Highlights
- A fan allegedly sent bomb threats to Nintendo events due to Splatoon 3 frustration.
- The perpetrator was arrested for 39 bomb threats, causing over 700 million yen in damages.
- Splatoon fandom criticizes the man's actions.
After a fan sent bomb threats to an official Nintendo tournament for Splatoon 3, more information has revealed that the fan's motive for the threats stemmed from their frustration with the game after having lost too many times. The 27-year-old was later arrested on charges related to the alleged 39 bomb threats he sent to Nintendo and some of its in-person events, namely the Splatoon 3 Koshien tournament that is held in Japan every year.
Splatoon 3 is the most recent and best-selling entry in the Splatoon franchise, pitting teams of players against one another in various colorful, paint-based game modes that task them with coloring the maps in their respective hues as much as possible. Players can eliminate each other with special abilities, making Splatoon 3 double as a competitive multiplayer shooter while maintaining the family-friendly appeal that is a staple of Nintendo's brand.
Splatoon 3 Summer Nights Splatfest Adds Free Cosmetics and New Idol Looks
Splatoon 3 unveils its next Splatfest, bringing a summer theme with unique decorations, free gear, and different looks for the three idol groups.
According to a recent thread on Twitter from user OatmealDome, the fan who sent the bomb threats seemingly did so out of frustration, accusing Nintendo of designing Splatoon 3 poorly, which led to his constant defeats. Technically, the perpetrator never explicitly mentions Splatoon 3 by name, but given that the targets for some of their threats was a high-profile tournament for the game, the motive is easily implied.
A Frustrated Splatoon 3 Player Takes Drastic Measures to Retaliate
Some fans on Twitter reacted to the blackmailer's alleged motive, with many ridiculing him for taking such drastic action simply due to their own misgivings in a game made for younger audiences like Splatoon 3. While no one was hurt as a result of his threats, the resulting cancellation of multiple in-person events allegedly led to over 700 million yen in damages, for which the man may be held responsible.
Currently, the person accused of the threats is on trial for the alleged crimes and could face up to a year of jail time, with the final verdict set to come next month, on July 24. Unfortunately, Nintendo is no stranger to threats of violence, as just last year, threats against staff members led Nintendo to cancel its Live Tokyo 2024 event and postpone the Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 tournaments intended to take place there.
Meanwhile, the Splatoon fandom remains resilient, as some fans also turned up to criticize the man for potentially tarnishing their reputation in the eyes of the gaming industry as a whole. Still, they may be able to rejoice in the near future, as rumors claim that Splatoon 4 may be in the works, though details are currently minimal.
Splatoon 3
The third installment of Nintendo's popular paint-style ink-slinging third-person shooter. Splatoon 3 gives players a whole new world to explore with an interesting singleplayer mode and all the multiplayer madness that players have come to know and love from the series.
