ARMS Getting Free Content Updates After Launch, Multiplayer Demo Coming Soon

Nintendo just revealed in the recently-concluded ARMS Direct that ARMS will be receiving a global online demo event called the ARMS Global TestPunch! This will be your chance to go hands-on with ARMS and play the game for yourself before it launches on June 16. The best part? It kicks off next Friday, May 26.

So the official dates will be May 26-28, and then June 2-4. It's important to note for any of our international readers that the May 26 and June 2 dates will be for North America only. These online multiplayer tests worked wonders for Splatoon, and gave countless potential fans the time they needed to decide whether or not the game was right for them.

It's a brilliant move on Nintendo's part, because I've always said that ARMS is a game that you have to play in order to understand. The controls seem simple enough when they're explained to you and you see videos online, but it's not until you get those Joy-Con in your hands and start curving punches for yourself that you start to understand how truly complex and gratifying the game can be.

Nintendo also revealed that additional content will be coming to ARMS post-launch in the form of free updates. "In the future, Nintendo will release free software updates that add new fighters, stages and ARMS to the game. These free updates will occur after the game launches, so watch for additional details!"

Again, this is exactly what Nintendo did with Splatoon, and it kept the game feeling fresh and new for over a year after it released. With Splatoon Nintendo continued to shower players with the type of content they're used to paying for in other games: new maps, new weapons, new game modes, and more. It's nice to know we can expect that same level of commitment with ARMS.

We only have a week to go before you can stop listening to me talk about ARMS and actually play it for yourself! We'll be taking part in the Global TestPunch all weekend long, so maybe we'll get matched up. We'll see you all in the ring.