Ethan Crossfield 
If you mainly care about ranked-style multiplayer balance, Splatoon 3’s new Ver. 11.2.0 update is worth installing now. Nintendo says the patch reshapes weapon performance and matchmaking behavior on both Switch and Switch 2, with the goal of keeping battles fair and consistent online.
What changed in Ver. 11.2.0 (weapons, specials, and multiplayer rules)
Nintendo’s latest Splatoon 3 update is version 11.2.0, and it’s required for online play. The patch partially reverses elements from version 11.0.0, while still making adjustments to multiple weapons and special mechanics.
On the weapon side, the update includes both buffs and nerfs. Glitterz L-3 Nozzlenose receives an improvement to shot speed (about 5%) and shot flight distance. In contrast, Order Splatling Replica reduces the radius inked by spray droplets and also decreases the radius of ink splatter at impact (both by about 8%).
Other weapon tweaks include Order Blaster Replica lowering shot scatter while jumping (about 8% reduction). Undercover Sorella Brella and Patternz Undercover Brella get changes tied to ink efficiency and post-shot movement restriction: ink consumption is reduced by roughly 8%, and the time movement is restricted after firing is extended by about 1/60th of a second.
Rapid Blaster Pro Deco and Rapid Blaster Pro WNT-R see a delay to ink recovery after firing—recovery begins about 1/6th of a second later.
Special weapons are also adjusted. Nintendo’s notes call out increased damage against Big Bubblers (around 30%) and increased damage from direct shots and explosions against Big Bubblers (again about 30%). There’s also a reduction to ink consumption when zipping (about 33%). Additionally, one listed change decreases damage taken from splatanas when the player has armor by about 30%, and another adjusts a device’s setup range and explosion effectiveness (explosion radius down about 14%).
Beyond individual weapon stats, the patch includes broader multiplayer systems updates. Blasters’ explosion collision detection with opponents is reduced to partially reverse the version 11.0.0 improvements—aiming for a middle ground between before and after that earlier change. Nintendo also notes that ink splatter will fall around players’ feet more easily.
Finally, matchmaking and team formation are part of the update. Nintendo says it adjusted systems for team division to reduce the chance that weapons with similar preferred ranges end up on the same team, and it also targets improving how the version 11.1.0 approach applies. The update further shortens the window used to determine when a player disconnecting immediately after a battle starts triggers a no-contest result for several modes (Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz).
Who’s affected: Switch players, Switch 2 performance, and online requirements
Splatoon 3’s update applies to players on both the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. While the game does not have a dedicated Switch 2 edition, the source notes that performance improvements are available when playing on the newer system.
Nintendo also made clear that installing version 11.2.0 is necessary to play online, so players who want to queue matches should update before jumping in.
More broadly, the patch lands after Nintendo ended regular Splatoon 3 updates in 2024, though occasional tweaks continue. With a fourth numbered Splatoon game not announced yet, Nintendo and the developers appear focused on keeping the current title balanced and competitive.
What comes next: Splatfest timing and the Switch 2-focused spin-off
The update’s patch notes do not mention the next Splatfest theme, even though a new theme was announced during the most recent Nintendo Direct. Nintendo’s information ties the next Splatfest to a new game: Splatoon Raiders launches on Switch 2 on July 23.
Splatoon Raiders is positioned as a spin-off rather than another mainline entry. After three numbered Splatoon games, this will be the first spin-off in the series and is described as a largely single-player adventure, with co-op missions available.
Nintendo is also preparing the next step for Splatoon 3 itself. The patch notes indicate the following update will focus on multiplayer balance, but details beyond that focus are not specified in the source material.
Separately, a Nintendo Direct is scheduled for June 30 with Splatoon Raiders as a primary focus. Given that the next Splatfest appears designed to build hype around the new game, more information may be revealed during that presentation.
What players should know
- Ver. 11.2.0 is live now, and it’s required for Splatoon 3 online play.
- Expect both buffs and nerfs across multiple weapons, including Nozzlenose and Splatling variants.
- Special weapon behavior is being reshaped, with specific changes tied to Big Bubblers and other combat interactions.
- Matchmaking/team division is adjusted to reduce uneven stacking of similar-range weapons.
- Next Splatfest details aren’t covered in the patch notes, but Splatoon Raiders (Switch 2) is launching July 23.
| Category | Examples from Ver. 11.2.0 |
|---|---|
| Weapon adjustments | Nozzlenose shot speed (+~5%) and flight distance; Order Splatling Replica ink radius and impact splatter radius (~-8% each) |
| Special/utility changes | Big Bubblers damage (+~30%); zip ink consumption (~-33%); armor + splatanas damage taken (~-30%); explosion radius (~-14%) |
| Multiplayer systems | Blaster explosion collision detection partially reversed; ink splatter falls around players’ feet more easily; team division and disconnect/no-contest window updated |
Expert View
This update reads like a careful calibration rather than a wholesale balance reset. Nintendo is dialing back some earlier changes from version 11.0.0 while still shifting several weapon and special interactions, and it’s pairing those tweaks with matchmaking adjustments aimed at healthier team variety. If you’re sensitive to how teams form and how certain weapons trade at range, Ver. 11.2.0 is the one to install before you queue.
