The latest Splatoon 3 patch (version 10.0.0) caused more commotion than expected.
From the outside, Switch 2 users get the benefit of smoother framerates, clearer visuals, a cleaner UI, and polished animations everywhere.
But if you're still playing on the original Switch, you may have noticed something strange after updating.
Instead of improving things across the board, Splatoon 3’s Switch 1 version got worse by design, and Nintendo did that on purpose.
Why Did Nintendo Downgrade Splatoon 3 On The Original Switch?
As the hardware gap between the two consoles becomes more obvious, Nintendo has had to make a call.
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+ 3To avoid giving Switch 2 users an online edge through better clarity, smoother motion, and more responsive gameplay, the devs reduced visual details on the older Switch to match performance.
This means certain out-of-bounds background assets are now hidden in key multiplayer modes like Splat Zones, Rainmaker, Tower Control, and Clam Blitz.
These aren’t important gameplay parts, just background details that are used to fill the edges of the display. If you play casually, you might not even notice them missing. But the point of the change isn’t what’s gone — it’s why it’s gone.
How Is This Supposed to Keep Things Fair?
Nintendo’s explanation is buried in the patch notes: the removal was made to “reduce differences in game operation speed” between Switch and Switch 2.
click to enlarge+ 3It could be easy to miss, yet it means a lot to those competing seriously. For example, in ranked play, one player enjoys silky 60fps on Switch 2, but the other struggles with occasional frame drops on Switch 1.
That subtle edge makes a difference, so Nintendo trimmed the original version to keep everything on equal footing. Community reactions have been mixed.
Some longtime fans welcomed the change, saying performance should always trump eye candy in competitive games. Others feels like Switch 1 users are being penalized just for not upgrading.
Actually, the Switch 1 version was already having issues on some maps, and this update might just be a late fix with a new label. Either way, it’s the first time Nintendo has made this kind of trade-off for cross-generation balance.
Could This Be a New Trend for Cross-Gen Titles?
This also brings up bigger concerns about Nintendo’s strategy for its growing cross-platform games, but nothing is clear yet since Zelda and Xenoblade got upgrades on Switch 2 without touching older versions.
click to enlarge+ 3Since Splatoon 3 is competitive, it needed a different strategy. If fairness in multiplayer means some players face slight setbacks; more games may adopt this approach.
It's a tricky balance between keeping games accessible across platforms and making full use of new hardware. At the end of the day, the Splatoon 3 downgrade feels minor to some but major to others.
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