Splatoon 2: A Fresh Take on Third-Person Shooting?

Nintendo has always been known for pushing boundaries and challenging conventional wisdom with its game releases. This trend continues with Splatoon 2, a sequel that promises more of what made the original so unique – but this time around, it's not just about fun in the sun.

The first trailer to hit screens during E3 2017 left many players scratching their heads. Instead of showing off new maps or gameplay mechanics, we were treated to two teams of professional-looking gamers walking into an arena, picking up what looked like modified Pro controllers, and getting ready for some serious competition.

At first glance, this seemed almost laughable – a Splatoon game being marketed as a serious competitive title? But hold on to your Ink Blasters folks because Nintendo is dead serious about making its latest IP the next big thing in esports.

According to sources close to development at Nintendo HQ, the company has been secretly working with professional gaming organizations and streamers for months now to create an experience that's not just fun for casual players but also highly competitive enough to appeal to seasoned gamers looking for something new. Think Overwatch meets Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – minus all the actual shooting (well, mostly).

The idea behind this move seems simple yet genius at the same time: tap into a growing market where millions upon millions of dollars are being thrown around every year just for teams like Cloud9 or Fnatic to compete against each other in games such as League Of Legends and Dota 2.

And why not Splatoon? After all, it already has everything necessary – fast-paced action, strategic teamplay, and above all else: paint guns! What more could competitive gamers ask for?

Of course, there are plenty of reasons why this might just end up being another failed experiment by Nintendo. For one thing,Splatoontournament scenes simply don't exist yet outside Japan (although that's changing fast). Then there's the issueofactually appealing to an audience who typically prefers more mature titles over something as... childishlookingas Splatoon seems at first glance.

But hey, we'll reserve judgment until launch day comes around and see if Nintendo can actually deliver on their promise of creating a true esportstitle out of what started life as nothing more thana wacky Mario Kart spin-off. Until then though? Keep your eyes peeled – things are about to get ink-credible!

Splatoon 2 trailer