Later tonight Nintendo plans to add another ranked mode to Splatoon called Rainmaker. It essentially acts as a capture the flag mode in which players must find the rainmaker and carry it to the other team's base. I'm sure the mode will be fun, but even more important is what it represents: Nintendo's ongoing effort to support Splatoon and in turn its player base.
Nintendo doesn't have an extensive history with online games. In fact, I can't think of many examples when it comes to online competitive multiplayer on a Nintendo console. The Wii featured far more local multiplayer games in an effort to appeal to broader audiences. The Wii U, on the other hand, lacks an extensive library in general. That's why the buzz around Splatoon was so noteworthy – Nintendo was finally pursuing online multiplayer with its trademark novelty. You don't see many shooters in which players use ink instead of bullets.
The lack of meaningful content right out of the gate was a genuine concern though, as it only featured a small handful of maps and a single game mode at launch. That's not enough to sustain an entire community of players, even though the the unranked Turf Wars mode is an absolute blast. But again, online competitive multiplayer isn't exactly in Nintendo's wheelhouse. Some fans weren't sure how well the company would support Splatoon after launch. Fortunately for Wii U owners who love the game, myself included, Nintendo has gone above and beyond the Call of Duty… I mean, call of duty.
Shortly after the game's release in May, Nintendo promised a free summer update with more modes, weapons, and user-friendly matchmaking options. The update came out earlier this month, but in the interim Nintendo has constantly pushed out free updates for the game. Nearly every week introduces a new batch of weapons or some other gear, and entire levels have been added to the stage lineup to provide more variety on a match-to-match basis. The Splatoon of today is a lot better than Splatoon at launch.
The best part is that all of the additional content has been free. I understand the need for paid DLC, but the fact that Nintendo appreciates the Splatoon player base and rewards it on a constant basis speaks to the company's ability to create a successful online experience. It's the kind of symbiotic relationship lacking from a lot of online games that charge ridiculous amounts of money for a few maps or some character skins. Perhaps there will be paid DLC for Splatoon in the near future, but for now Nintendo is focused on supporting the game's player base and building up good will. It's a logical first step.
It also adds to the game's longevity. I typically stay away from competitive multiplayer games because the inherent repetition bothers me. In the case of Splatoon, I enjoy loading it up every now and then just to mess around with new weapons, purchase stylish clothes, or check out a new ranked mode. There's always something to keep me coming back, even when I have other games to play. Again, it's the quintessential online experience. Entice the player enough to hold their attention for weeks and months, not just days.
I was expecting Splatoon to be a fun game, but I didn't think it would be one of the best online multiplayer experiences of 2015. Yet here we are in August, and Nintendo continues to add free content to the already-fantastic game. I know that I can load up Splatoon any day of the week, whether I'm playing with random opponents or chatting with friends on Skype, and have a great time. That's the kind of online experience I can get behind.
