The first Splatoon was released on the Wii U. Nintendo launched the game in 2015 as a new multiplayer shooter built around painting stages with colored ink rather than using conventional ammunition.
The Wii U version made distinctive use of the console’s GamePad. Its touchscreen could display the stage map and let players jump directly to teammates, while motion controls offered an alternative way to aim. Those features helped separate Splatoon from other shooters of its era.
Splatoon was developed and published by Nintendo and introduced the series’ central Inkling characters, Turf War battles, and the ability to transform into a squid and swim through friendly ink. The sequel, Splatoon 2, moved to the Nintendo Switch in 2017, which is a common source of confusion when identifying the original console.
The original game remained a Wii U title rather than receiving a native release on the 3DS or Switch. Nintendo Network online services for Wii U software, including Splatoon, were discontinued on April 8, 2024, although its historical place as a Wii U release is unchanged.