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Splatoon Raiders 2026

Video game · Nintendo Switch 2 · July 23, 2026

Developed by Nintendo EPDPublished by Nintendo

Splatoon Raiders is a 2026 third-person shooter game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. It marks the first spinoff in the Splatoon series and the fourth release overall. The game takes place on the distant Spirhalite Islands, where players control a mechanic teaming up with Shiver, Frye, and Big Man from the idol group Deep Cut. Their mission involves exploring the islands for treasure while encountering hostile natives known as Salmonids.

Players utilize ink both for shooting and moving through different environments across the Spirhalite Islands. Combat options include any of 100 available weapons organized into eleven distinct classes. The game introduces "gadgets" — secondary weapons tied to one of three types of player-worn "ink tanks" that allow for mobile, aggressive, or tactical combat strategies. A key companion is the Exploration Bot, a vehicle piloted by either Shiver, Frye, or Big Man that supports the player during battles.

Development started during the final phase of updates for Splatoon 3 in 2022. The team drew inspiration from the cooperative mode Salmon Run to create a fresh gameplay experience and attract new players. The gadget system was designed to enhance movement and tactical choices. Initially, the Spirhalite Islands were envisioned with a cheerful, tropical look, but developers later chose a more worn-down and eerie appearance. Deep Cut was selected as the central focus of the narrative since the developers believed their characters had not been sufficiently explored in Splatoon 3's single-player mode.

Splatoon Raiders launched on July 23, 2026. Critics responded positively to its core mechanics, gadget features, and multiplayer elements, though opinions were split regarding its visual style and level of innovation.

Crew

Director

Yoshihiko Ito

Designer

Kenji Matsumoto

Programmer

Takuto Asaka

Artist

Koji Sonoyama

Producer

Seita Inoue

Music

Toshiyuki Sudo

Details

Developer

Nintendo EPD

Publisher

Nintendo

Platforms

Nintendo Switch 2

Modes

Single-player, multiplayer

Series

Splatoon

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