Splatoon 4 needs to break the mold of the franchise's post-launch life

Splatoon 4 One of the many titles that could be released soon after the Nintendo Switch 2's launch. This early period will be one of the most important in the console's lifetime, and there are many lessons to be learned from its predecessor. With the reveal of the Switch 2 around the corner, there's no better time to take account of how to do it next Splatoon The game can be successful.

Splatoon Undoubtedly now a household name for Nintendo. This fact alone makes it Splatoon 4 A potential contender as a launch title, especially considering how soon Splatoon 2 It was released after the launch of the Nintendo Switch. However, the Splatoon The series' timing on the Switch had some missteps that will hopefully be rectified by the post-launch strategy. Splatoon 4.

Splatoon 4 requires a different approach to DLC and developer updates

Splatoon 4 and Nintendo Switch 2 are a match made in heaven

Splatoon It's still a relatively new IP, and that makes its success all the more impressive. Compared to some recent games that seem to live and die on the Nintendo Switch, Splatoon It has proven its longevity beyond other Wii U exclusives. This element of consistency blends very well with the overall popularity of the series, and offers enough potential that it's too promising to pass up.

Beneficial relationship between Splatoon 4 And Nintendo Switch 2 should be pretty obvious, but just linking the two might not be enough. previous Splatoon Games have had their fair share of problems, and Splatoon 4 It needs to be addressed if it hopes to keep pace with its predecessors. Most notably, Nintendo has often been weak when it comes to support Splatoon Game after launch.

Splatoon's live service format requires long-term support

Splatoon's identity is heavily tied to community engagement, especially thanks to Splatfests and other means of self-expression. Likewise, the franchise has become associated with features that can be found in a live service game. These two principles are tied together, one might expect that any given Splatoon The game should get updated accordingly with time.

To some extent, this expectation has been fulfilled over the years. However, post-launch support certainly hasn't been sustained to the point where it should be. Splatoon has purposefully cultivated an incredibly dedicated fanbase that is willing to stay active for a long time, so Splatoon 4Lifetime should accurately reflect this demand.

Splatoon 4 can surpass its predecessors with post-launch updates

Splatoon 3The approach is a step in the right direction, thanks to the release of more robust DLC than its predecessors. However, the bar is still not particularly high, and this one is Splatoon 4 Can be easily overcome. It would certainly be nice to get DLC of this scale, and something that the developers of the series are certainly capable of, but it's not even the expectation that needs to be met.

Instead, developers can focus on releasing consistent updates over a longer period of time. Like other popular Nintendo franchises Animal Crossing It seems to be moving in this direction, and Splatoon It has proven that franchises of this caliber should be no different. In fact, Splatfests already give Splatoon A great way to justify long-term support. If every game has to hold its final Splatfest sooner or later, previous games have left a very large gap between this event and the next release.

This dynamic is particularly relevant when one considers the significant gap between the previous Splatoon games. That's the hope for now Splatoon 4 Nintendo Switch 2 will be part of the launch lineup, but nothing is certain yet. anyway, Splatoon 4Its ability to act as a flagship title for a console could extend well beyond its lifetime projection or depend entirely on if it simply reverts to the weaknesses of its predecessors.