The new Splatoon 3 amiibo look great, but Nintendo needs to stop using them to gate content
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It looks like the new Splatoon 3 amiibo have a release date. The three beautiful and vibrant new figures will be released on November 11.
Splatoon amiibos are nothing new, they’ve been around since the first game, and Splatoon 3 will now continue the long tradition of its predecessors with its draw in collectible figures. However, amiibo are more than just ornaments. Your Nintendo Switch can scan your Nintendo amiibo and offers you in-game rewards that vary from game to game and figure to figure.
Three fresh new #amiibo arrive on 11/11! Tap them on a compatible Nintendo Switch controller and they’ll unlock special in-game gear for #Splatoon3. pic.twitter.com/JCBCB7uO08October 11, 2022
If they resemble previous Splatoon amiibo, we can expect the figures to unlock new gear in the game. However, Splatoon 3 amiibo offers more than just cosmetic rewards, giving those lucky enough to get one access to unique gear. However, the extent to which this practice is in the interest of the players is open to debate.
Figure it out
First, it’s clear that these amiibo are beautiful. Splatoon always brings its A-game when it comes to amiibo, and these three new additions to the lineup are no different. Octoling (blue), Inkling (yellow) and Smallfry all have the kind of dynamic poses and bold, vibrant colors that make Splatoon’s aesthetic so distinctive and memorable. There’s no denying this: these figures would look great on a desk or a mantelpiece.
What’s not great, however, is how this amiibo offers players benefits beyond purely cosmetic. Since the previously released Splatoon amiibo in Splatoon 3 can be used to unlock stat-enhancing gear, it’s safe to say that whatever gear the new amiibo could get you will do the same. While it’s far from groundbreaking, it’s still sad to see Nintendo port content behind the purchase of what are essentially accessories.
While gear of similar power can be earned in-game, it is unfair to allow certain players access to unique gear because they paid for a collectible. If the equipment on this new amiibo was purely cosmetic, it would be a different story.
Still not ideal, but at least they wouldn’t offer the slightest gaming advantage. However, Splatoon 3’s amiibo aren’t too blatant in their content gating. Gear skills earned through amiibo aren’t something you can’t already find in-game. And unlike The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD amiibo, Splatoon 3 doesn’t dare to open basic gameplay features like fast travel behind a paywall.
In this particular case, it’s unlikely the gear would have a huge effect on the PvP landscape, but Nintendo’s consistent choice to put content of any kind behind a paywall does raise concerns about the future. After all, what’s stopping Nintendo from dishing out more powerful upgrades with their next round of amiibo?
While the new amiibo are gorgeous and there’s no intrinsic damage to Nintendo from crafting a series of collectibles, there’s a slippery slope when taking gear skills along the exclusive route. Hopefully Nintendo is smart enough not to fall into that particular trap.