Splatoon 3's seasons are a way to keep the game feeling fresh over time, but it's missing out on something that could make the seasons feel more memorable. At the moment, the seasons seem to be little more than times for the developers to change the current cycle of items available to the player. There is a lot more that could be done with the seasons of Splatoon 3, and their potential is being wasted in their current state. A few changes could make Splatoon 3's seasons more engaging than a simple cataloged change.
In the time since the game's release, seasons in Splatoon 3's world have been featured prominently in the game's updates. Each season takes place over the course of three months, and are roughly similar to seasons in the real world. The four seasons are Fresh, Sizzle, Drizzle, and Chill, each being a clear stand-in for spring, summer, fall, and winter respectively. Each new season brings with it a new selection of items to be earned in the catalog, which is reminiscent of a battle pass of sorts, leveling up with gameplay. At the moment though, aside from a season name, the catalog seems to be the only change.
Splatoon 3's Seasons Could Be More Prominent
The most obvious changes that could come with upcoming seasons in Splatoon 3 is visual updates. Apart from the graffiti that appears on the walls based on players' drawings, Splatsville always looks the same regardless of what season it is. The only real change happens during Splatfests, as Deep Cut's concert is set up and there is a kiosk selling Splatfest shirts. A few seasonal differences would be a nice touch to liven up the city. For example, Sizzle could see ice cream vendors walking the streets, and Chill could feature bonfires and other indicators of cold weather.
Splatsville is already a lively city, but changing with the seasons could make it feel even more alive. One decent move to change up Splatoon 3's shops would be to create some items into the shop rotations during their respective seasons. For example, Fresh could bring clothes with floral designs, like roses or cherry blossoms, and Chill could offer winter-themed clothes like heavy coats. This strategy does admittedly have a downside, because it would result in a few cosmetics that were only available during certain times of the year. However, it can help give each season something special beyond simply laying out a new collection of catalog rewards.
Another way to make Splatoon 3's seasons more worthwhile is by introducing some season-specific events. While it is true that Splatoon 3's interestingly designed Splatfests are essentially the game's equivalent of holidays, they don't have to be the only special occasions. For example, each season could have a unique map in the pool that is themed to the season in question. For example, Fresh could bring a map that takes place in a lush garden, while Sizzle could introduce a beach for players to do battle on. These maps would ensure that even the battles would have a chance at showing some seasonal flair.
Seasons are underused in Splatoon 3 at the moment, but future updates could reverse this issue and make them something worth looking forward to. Splatoon 3's regularly scheduled updates have introduced a variety of new weapons and maps already, and DLC has even brought back the old hub city of Inkopolis. It isn't difficult to imagine the seasons getting more of a role to play in the future as well. Not only would it be more content for players, but it would add a little more variety to each season.
Splatoon 3 is currently available for the Nintendo Switch