How much data does Splatoon 2 use?
Splatoon 2 features new multiplayer modes where up to eight players can compete in teams of four. Unfortunately, unlike single player modes, these multiplayer modes use internet bandwidth. If you play the game on an installed mobile broadband or mobile hotspot connection, playing in multiplayer can cut into your online data and even push you over your monthly data limit.
To see if you might use too much mobile data playing Splatoon 2, let’s take a closer look at the size of the game download, size of game updates, and amount of data you use playing the game. Remember that the easiest and most fail-proof way to make sure you don’t exceed your monthly data limit is to switch from a limited to an unlimited mobile data plan.
Data use downloading Splatoon 2
The initial game download uses much more mobile data than updating or playing the game. Here is the most recent file size for Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch. Keep in mind that the download size is smaller than the file size (since it’s compressed), and that the file size will grow over time as developers release patches and updates for the game.
| Platform | File size |
| Nintendo Switch | 5.7 GB |
If you’re worried that you don’t have enough mobile data to download the game on your current data plan, there’s an easy way to avoid using a lot of data on the download. Instead of downloading the game online, simply purchase the physical disk and install the game offline.
Data use updating Splatoon 2
Nintendo occasionally releases patches and updates for Splatoon 2, which you can keep track of in the game updates. These updates vary in download size, but major updates are as large as 2 GB. If you’re worried about updates pushing you over your monthly data limit, turn off auto-updates and manually install updates when you have extra data to spare.
Data use playing Splatoon 2
Splatoon 2 uses about 150 MB of data per hour, which is slightly more than most online games. The exact amount of data you use playing Splatoon 2 depends on the number of players in the game mode, your frame rate, whether or not you use voice chat, and the tick rate of your server:
- The more players in a game, the more data your internet network has to communicate with other players’ networks to share information like stats and location. If you’re playing Turf War with seven other players you’ll use more data than if you’re playing Salmon Run with three other players.
- A higher frame rate refreshes the game more often, which makes it run faster. A lower frame rate saves you data, but makes it harder for you to react quickly in the game. You can adjust your frame rate (measured in FPS) in your game settings. To change your frame rate, you’ll need to disable vertical synch (V-Synch).
- If you use voice chat, expect to use more data during gameplay. Without voice chat, an online game like PUBG uses less than 30 MB of data per hour. With voice chat, it uses more than 50 MB of data per hour.
- The tick rate of your server also affects your data use. A 128-tick server, which refreshes the game 128 times every second, uses about twice as much data as a 64-tick server, which refreshes the game 64 times every second.
Upgrade to unlimited 4G LTE
If you want to play Splatoon 2 without thinking about your mobile data use, consider switching to an unlimited 4G LTE connection with no monthly data limit and no bandwidth throttling (no matter how much data you use in a month).
