BODY: Nintendo has quietly slipped another weapon into Splatoon 3's ever-expanding arsenal — and this one comes with a catch. On August 14, the company unveiled the PET Shooter Replica, a new addition that won't drop into just anyone's locker. To wield it, you'll need save data proving you've cleared Raiders, the game's expedition-style adventure content.
As the name hints, the PET Shooter is built around the humble PET bottle — the clear plastic drink container that gives the weapon its recycled, scrappy Splatoon aesthetic. The "Replica" tag signals it's a reward-tier version of a weapon encountered within Raiders itself, echoing how earlier Splatoon titles handed out remixed gear to players who put in the story hours.
The unlock requirement is the headline here. Rather than grinding cash in Turf War or waiting for a catalog tier, players must have completed Raiders to have the weapon recognized on their save file. It's a pointed nudge toward the single-player-adjacent content that Nintendo has been steadily building out since Splatoon 3 launched, rewarding the dedicated over the casual.
For competitive Inklings and Octolings, the real question is where the PET Shooter lands in the meta — its ink coverage, fire rate, and kit of sub and special weapons will determine whether it becomes a ranked-mode staple or a fashion-forward novelty.
The insider take
From Tokyo, the pattern is clear: Nintendo is treating Splatoon 3 less as a finished product and more as a living seasonal platform, much like it does with Animal Crossing. Tying a new weapon to Raiders completion is a savvy retention play in a market where Japanese players are famously loyal but demand a steady drip of reasons to return. Splatoon remains one of Nintendo's most culturally embedded franchises here — its Splatfests still trend nationwide — so even a single bottle-themed shooter generates genuine buzz in the domestic fanbase. Expect this to be one thread in a larger update tapestry.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).