Splatoon 2 Global Testfire: Dates, times, maps and modes for Nintendo Switch multiplayer test

Play Nintendo's hit family-friendly shooter for free this weekend.

Nintendo is allowing Nintendo Switch owners to sample upcoming sequel Splatoon 2 this weekend in the first "Global Testfire" event for the unique, family-friendly third-person shooter. Here's everything you need to know.

Running from Friday, 24 to Sunday, 26 March, the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire will take place at set times amounting to a total of six hours of play from Friday to Saturday. The exact timings are listed below.

The client that will allow Switch users to access the de facto beta test has been available to download for over a week, probably to help ease stress on Nintendo's servers when the Global Testfire begins.

Once the game goes live, players will gain access to Splatoon 2's 4 on 4 Turf War mode, which will be familiar to anyone who played the hugely-popular first game on Wii U.

Turf War is the base game of Splatoon, which challenges two teams made up of humanoid "Inkiling" characters to coat as much of a map's surface area with their team's coloured ink.

That ink can be shot at other players to take them out and once it coats a surface it can also be travelled through (in the Inkling's squid form) more quickly. This also replenishes the amount of ink players have.

During the Global Testfire Turf War will be available on two maps. Musselforge Fitness is the first: a huge gym with treadmills, a swimming pool and loads of climbing surfaces (not that you'll be able to climb them).

The second map is Reef, a park-like recreational area that apparently sits not far from Inkopolis Square, the original game's hub area. Both maps are pictured below.