Splatoon Raiders Release Date, Price, Gameplay
Splatoon Raiders launches July 23, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo dropped a release date trailer this morning via the Nintendo Today app — the game’s first new footage since its initial reveal at Nintendo Today on June 10, 2025. Pre-orders go live today on the Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store.
Here’s everything confirmed so far.
Table of Contents
Splatoon Raiders: Key Facts
| Detail | Confirmed Info |
|---|---|
| Release date | July 23, 2026 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive) |
| Price (digital) | $49.99 USD / €49.99 |
| Price (physical) | $59.99 USD |
| Genre | Single-player-focused action shooter |
| Setting | Spirhalite Islands |
| Companions | Deep Cut (Frye, Shiver, Big Man) |
| Enemies | Salmonids (new and returning) |
| Amiibo | 3 new Deep Cut amiibo figures (pre-order available now) |
| Pre-orders | Live now on Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store |
| First announced | June 10, 2025 via Nintendo Today |
Sources: Nintendo official announcement, Nintendo Today app.
What Is Splatoon Raiders?
Splatoon Raiders is the first true single-player spin-off in the Splatoon franchise. Every mainline Splatoon game — Splatoon (2015), Splatoon 2 (2017), Splatoon 3 (2022) — has been built around competitive multiplayer with solo campaigns as a secondary feature. Raiders flips that entirely: it is described by Nintendo as “a single-player-focused action shooter for Splatoon veterans and newcomers alike.”
Nintendo’s official description: you play as a mechanic who teams up with Deep Cut — Frye, Shiver, and Big Man, the swashbuckling trio introduced in Splatoon 3 — to explore the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. The gameplay loop combines ink-splattering combat against Salmonid enemies, mechanical gadgets, loadout customization, raid missions, and treasure hunting across a map Nintendo describes as expansive.
One member of Deep Cut accompanies you in each raid, piloting a bot. Big Man in a mech suit — confirmed in the trailer.
Gameplay: How It’s Different From Splatoon 3
Splatoon Raiders draws from two specific Splatoon modes that fans have consistently ranked as highlights:
Salmon Run — Splatoon’s co-op wave defense mode against Salmonid hordes. Raiders takes that enemy faction and builds a full single-player campaign around fighting them across an open island environment with persistent gear progression.
Side Order — The 2024 DLC expansion for Splatoon 3 that introduced roguelike structure, permanent upgrade systems, and a solo-playable campaign loop. Nintendo Life’s community reaction this morning immediately flagged Side Order as the reference point for what Raiders appears to be doing at larger scale.
The Spirhalite Islands setting replaces the series’ standard urban Inkopolis/Splatsville arenas with an outdoor island archipelago — a meaningful departure for a franchise that has always been defined by urban map design.
Loadout customization appears more granular than in any previous Splatoon game. The trailer shows the player character in different outfits across multiple segments, and Nintendo’s description emphasizes both appearance and weapon loadout customization as central mechanics. Mechanical gadgets — distinct from the standard ink weapons — appear to function as a new equipment category unique to Raiders.
The $49.99 Price: What It Signals
This is worth flagging. First-party Nintendo Switch 2 titles have launched at $69.99 (Mario Kart World) and $59.99 (physical standard). Splatoon Raiders comes in at $49.99 digital and $59.99 physical.
The lower digital price likely reflects Nintendo’s positioning of Raiders as a spin-off rather than a numbered mainline sequel. It also mirrors how Nintendo priced Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC expansion — deliberately accessible to pull in players who dropped off the multiplayer.
For the Switch 2 library through summer 2026, the release date fits into a Nintendo-confirmed lineup that now includes Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (May), Rhythm Heaven Groove (July 2), and Splatoon Raiders (July 23). The Duskbloods and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave remain undated.
Deep Cut Amiibo: What’s Included
Three new amiibo figures launch alongside the game on July 23:
- Frye (Splatoon Raiders design)
- Shiver (Splatoon Raiders design)
- Big Man (Splatoon Raiders design)
These are reskins of the original Deep Cut amiibo from Splatoon 3, featuring the updated looks the characters wear in Raiders. Pre-orders are live now on My Nintendo Store. Nintendo has not yet disclosed amiibo functionality in-game.
How Nintendo Announced This (And Why It Matters)
Both major Splatoon Raiders reveals — the June 2025 first announcement and today’s release date trailer — came through the Nintendo Today app, not a Nintendo Direct.
Nintendo has increasingly used Nintendo Today for time-sensitive announcements that would otherwise require a Direct presentation. The pattern is relevant for following Switch 2 news: if you want first notice on game releases, price reveals, and surprise announcements, the Nintendo Today app is now the primary channel — not YouTube or social media, which receive the content after the app notification has already gone out.
The community reaction on Nintendo Life, Kotaku, and NintendoEverything this morning reflects this: most fans woke up to a notification they weren’t expecting, which is exactly how the first Raiders announcement worked in June 2025. Nintendo appears to be deliberately using Nintendo Today for “stealth” drops on titles that have been quiet for months.
Is Splatoon Raiders Good for People Who Don’t Play Multiplayer?
Based on what’s confirmed: yes, this is specifically designed for them.
The three mainline Splatoon games all require engagement with competitive multiplayer to get the most out of them. The solo campaigns exist but are relatively short. Raiders removes that dependency entirely. Nintendo’s language is direct: “for Splatoon veterans and newcomers alike” — the newcomers framing is code for players who have bounced off multiplayer.
The combination of Salmon Run’s enemy faction, Side Order’s progression structure, and an open island setting suggests a game with significantly more playtime and mechanical depth than any previous Splatoon single-player mode. Whether it executes is unknowable until reviews arrive closer to the July 23 date. But the design intent is clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Splatoon Raiders release date?
July 23, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
How much does Splatoon Raiders cost?
$49.99 USD digitally and $59.99 USD physically in the US. €49.99 in Europe digitally.
Is Splatoon Raiders a mainline Splatoon 4?
No. Splatoon Raiders is a single-player-focused spin-off, not a numbered mainline entry. It does not include the competitive multiplayer modes that define the main series.
What Switch does Splatoon Raiders work on?
Nintendo Switch 2 only. The game is not compatible with the original Nintendo Switch.
Who are the companions in Splatoon Raiders?
Frye, Shiver, and Big Man — the three members of Deep Cut from Splatoon 3. One of them accompanies the player in a bot during each raid.
Does Splatoon Raiders have co-op?
Nintendo’s description implies optional co-op alongside the main single-player mode, based on community reading of the trailer. Nintendo has not explicitly confirmed multiplayer co-op details.
Are there new Splatoon Raiders amiibo?
Yes — three new Deep Cut amiibo featuring Frye, Shiver, and Big Man in their Raiders designs launch on July 23 alongside the game. Pre-orders are live now on My Nintendo Store.
Where was Splatoon Raiders announced?
Both the original June 2025 announcement and today’s release date reveal were made via the Nintendo Today app, before appearing on Nintendo’s YouTube and social channels.
This article will be updated as Nintendo releases new details ahead of the July 23 launch. Last reviewed: April 21, 2026.
