The Splatoon Base website got a new update! … well, it's been a while since it did, because I forgot that I needed to port this post to tumblr. Still, you probably haven’t heard about it yet. Because even though the website has an official English version, it is only ever talked about on the Japanese Splatoon account. Nintendo’s weird marketing decisions stike again.
So let’s take a look at what’s new. And if you’ve never heard about Splatoon Base at all, I’ll also give you a quick overview over the sections that were already there. ↓
The Splatoon Base is an official website that gives you an overview of the Splatoon world. Its main focus is on the worldbuilding as opposed to the gameplay aspects of the series. It has 7 sections:
Story summarizes the events from the extinction of humanity up until Return of the Mammalians
Character shows a relationship chart at the time of Splatoon 2 with short descriptions for each character
World lets you view Inkopolis Plaza and Inkopolis Square with short descriptions for each location
Fashion talks about weapons, gear, customization options and brands [section with the new update]
Music shows all the Splatoon bands and idols and lets you listen to a few select songs
Gallery includes key art from all games, also has a Splatfest, special events and graffiti section
History shows a timeline of Splatoon history, e.g. the releases of games and amiibo, events and updates
Before you run to go check it out, please keep in mind that this is Nintendo translating Splatoon lore, and we already know how that goes. The English version of the website has some major flaws and inaccuracies, such as mixed up names, unclear phrasing and straight up leaving things out. When Splatoon Base first released, I made a post about these mistakes on Instagram. It doesn't look like they have fixed any of them in the meantime and the portions of it that have been reuploaded to the Nintendo Today app still have the same translation errors. So here are the ones that I know about.
Information left out or changed: ● Crusty Sean wears clothing that has the deep-fried look (as opposed to this being his actual body) ● Judd was initially called “Judd” because of his fur pattern. He only later discovered his passion for judging Turf Wars ● while in ENG, Pearl received a copy of Manta Maria for her birthday, her dad gifted her the actual ship in the JP version ● the “drawing techniques” Marina practices are specified as “Kakeami” in the JP version, which is a special technique in drawing manga ● the reappliance of abilities using Ability Chunks requires Super Sea Snail shells ● Marina is described as “maiden in [romantic] love” in JP, the ENG version put “real sweetheart” there ● while the JP version mentiones that Flow likes alcohol and often gets drunk, the ENG version just says she likes “food and drink”
Very minor details: ● Sheldon asked Annie for help with decorating the weapons (in ENG, it isn’t specified who initiated it) ● it is mentioned in both versions that Pearl jumps from side to side. This is actually in the game: According to rassicas, she does it in Octo Expansion, but it was localized to “warming up vocal cords” in the English version of the game ● the JP version mentions that Bisk’s mature vibe is due to his long limbs ● Flow gives her customers the vibe of an older sister
Unclear phrasing: ● in Agent 4’s character page, the ENG version phrases it like Marie fought with Sheldon’s weapon prototypes against the Octarian army to save Callie, when it actually was Agent 4 who used the weapons made by Sheldon ● the Octarian character page says “diligently works to systematically keep the Octarians in line using music”, which seems to refer to Octavio instead of Octarians as a whole ● it’s hard to tell if the “close-up” part of the Octarian character page is supposed to refer to Octavio, the Octarians in general, or the Octostomp (“Possesses highly developed scientific technology, beginning with the Great Octoweapons. His tech capabilities are said to be a full 15 years ahead of the global average. He’s so completely focused on his mission that he’s totally unconcerned with his appearance.”) ● the very important part about Octarian reproduction is phrased in a way that can mean both “regular Octarians” and Octolings are cut off from a host. OR it can mean that the Octarians divide into “regular Octarians” that are cut off from a host and Octolings that are created in some other way. The JP version seems to impliy the latter.
Mistakes: ● in Marie’s charcter page, it says that Cap’n Cuttlefish recruited Agent 4 to save Callie, when it actually was Marie who recruited Agent 4 ● in the story section, there’s a part missing that’s supposed to say Inklings didn’t want to get up early. This doesn’t seem to be intentional since the sentence is also missing punctuation ● also in the story section, it says Agent 3 wins the battle against Agent 8 on the way to the surface. This is obviously the other way around. It might be due to auto translation, as Google Translate makes the very same mistake when translating the JP version of the site
Now that we got this out of the way: What was added in the latest update?
The Fashion section got updated with two subcategories: Weapons and Gear
Now you can take a look at all the different weapon categories and get information on the brands behind them. Since we don’t have any official names for some weapon brands, this would be exciting news… if they actually added these names. Instead, the captions only say “Weapon Brand”. Thanks, I guess.
But we still get some more detailed info on the brands.
Sorella ”A historic umbrella manufacturer with a slew of patents for waterproof materials and retraction mechanisms. Their jump into the weapons business was a total shock that shook up Turf War battles in a big way.”
The unnamed brand behind the Tri-Stringers “A Splatlands fishing supplier that decided to jump into weapon manufacturing. Their experience with crafting durable lines and sturdy, big-game fishing rods led to the invention of a groundbreaking weapon: the Tri-Stringer.”
Deco “A manufacturer that uses sports equipment like water tanks and drink servers in their designs. Their products tend to be light and durable, and they integrate those benefits into their weapons as well.”
Custom “This heavy industries company’s primary focus is steel. When it comes to heavyweight weapon designs like the Hydra Splatling and Explosher, they’re way ahead of the rest.”
Nouveau “An art supplies company with experience making and selling brushes. They broke into the weapons market with products like the Inkbrush and Octobrush, but today they produce non-bristled weapons like Splatlings and Splatanas too.”
Neo “A consumer electronics company that used its acquired knowledge to get into the weapons business. They have a reputation for sophisticated engineering and durability.” – This one is especially interesting since Neo is also a construction company, as can be seen on the construction signs in the game. Looks this company is established in multiple different sectors.
Ammo Knights “A weapons shop founded in Inkopolis that’s been around for a while. Their solid customer service and maintenance has earned them the trust of Inklings and Octolings alike. The owner, a true weapons fanatic, started creating his own products after getting his hands on some blueprints.”
Unnamed Dolphin brand “This company, known for its cleaning and plumbing products, based their distinctive logo on a marine creature that existed long ago.”
Foil “A manufacturer of leisure products with wide distribution channels and a mass-market focus. Because they dabble in toys and party goods as well, they’ve come up with some fun and unique special weapons like the Baller and Reefslider. “
Splat “An Inkopolis-based manufacturer that’s practically synonymous with Inkling and Octoling life. These veterans have been making weapons since the earliest days of Turf War, getting in the game early and pioneering new weapon fundamentals.”
Nintendo “A company that pivoted from home-leisure equipment to weapons manufacturing. Apparently, they lifted their logo and product designs from a bunch of thingamabobs that were dug up from an ancient stratum.”
Tentatek "An athleticwear company known worldwide for gear like the Tennis Headband and Blue Sea Slugs. After signing a famous player, they started branching out into weapons, resulting in products like the Light Tetra Dualies."
The Gear section shows off outfits with images from the past Catalogs. They also have descripons, but there is no lore here, only fashion talk like we know it from Splatoon. More interesting: There are concept sketches in the background of this section, some of which also show up in the Splatoon 3 Artbook.
There are also two subsections. One is about the customization options (eyebrows, legwear, hairstyles). The only new info here is that Octolings take “a more grounded approach” to hairstyles than the Inklings who like to experiment. The two sketches showing how hairstyles are done are also in the Splatoon 3 Artbook.
The other subsection is about the gear brands and we get some small new things about some of them. The one thing that surprised me is that Zekko and Firefin apparently don’t exist as their own brands anymore since they formed Z+F. I thought of Z+F as an additional collaborative line, but it seems like Zekko and Firefin themselves are gone now and we won’t see any new gear from them the future.
Zink “An industry-leading athleticwear brand that offers a range of clothing and shoes for every sport. The simple, no-frills designs make Zink a popular fashion label. In recent years, they have been actively collaborating with famous artists.”
Annaki “The brand’s line of punk-infused apparel has an army of rabid fans. By introducing its unique vibe into casual items, Annaki has succeeded in gradually expanding its customer base, with no sign of its popularity fading or slowing down.”
Tentatek “A sportswear label that took the world by storm with its cutting-edge sneakers. Celebrated for its sharp, functional fashion, Tentatek is an undisputed industry leader with a track record of supplying gear to many top athletes.”
Rockenberg “A historic company renowned for its leather shoes. Rockenberg’s promise of high-quality, comfortable footwear has earned them loyal customers since the brand’s inception. Their classic boots are a little pricey, but if you take good care of them, they’ll last a lifetime.”
Krak-On “A veteran footwear company. Their canvas shoes have remained unchanged over the years and are loved by all generations. Vintage Krak-Ons are highly sought after by collectors. Recently, the company has ventured into more exotic designs.”
Inkline “A legit outdoor-apparel brand that produces a wide range of functional, practical gear. Comfortable and fashionable, it’s just as popular as everyday wear. Inkline’s luxury down vests and serious boots are on many a young Inkling and Octoling’s wish list.”
Zekko “This label offered a wide range of street fashion, with a focus on skatewear. Known for its ease of movement and solid design, Zekko gear played a central role in Splatlands subculture. The brand has since merged with Firefin, but its spirit lives on.”
Splash Mob “A popular brand for sophisticated, mature Inklings and Octolings that insists on quality craftsmanship. Splash Mob’s casual yet refined designs, carefully selected material textures, and fine stitching have earned it a reputation among discerning buyers.”
Skalop “A manufacturer that specializes in headwear, from your standard baseball cap to fashion items such as knits to athletic gear like helmets. More recently, Skalop has made a push into funkier designs as they continue to evolve and garner attention.”
Enperry “A street-fashion brand that integrates art, music, and other culture into their primary focus: athletic casualwear. Enperry’s playful, sassy lineup skillfully walks the line between fierce and comfortable, retro and cutting-edge.”
SquidForce “A trendsetting global company that produces a range of gear for beginners and pros alike, paving the way for other brands to follow. As the official brand of Turf War, SquidForce puts effort into training up pros and maintaining venues.”
Firefin “Street-brand royalty. Firefin’s range included not just style essentials like hoodies and caps but also more chic items like bell hats and sun visors. Right before they merged with Zekko, their FishFry merch went out of stock in every store.”
Forge “A select brand targeted at astute buyers who don’t bow to the latest trends. Forge offers everything from authentic military fashion to functional, stylish headgear. One theory is that their lineup is actually created by their CEO, for their CEO, whose interests run the gamut.”
Takoroka “An athleticwear brand known for their sneakers. Their uniquely stylish clothes and footwear, made with proprietary technology, are fashion staples. Sneakerheads flock to Takoroka stores on day one, forming long lines to snag their new products.”
Z+F “This new label is the result of a merger between two leading streetwear brands, Zekko and Firefin. In addition to carrying on the original brands’ underlying hip-hop and skater culture, Z+F offers its own poppy, colorful clothing line.”
Barazushi “This manufacturer comes from the western Splatlands, famous for sea sponges. The region’s harsh climate demands high-performance gear, and Barazushi’s is second to none. Their monster parka, made with ultrafine fiber sponge, is just one example.”
Emberz “This rising brand was born on the streets of Splatsville and quickly gained traction with Inkling youth. Its mission: reject and destroy the established order and common sense. Emberz uses every material out there to cook up its apparel, serving an umami-packed hotpot of ideas.”
Toni Kensa “An eponymous brand known for its unique monotone look and simple, structured designs. It feels like just yesterday that Toni Kensa captured the attention of fashionistas with its new line that combined urban sophistication with rugged attitude.”
You can get random covers of the Weapon and Gear section by refreshing the page. The featured weapon category and gear brand will then appear in the subsection once you click on it. Here are all the randomized images you can get.
In the Weapons section, you get a small banner that leads you to the gear section, showing the featured gear brand. This also exists for the featured weapon category in the Gear section.
Thank you for reading if you made it all the way to the end!
