The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire will give Nintendo Switch owners six chances to play with other owners worldwide during the three-day event.

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The data is in and we can announce our confirmed findings. People who buy the Nintendo Switch system will not only get access to a remarkable new video game system, but they’ll also be able to participate in a special Splatoon 2 preview... Owners with internet access can download a demo version of the Splatoon 2 game that will allow them to battle against opponents around the world in the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire event. It’s a way for everyone to investigate the latest in cephalopod warfare months before the game launches!

In addition to the Testfire event, Nintendo squid expert and Splatoon 2 producer Hisashi Nogami also confirmed a new way for players to follow the action when the game launches later in the year – a mode that will give players a unique insight into squid behaviors and strategy called Private Battle Spectator View. This breakthrough in squid-observation technology will allow up to two non-players to participate in a Private Battle as camera operators to observe all the action from multiple angles*. Incredible! In addition to this, a new feature called LAN Play will be added to Splatoon 2, allowing up to 10 docked systems – eight players and two spectators – to connect via wired LAN. This feature allows players to create local Private Battle tournaments without the need for an internet connection. Local wireless play is perfect for your regular gaming get-togethers, but LAN Play is where it’s at when you want to organize a serious tournament event with your fellow players.

“Two years have passed in this universe since the original Splatoon, and since then, the weapons, maps and characters have evolved. Through the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire event this March, players will be able to get a taste of that. There will be more new features to experience in Splatoon 2, so please look forward to more reveals in the future,” noted Mr. Nogami.

The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire will give Nintendo Switch owners six chances to play with other owners worldwide during the three-day event. The timing of the event is as follows:

March 24

• 12-12:59 p.m. PT / 3-3:59 p.m. ET
• 8-8:59 p.m. PT / 11-11:59 p.m. ET

March 25

• 4-4:59 a.m. PT / 7-7:59 a.m. ET
• 12-12:59 p.m. PT / 3-3:59 p.m. ET
• 8-8:59 p.m. PT / 11-11:59 p.m. ET

March 26

• 4-4:59 a.m. PT / 7-7:59 a.m. ET

All indications are that the content for the Global Testfire will allow players to test four different main weapons, including the new Splat Dualies, as well as remixed versions of the iconic Splat Roller and Splat Charger. Extraordinary!

We look forward to sharing additional findings soon, such as when the demo will be available for download in Nintendo eShop.

We’re also happy to report that Splatoon 2 will be compatible with Splatoon series amiibo figures and, for the first time in the series, with an upcoming Nintendo Switch app for smart devices that enhances online play. This app will connect to the game and allow players to set play appointments with friends and teammates who have been added to their Nintendo Switch friend list or via their social media accounts. It also allows players to match up with those friends directly in the game or voice chat with them via their smart device. For example, during a Private Battle, players can voice chat with all of their connected friends when they divide into teams, but once teams are set, voice chat is switched to communication only between teammates on the same team.

In order to use this app, players need to link their Nintendo Account to their Nintendo Switch system and have a smart device capable of in-game voice chat. Online features will require a paid subscription. Data fees may apply. More details will be announced at a later date.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

I don't find so tho. I'm Always in the top 3 without using gyro so.
I understand people using it but it's not a thing for me personally

Fair enough.

In terms of accuracy, it's normally gyro > motion > analogue sticks. The king of all is the K/M combo.

 

[Haymose]

There really should be a one player tutorial in these kinds of things. "Online beta" type stuff with no tutorial or practice modes is bad, how is someone supposed to learn how to play?

Unless you can specfically play with other friends that aren't gonna try to kill you all the time, is not easy to learn the game. This is why playing games with complete strangers is not always fun. I wish they could maybe try to do something considerable about this kind of thing.

Splatoon had a short tutorial before you could get into the Plaza to start any game. I doubt this will be any different.

Oh sweet, I can play a beta of a game for a whole HOUR! Dude that sounds awesome

Just more proof Nintendo has no idea what they are doing.

Ya when it comes to online shooters, they really don't. Thats why its an hour, adjustments are made, then another hour to test again. First test fire ever for Splatoon was a lot of disconnects and such. They are really testing the online functionality of the game.

I'm really excited for this. I've put a lot of time into Splatoon.

 

[Pluupy]

The wireless/wired LAN play without the need for an internet connection was a very pleasant surprise. I'd welcome the return of LAN parties, and they would be far easier to set up with portable consoles.

The return of LAN parties? Implying people don't do them anymore?
Maybe not with consoles.

 

[Vipera]

Hopefully it becomes a big hit esport-wise. I'm tired of hearing only from SSB games.

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[Hells Malice]

Hopefully it becomes a big hit esport-wise. I'm tired of hearing only from SSB games.

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

lol splatoon as an esport game

 

[Vipera]

lol splatoon as an esport game

Why not? Nowadays it's either mmoba or fps or 2D fighting games. I want something new. And while we're at it, stop bringing hot chicks and men in suit who know nothing about those games.

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Something that I hope Splatoon 2 won't have is that overly unnecessary intro every time with the squid sisters.

 

[Foxi4]

Oh wow, Switch users get to try out a demo! This is exciting! ;O;

 

[Xzi]

Oh wow, Switch users get to try out a demo! This is exciting! ;O;

It certainly is for me, I've never played Splatoon before. Definitely didn't expect to be able to play in March, either.

 

[DSAndi]

In addition to the Testfire event, Nintendo squid expert and Splatoon 2 producer Hisashi Nogami also confirmed a new way for players to follow the action when the game launches later in the year – a mode that will give players a unique insight into squid behaviors and strategy called Private Battle Spectator View. This breakthrough in squid-observation technology will allow up to two non-players to participate in a Private Battle as camera operators to observe all the action from multiple angles*. Incredible!

Hmm seems pretty old to me. In Lineage2 you can watch sieges with a lot more players and different cam views. That game is now 13 years old.

 

[Foxi4]

It certainly is for me, I've never played Splatoon before. Definitely didn't expect to be able to play in March, either.

Ehh... I just remember better days, when demos weren't considered a privilege and they served their actual function - demonstrating games to potential customers. The "Early Access" culture and cult of beta testing as some kind of reward sickens me. It's not a "treat" to try a video game at its worst - incomplete and buggy. Companies used to hire beta testers, now *we* are the beta testers, and we do the testing for free.

 

[Xzi]

Ehh... I just remember better days, when demos weren't considered a privilege and they served their actual function - demonstrating games to potential customers. The "Early Access" culture and cult of beta testing as some kind of reward sickens me. It's not a "treat" to try a video game at its worst - incomplete and buggy. Companies used to hire beta testers, now *we* are the beta testers, and we do the testing for free.

You can't stress test or gauge overall interest with a small group of beta testers. We get the added benefit of demoing the game early, but that's not the primary purpose of this.

The return of LAN parties? Implying people don't do them anymore?
Maybe not with consoles.

LAN parties are a lot like arcades at this point. You might be able to find one very occasionally, but it's nothing like the days when they were popular and you could do 5-6 LAN parties a month.

 

[thorasgar]

Something that I hope Splatoon 2 won't have is that overly unnecessary intro every time with the squid sisters.

What's actually even worse than that is if you have not played in awhile and go to the gun shop. It took my oldest about 20 minutes as the sales rep had to explain each and every gun that has been released since he was last there. By the time it was all over he didn't want to play anymore.

 

[SonicCloud]

Its a shame that sadly i wont have a Switch until July and even i had one on March , i still wouldn't be able to play the Testfire .
Hopefully ill get the Switch when SP2 comes out c:.

What's actually even worse than that is if you have not played in awhile and go to the gun shop. It took my oldest about 20 minutes as the sales rep had to explain each and every gun that has been released since he was last there. By the time it was all over he didn't want to play anymore.

Something that I hope Splatoon 2 won't have is that overly unnecessary intro every time with the squid sisters.

This , I love Squid Sisters but their news are unnecessary , also the thing about the gun shop is awful too. Why not just simply press a button to see the information of that gun when you unlock it?

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

Ehh... I just remember better days, when demos weren't considered a privilege and they served their actual function - demonstrating games to potential customers. The "Early Access" culture and cult of beta testing as some kind of reward sickens me. It's not a "treat" to try a video game at its worst - incomplete and buggy. Companies used to hire beta testers, now *we* are the beta testers, and we do the testing for free.

Unfortunately, we're not gonna see a resurgence of demos anytime soon. Because of articles like this showing game demos actually hurt sales, no one's in a rush to offer a demo. Also, Beta tests do have their merits. They can't afford hiring thousands and thousands of game testers to flood servers and test their integrity, so open and closed betas have to be used. In theory, it's better because they're *supposed* to be able to find and fix server issues. Some companies still fail at that, but the only games that get betas are online-centric games, which have a need for real-world server tests. Single-player games don't get betas, so it's incorrect to say they're offering it as a replacement for demos, since demos were always for single-player games.

 

[anhminh]

Ehh... I just remember better days, when demos weren't considered a privilege and they served their actual function - demonstrating games to potential customers. The "Early Access" culture and cult of beta testing as some kind of reward sickens me. It's not a "treat" to try a video game at its worst - incomplete and buggy. Companies used to hire beta testers, now *we* are the beta testers, and we do the testing for free.

This call viral marketing, to create hyper out of nowhere. Nintendo had done this to dead with anything nowadays.

Amiibo people want to buy? Sold out, it's that popular. Limit edition games? Gone in an hour, we will have more next time. Pre-order a console? We only have some for pre-oder and it all gone while you load the page. Free demo for our next AAA game? Where is your download code? No? Then wait like everyone else.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

You learn to play like the old days, by trying out the game,

Also single player on a server stress test sounds silly.

Who said the single player had to be online? Yes it sounds silly. I mean a demo with tutorial. Not a online one player game.

 

[Foxi4]

"Stress testing" is the biggest nonsense excuse in online gaming - you can synthetically test a server with ease, it's no different than real connections and it can be performed by one engineer. If stress tests are a source of such great data, why is every major release invariably followed by major server failures? I remember it took a good month for me to connect to GTA Online when it was new, y'think a stress test would magically increase the throughput of the server or write better net code? I don't think so. This is a hype tool - they're selling you a console with the promise of a privilege to test a game, that's all there is to it.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

These are the times for the European/et al sessions:

• Session #1

Europe: March 24th from 8PM

UK: March 24th from 7PM

North America (EST): March 24th from 3PM

North America (PST): March 24th from 12PM

Japan: March 25th from 4AM



• Session #2

Europe: March 25th from 4AM

UK: March 25th from 3AM

North America (EST): March 24th from 11PM

North America (PST): March 24th from 8PM

Japan: March 25th from 12PM



• Session #3

Europe: March 25th from 12PM

UK: March 25th from 11AM

North America (EST): March 25th from 7AM

North America (PST): March 25th from 4AM

Japan: March 25th from 8PM



• Session #4

Europe: March 25th from 8PM

UK: March 25th from 7PM

North America (EST): March 25th from 3PM

North America (PST): March 25th from 12PM

Japan: March 26th from 4AM



• Session #5

Europe: March 26th from 5AM

UK: March 26th from 4AM

North America (EST): March 25th from 11PM

North America (PST): March 25th from 8PM

Japan: March 26th from 12PM



• Session #6

Europe: March 26th from 1PM

UK: March 26th from 12PM

North America (EST): March 26th from 7AM

North America (PST): March 26th from 4AM

Japan: March 26th from 8PM

Provided by Perfectly Nintendo.

I wish Mario Kart 8: Deluxe was a launch title but April 28 isn't too far off.

 

[Xzi]

"Stress testing" is the biggest nonsense excuse in online gaming - you can synthetically test a server with ease, it's no different than real connections and it can be performed by one engineer. If stress tests are a source of such great data, why is every major release invariably followed by major server failures? I remember it took a good month for me to connect to GTA Online when it was new, y'think a stress test would magically increase the throughput of the server or write better net code? I don't think so. This is a hype tool - they're selling you a console with the promise of a privilege to test a game, that's all there is to it.

You're painting with a overly broad brush. I've seen some games launch successfully with no connection problems after holding a stress test, and I've seen others fail miserably. In this case the test should also help work out the kinks in part of their online services, with Splatoon 2 launching around the same time as the app. Of course this is also part marketing as you say, which is why I also mentioned the bit about gauging overall interest.