Nintendo has surprised gamers yet again with a significant update to Splatoon 3, following a recent patch for Kirby Air Riders. The update, labeled Splatoon 3 v11.0.0, is set to release on Thursday, January 29, bringing about substantial changes to the popular shooter game. One of the key additions is a new gameplay mechanic called Flow Aura, which triggers when players eliminate multiple opponents rapidly, unleashing an ink bomb and providing various boosts for 30 seconds.

Players will benefit from enhanced abilities like Run Speed, Swim Speed, Ink Resistance, and Intensify Action during the Flow Aura state. Additionally, extending the duration of Flow Aura is possible by utilizing these boosts to defeat more opponents or assist teammates. Moreover, the update introduces health bars for opponents, allowing players to gauge their remaining health post-attack.

Nintendo also disclosed that players can now see the health bars of their teammates if they sustain damage, offering a tactical advantage in supporting allies or pursuing weakened enemies. Notably, adjustments have been made to hitboxes around characters, with smaller hitboxes in swim form to prevent players from being hit while taking cover. However, hitboxes for shorter-range weapons have been enlarged, incentivizing players to engage foes with greater reach.

Lastly, a modification to the Stealth Jump gear ability increases flight time for Super Jumps based on distance, elongating travel time across the stage. This update encompasses various other changes, including those affecting multiplayer modes, SplatNet 3, and bug fixes.