Splatoon Lockers

About

Splatoon Lockers refers to customizable lockers in the 2022 Nintendo video game Splatoon 3. Following the release of the game in September 2022, images and videos of the lockers gained virality on social media as users shared images and videos of their humorously decorated lockers, particularly those with Moai Statues placed in them.

Origin

On September 9th, 2022, the third-person shooter video game Splatoon 3 was released.^[1] In the game, after the player reaches level four, they get access to a locker room area where they have access to their personal customizable locker, their friends' lockers and lockers of people they have played with.

Starting shortly before the official release, users on social media shared images and videos of their humorously decorated lockers, as well as lockers decorated by other players. On September 8th, 2022, Twitter^[2] user @Duracell_DLC posted an image of their locker filled with Toxic Mist flasks, with the post gaining over 160 retweets and 3,400 likes in five days (shown below, left). On September 9th, Twitter^[3] user @alysplat posted an image of a locker decoration resembling a Five Night's at Freddy's" animatronic that gained over 700 retweets and 7,100 likes in four days (shown below, right).

Spread

In the days following the release of the game, users on TikTok, Twitter, Reddit and other websites shared more images and videos of Splatoon 3 lockers, with putting a Moai statue item inside the locker them becoming a viral trend in the game's community due to the Moai statue having been a recognized internet meme since 2018. For example, on September 10th, 2022, Twitter^[4] user @xDAZE_ posted a video of them opening locker after locker, with every one of the having a Moai statue item placed inside. The video gained over 160,000 views, 2,700 retweets and 20,100 likes on Twitter in three days (shown below).

Later on September 10th, 2022, Twitter^[5] user @Jonny_Sans_ posted a Self-Proclaimed Free Thinkers meme referencing the trend that gained over 3,600 retweets and 31,700 likes in three days (shown below, left). On September 12th, Twitter^[6] user @Leptonychotes posted a Dramatic Crossroads meme that received over 10,200 retweets and 93,800 likes in one day (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References