create private lobbies and holding time -limited events called "Splatfests". Splatoon was awarded and nominated for several year-end accolades from several gaming publications.
