DLC for Splatoon 3 has finally been revealed as the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass, which will add new content across two waves. The first wave of DLC will bring players back to the original game's Inkopolis. Fans have been waiting for this reveal since the Splatoon 3 Direct announced that there would be large-scale paid DLC for the game.
A month before the launch of Splatoon 3 in September 2022, the Splatoon 3 Direct announced that the game would be getting paid DLC, heavily implying that it would star Pearl and Marina of the band Off the Hook from Splatoon 2. These characters were heavily featured in Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion but were absent in Splatoon 3's single-player, which instead focused on the Squid Sisters and newcomers Deep Cut.
Splatoon 3 fans finally got a closer look at Splatoon 3's DLC in the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, but perhaps not in the way many expected. The announcement opened with the reveal that Wave 1 of the Expansion Pass will give players access to the Inkopolis hub world from the original Splatoon on Wii U. It will feature the same merchants seen in the 2015 title selling the same items featured in the Splatsville shops, giving players the option to shop at either location. Additionally, Inkopolis will feature performances from the Squid Sisters during Splatfests.
Not only that but fans were also teased with the reappearance of Pearl and Marina with the announcement of Side Order, a new single-player campaign that will be included in Wave 2 of the Expansion Pass. The enigmatic trailer showed what appeared to be Agent 8, the protagonist of Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion, standing in an alternate version of Inkopolis Square, the hub world of Splatoon 2. Images of Pearl and Marina from Splatoon 2, now in their new designs, flashed across the screen, confirming that they will be featured in Side Order. Wave 1 is set to release this spring with Wave 2 launching at a later date, and players can purchase the Expansion Pass starting today.
With the announcement of the Expansion Pass, newer Splatoon players will soon be able to see even more of what they missed out on in the first game as well as see how the story of the Splatoon series will continue with Side Order. Many have wanted to see more legacy Splatoon content return in Splatoon 3, particularly that which was released on the original Wii U game. The reappearance of Inkopolis does wonders to help round out the experience for new fans, and Side Order will give them more of what they loved in Octo Expansion. While players still don't know exactly when they will get to revisit Inkopolis or reunite with Pearl and Marina, the Expansion Pass is sure to give Splatoon 3 players plenty of fresh content.
Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.
