Next Splatoon Update Brings Long List of Changes

A huge update for Splatoon is incoming, providing a way for friends to play ranked battles together, level up way past the initial level 20 cap, play on two new maps and more. While we have a general idea of what’s on the way and some of the changes to be expected, full patch notes of all the changes that are being made have been unavailable until now. A redditor has translated the patch notes made available in Japan, giving us a comprehensive look at what’s coming this week in Splatoon.

Ver. 2.0.0 [8/5/2015 planned distribution] – 610MB download

Addition of Tag Match

• Adding a mode where you, together with a group of friends, can join and play ranked matches with other groups in “Tag Match” mode.
  • As for ranked battles, you must be level 10+ to participate.
  • After linking up with friends, you can then link up with your friends’ friends.
  • In the case you want to join only with specific friends, please use the option to set a password.
  • Regarding opponents in Tag Match mode, you will only be matched with similarly-playing opponents in Tag Match mode.
  • Players playing ranked battles, you may not compete with players playing Tag Match mode.
  • You may play Tag Match mode with 4, 3, or 2 players.
  • Groups of 3 may play against groups of 4. In this situation, the group of 3 will respawn faster, as the side with only three is at a disadvantage.
  • In the situation you are playing in a group of 2, you can be matched with three other groups of 2 to play a “2 group of 2 vs. 2 groups of 2″ battle.

Addition of Private Match mode

• Adding a Private Match mode where you can play with your friends using whatever rules, stages, and team divisions you like.
  • After linking up with friends, you can then link up with your friends’ friends.
    • In the times you want to participate only with specific friends, please use the option to set a password.

Changes regarding level

• You may now level up to level 50.
  • Once you have reached level 20 and have listened to the explanation in the lobby, the level cap will be raised.

Changes regarding rank

• You are now able to rank up to the S and S+ ranks.
  • You may raise your rank to S and S+ in Ranked Match (you may not do so in Tag Matches).
  • Once reaching rank S or S+, victories or defeats in Tag Matches will not affect your rank.
• The method for calculating rank points (+/- 10, 8, 12, etc.) has been modified.
• If your rank changes while in the middle of playing ranked battles, you will be sent back to the lobby.

Addition of gear

• New gear will be added, which can be bought from the shops at random.

Addition of BGM

• New BGM (background music) will be added, which can be heard at random while in battle.

Splatfest changes

• In calculating the final results, the winning percentage points (weight) has been changed from 2x to 4x.

Stage adjustments

• Urchin Underpass: All modes (i.e. Turf War, Splat Zones, Tower Control), large-scale terrain changes.
• Saltspray Rig: Tower Control mode, adjusting certain stage elements.
• Arowana Mall: Splat Zones mode, adjusting certain stage elements.
• Kelp Dome: Splat Zones and Tower Control modes, adjusting certain stage elements.
• Moray Towers: Splat Zones and Tower Control modes, adjusting certain stage elements.

Special Weapon adjustments

• Inkzooka: Increased the points of turf inked needed to fill the special gauge from 180p to 220p.
• Echolocator: Increased the points of turf inked needed to fill the special gauge from 180p to 200p.
• Killer Wail (the Japanese name for this one is megaphone laser. oh my god.) : Decreased the points of turf inked needed to fill the special gauge from 180p to 160p.
  • In both cases these are the numbers without the “Special Charge Up” gear ability.

Sub Weapon adjustments

• Splash Wall: The problem of a bomb directly hitting Splash Wall and the damage range not being calculated correctly in rare cases has been fixed.

Gear Ability adjustments

• Tenacity: Special Gauge will now start filling at the start of a match (rather than before the match begun) if there is a disparity between the number of players on teams. (thanks /u/pandapanpanda, the language in this one and the one below were a bit difficult to figure out)
• Special Charge Up: When wearing a lot of Special Charge Up gear, there is a more consistent increase when inking ground. There was a slight difference in the special gauge increase when inking ground little by little versus inking ground a lot at a time. It now increases an amount proportional to the area inked regardless to the method of inking.

Match-related sound effect adjustments

• The Inkstrike can now be better heard from the left, right, and behind.
• Some of the long-ranged weapons’ hit sounds will now be easier to hear from farther away.

Other

• Other adjustments to the game have been made so players may have a more pleasant experience.