The first Splatoon game was released worldwide in 2015.
Nintendo launched Splatoon for the Wii U on May 28, 2015. It was a new third-person shooter built around Inklings, transforming squid-like characters who cover arenas with ink rather than conventional ammunition. The game’s central Turf War mode made painting territory as important as defeating opponents.
Splatoon arrived during a period when Nintendo was experimenting with new multiplayer-focused properties. Its online battles generally use teams of four, and the Wii U GamePad provided a map and other touch-screen functions. Nintendo also supported the launch with Global Testfire demo events before release.
The year can be confused with later entries: Splatoon 2 launched for Nintendo Switch in 2017, and Splatoon 3 followed in 2022. The original game remains the starting point for the franchise’s weapons, Turf War format, Splatfests, and Inkling-versus-Octarian setting.