Splatoon 3 Pops Up on Switch 2 Radar in Europe—Is a Surprise Port Incoming?
PEGI has quietly rated Splatoon 3 for “Switch 2,” hinting that Nintendo’s vibrant shooter could lead the charge onto the company’s unannounced console.
A Rating That Speaks Volumes
London—The first breadcrumb Nintendo fans have been waiting for just appeared on the pavement of Europe’s game-rating boards. Splatoon 3 has quietly been rated for “Nintendo Switch 2,” a console the Kyoto giant hasn’t even acknowledged by name yet.
How We Got Here
PEGI, Europe’s content-rating authority, updated its public database late Tuesday, listing Splatoon 3 under a new platform column labeled “Switch 2.” The entry was spotted by eagle-eyed dataminers who pinged it across social media before most of Europe had finished its morning coffee.
“We do not comment on rumor or speculation,” a Nintendo spokesperson said when pressed for confirmation. The company’s silence, however, has rarely stopped the internet from sprinting ahead.
What This Could Mean
While a rating is not a release guarantee, publishers typically push paperwork only when a project is deep in the certification pipeline. Translation: a native Switch 2 port—complete with higher frame rates, faster ink splats, and possibly new gyro tricks—may already be in the hands of testers.
Industry Whispers
Developers speaking on condition of anonymity tell us Nintendo has been quietly briefing partners on final hardware specs since late last year. One studio head described the kit as “a handheld that finally feels like a home console,” praising its 4K-capable docked mode and beefier RAM allotment.
Why Splatoon 3 Makes Sense as a Launch Flag-bearer
- Active player base: More than 15 million ink fiends still log in weekly.
- Competitive showcase: Higher tick-rate servers could silence net-code critics.
- Visual flex: Ink physics and volumetric shaders would pop on upgraded silicon.
Timeline Guesswork
Nintendo historically drops new hardware in March or November. With PEGI paperwork filed and no official denial, analysts are penciling in an announcement window as early as next month’s rumored Nintendo Direct. A late-2024 shelf date is suddenly plausible.
Bottom Line
Until the House of Mario lifts the curtain, the Switch 2 remains a ghost. But ghosts don’t file ratings paperwork—publishers do. If the PEGI listing is accurate, Splatoon 3 fans might want to keep a fresh Joy-Con (or its successor) charged and ready.