The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire event begins today.
Nintendo Switch owners can download the application now; however, you can’t play until the event officially begins. Unlike most public multiplayer betas, the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire does not allow you to freely play the game all weekend. Instead, there are six one-hour play times set up over the next three days. The first play session kicks off today at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET and lasts for one hour. Events will run through the weekend, ending on March 26. You can check out the full schedule for the weekend here.
During the Global Testfire players will have access to new weapons and abilities. It will also contain tweaked versions of classic weapons such as the Splat Roller. The event will also be one of the first chances for many players to experience online multiplayer on the Switch. The game is playable in both handheld and TV mode so anyone with a good Wi-Fi connection should be able to paint the town on the go.
Splatoon 2 is the sequel to the surprise hit 2015 game. Much like the first game, Nintendo promised they will support the game after launch. New weapons, maps and more will be released after launch according to game director Hisashi Nogami. Splatoon 2 launches this summer, but Nintendo still hasn’t revealed an exact date.
