In 2015, Nintendo decided to step into the team-based shooter market with a surprising new game called Splatoon. Released onto the struggling Wii U console on May 29, 2015, Splatoon was a huge hit, bringing new life to the console. Many reviews for Splatoon praised the unique concepts as something only Nintendo could pull off, even if certain multiplayer mechanics were a bit rough.

Recently in an interview, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said that Nintendo wants to create new IP, and not rely on Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series forever. The company has created new games like ARMS and Ring Fit Adventure that have seen decent sales, with a character from ARMS even appearing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If anything, the success of the Splatoon series, which is about to get its third entry in 2022, shows that seeking to develop new IP is exactly what Nintendo should do.

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By the time development began on the original Splatoon, the Wii U was already out on the market. Nintendo was well aware of its lacking sales, but was obviously still committed to developing new titles for the system. At first, the idea of a non-traditional multiplayer-focused shooter was probably treated as a risky venture by many. Nintendo has clearly established IP that is incredibly successful, so a new shooter about squid creatures with weird mechanics could have been a hit or a miss. Luckily for Nintendo, Splatoon on the Wii U was the former, and the game's unique concept was enough to bring in many new players. As Wii U sales topped 12 million at the end of 2015, Splatoon reached over 4 million sales.

While the risky new IP wouldn't be able to fully save the Wii U, it certainly breathed a bit more life into it. Players were able to take control of an Inkling character, and had fun trying to cover a map in as much of their team's ink color as they could. The game would eventually get added into Nintendo's competitive esports circuit. Splatoon even got a manga adaptation, so the game was obviously able to find an audience. In the end, Splatoon became the 6th best-selling Wii U game, beating out other popular titles like Super Mario Maker and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.

Of course, Splatoon 2 getting announced with a 2017 release surprised almost no one. With the success of a new IP, Nintendo likely wanted to bring it to a new audience on its new console. While some criticized the sequel for being very similar to the first game, it was still very successful on the Nintendo Switch. Splatoon 2 has gone on to be one of the best-selling Switch games in Japan, only coming behind Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (in which an Inkling was added as a fighter), and Pokemon Sword and Shield. Overall, Splatoon 2 has 11.9 million copies sold, and is one of the top ten best-selling Switch games.

Splatoon 3 had trended on Twitter several times before it was even announced. As Nintendo dialed down on Splatoon 2's live service, many fans were still eager to play in the new world that Nintendo had created. The Nintendo Switch is highly successful as a console, and Splatoon has become a solid Nintendo IP. There was no doubt a Splatoon 3 would be on the way, it was only a matter of time. Time came up at Nintendo's February Direct, and fans were able to get a glimpse at what Splatoon 3 could offer from new weapons to new stages, and a new city called Splatsville.

Even though Splatoon 3 was just revealed, it is already one of the most talked about games in 2021, among others like Apex Legends, Genshin Impact, and Fortnite. None of this would have ever happened if Nintendo didn't take a chance on a weird new concept back in the early 2010's. Game development is always a big investment, and unfortunately it doesn't always pay off. However, many studios find themselves relying too much on established content. Sometimes players will still enjoy it, but sometimes players will come to find it stale and lackluster.

Other studios are focused on remaking existing games, even when it may not be necessary, as many players are questioning with the possible remake of The Last of Us. While it is not always a bad thing to remake games, as Nintendo has shown they also do, it can harm growth if new ideas aren't injected into the mix. Every studio and game developer will be different, but the Splatoon series is a perfect example of risk that pays off. Hopefully, Nintendo will continue to impress with its new, original ideas in the future.

Splatoon 3 is in development for Nintendo Switch.

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