E3 Exclusive: Nintendo Planning Admiral Ackbar DLC for Splatoon!
My conference center cleaning cousin just spilled the ink on the messiest announcement in E3 history. This Fall, Nintendo will be introducing Admiral Ackbar-themed DLC for its critically acclaimed 4-player team-based online shooter Splatoon. After the jump, we reveal everything we know about the upcoming expansion pack titled… what else… “It’s a Splat!”
The half-squid/half-kid stars of Nintendo’s Splatoon are teaming up with America’s favorite lobster-head-in-hospital-scrubs, Admiral Ackbar from the Star Wars universe!
The distinguished Rebel military commander will be coming to Inkopolis as part of this Fall’s “It’s a Splat!” DLC pack. The expansion includes two new levels and several additional weapons, not to mention wonderful gear to give your Inkling an iconic Star Wars look. (We’re most excited by the possibility of the Leia bun hairstyle on our Squid Girl. So fresh!)
To make Admiral Ackbar feel at home in the game, Nintendo designed one of the new stages to resemble the character’s homeworld of Mon Calamari. The abundance of interconnected canals is sure to make for some hectic and exciting matches. Just don’t fall in the water. Unlike Ackbar, Inklings can only swim in their team’s ink or the opposing team’s tears.
The other new stage is based on Yavin IV, so expect lengthy ruins and tall temple structures, perfect for sniping. Who knows — maybe we’ll see a Sith ghost or two skulking about the area.
However the real star of “It’s a Splat!” is the Admiral Ackbar Inkvasion special attack. Once their gauge is filled, players can call up a strike from a Mon Calamari cruiser helmed by Admiral Ackbar. The Admiral will scream “It’s a Splat!” before ordering an entire fleet to splat your team’s colors on almost half the stage at once. But the Inkvasion doesn’t end there.
Admiral Ackbar also commands his most elite X-Wing fighters to finish inking anything the cruiser may have missed. The fighters are led by resident top gunner, Poe Dameron, soon to be seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“It’s a Splat!” DLC also adds Admiral Ackbar to the gamepad minigame, Squid Jump. The Mon Calamari will warn you whenever an enemy obstacle appears above you.
For its part, Nintendo will be holding a Splatfest in November to promote the DLC and the seventh Star Wars film set to release in December. Players who participate in the Star Wars-themed competition can choose to side with The First Order or The Resistance. The team that wins will earn rare outfits and weapons straight outta Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
Pricing for the DLC isn’t known just yet, but Nintendo has been offering up some of the best values for add-on content, Super Smash Bros. notwithstanding.
Hopefully this is the beginning of more and more collaborations between Disney and Nintendo. Might we suggest BB-8 DLC for Splatoon next? He’d certainly make for the ultimate ink roller!
