Splatoon 3 lets you transfer your save data from Splatoon 2

News
By last updated

You'll be able to bring in your old rank and get free weapons

Splatoon 3
(Image credit: Nintendo)

You'll be able to transfer your save data from Splatoon 2 into Splatoon 3 for a variety of in-game rewards, including an early boost to your ranking.

If you transfer your save data from Splatoon 2, you will get three Gold Sheldon Licenses which can be exchanged for Splatoon 3 weapons , "regardless of player level." Also, if you start Splatoon 3 fresh, you'll have to reach level 10 before jumping into the ranked Anarchy Battle mode. With a Splatoon 2 transfer, you'll immediately get access to Anarchy Battles.

You'll also come into Splatoon 3 "with a higher rank, depending on your rank in Splatoon 2." Nintendo doesn't fully explain how directly that rank will transfer - we don't know if, say, S+5 players will still be S+5 coming into the new game - but it does mean experienced players won't have to start from the very bottom all over again. Your matchmaking stats outside of the ranked mode will also carry over.

All this info comes from a new blog post on the official site, which provides a selection of additional information that didn't make it into today's 30-minute gameplay presentation. It's been a blowout of Splatoon 3 info today, as we learned of "large-scale paid DLC", a new 1v1 card game, and a selection of new amiibo. But most importantly of all, we've now met Big Man.

Splatoon 3 is set to launch on September 9, but you'll be able to get in early with a special Splatfest set to run on August 27.

Dustin Bailey
Dustin Bailey
Staff Writer

Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently based in Missouri. He's been covering games (with occasional dalliances in the worlds of anime and pro wrestling) since 2015, first as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His love for games was sparked somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and these days you can usually find him splitting his entertainment time between retro gaming, the latest big action-adventure title, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator.