The Splatoon franchise has been a vibrant, ink-splattered cornerstone of Nintendo’s modern era, redefining the competitive shooter genre with charm, color, and cephalopod style. Now, for the first time in franchise history, Nintendo has officially announced a Splatoon spinoff game: Splatoon Raiders and it’s coming exclusively to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
This announcement not only electrifies the global Splatoon community but also signals Nintendo’s broader strategy of expanding its beloved IPs beyond their traditional gameplay molds. With a brand-new narrative, gameplay mechanics, and an ambitious open-world direction, Splatoon Raiders is shaping up to be a flagship title for the Switch 2’s launch era.
What Is Splatoon Raiders?
Unlike the mainline Splatoon series which revolves around team-based turf wars and colorful arena combat Splatoon Raiders takes a different turn. This standalone spinoff blends third-person action, platforming, and co-op exploration in a new genre: ink-powered raid missions across sprawling open zones.
In Splatoon Raiders, players form “ink raiding squads” that traverse the remains of a submerged Earth-like world, uncovering relics, defeating mutated sea creatures, and liberating outposts. You won’t just be painting turf you’ll be taking it back from hostile forces.
Key Features of Splatoon Raiders
A Narrative-Driven Adventure
One of the most striking changes in Splatoon Raiders is its cinematic campaign. The story follows a band of rogue Inklings and Octolings known as the “Raiders” as they fight against an ancient aquatic force known as the Ink Eclipse, a corrupted entity spreading dark ink across the seas and skies.
The game will reportedly feature voice-acted cutscenes, branching quests, and multiple endings, giving players narrative choices for the first time in Splatoon history.
Strategic Raiding and Loadout Customization
Each raid is a mission-based expedition where players can select from specialized roles like:
- Ink Slinger (ranged DPS)
- Shield Squid (defense/tank)
- OctoTech (tech/mechanic)
- Surge Roller (melee charge unit)
Weapon customization has been greatly expanded, with new ink types, gadgets, and deployable tools like ink drones, paint mines, and glider shells.
Open-Zone Exploration
Gone are the tight multiplayer maps. In Splatoon Raiders, you’ll explore massive zones like:
- The Coral Catacombs: A sunken city filled with neon-lit ruins and lurking beasts.
- Echo Reef: A bio-luminescent forest of seaweed and mystery.
- Skyrise Shoal: Floating wreckage turned into airborne fortresses.
Each zone features dynamic weather, underwater traversal, vertical ink climbing, and environmental puzzles all navigated with your trusty ink packs.
Multiplayer Co-Op and Crossplay
Up to 4 players can join a raid squad via online or local co-op. The game also includes matchmaking, voice chat, and emote systems. Nintendo has confirmed that Splatoon Raiders will be among the first Switch 2 titles to support crossplay with other Switch 2 devices via Nintendo Online+.
For solo players, AI squadmates will fill in, with advanced behavior programming similar to Pikmin 4’s Oatchi assistant.
A Deeper Look at the Story
At the core of Splatoon Raiders is a new mythos. After the events of Splatoon 3, a mysterious black ink started surfacing, corrupting the ocean. This ink, known as Obsidian Ooze, is believed to be the byproduct of a pre-Inkling civilization.
The protagonists are not elite agents like in Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion, but rebels, scavengers, and outcasts trying to rebuild. You’ll interact with NPC factions like:
- The Finforge Guild – scavengers who craft high-tier gear.
- The Leviathan Order – zealots who worship the ink.
- The Eeltide Nomads – lore keepers who live deep in submerged zones.
Through dialogue, quests, and exploration, players piece together how the Ink Eclipse came to be and what lies beyond it.
Art Direction and Visuals on the Switch 2
Running on the upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, Splatoon Raiders features enhanced shaders, real-time lighting, and dynamic textures. The ink now reacts physically to the environment pooling, dripping, and even hardening based on conditions.
According to early developer screenshots and leaks:
- Enemies have distinct bioluminescent patterns, glowing more aggressively when enraged.
- Each zone uses high-contrast palettes, blending darkness with neon tones.
- Cinematic set pieces include ink storms, collapsing structures, and aerial skirmishes.
Nintendo also teased that ray tracing may be available when docked, making it one of the first Splatoon games to adopt next-gen graphical features.
How Splatoon Raiders Differs from the Core Series
| Feature | Core Splatoon Series | Splatoon Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Mode | PvP Turf Wars | PvE Raiding & Story |
| Gameplay Style | Competitive Arena Shooter | Third-Person Action Adventure |
| World Design | Compact Multiplayer Maps | Open-Zone Exploration |
| Player Role | Inklings/Octolings in Ranked Matches | Raiders on Story Quests |
| Focus | Fast Combat & Paint Coverage | Strategy, Lore, and Progression |
This shift does not replace the main series. In fact, Splatoon 4 is still in development, but Splatoon Raiders serves as a bold experiment introducing lore-heavy solo content and cooperative PvE to a series traditionally driven by PvP mechanics.
Release Date and Launch Details
Release Window: Holiday Season 2025
While no specific release date has been confirmed, Splatoon Raiders is scheduled as a launch window title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Industry analysts speculate a November 2025 drop, just ahead of the holiday gaming rush.
Physical and Digital Editions
The game will come in:
- Standard Edition
- Collector’s Ink Edition (with a glow-in-the-dark Raider squid statue, art book, and soundtrack)
- Digital Deluxe (with extra gear packs and a bonus raid zone)
Preorders are expected to go live shortly after Nintendo’s official Switch 2 showcase in September 2025.
Early Community Reactions
The Splatoon community is buzzing. Popular streamers and lore theorists are already dissecting every frame from the trailer.
- Reddit threads are filled with speculation on the Ink Eclipse’s origin.
- Fan art of Raider gear is flooding platforms like Twitter and DeviantArt.
- Some long-time Splatoon fans have praised Nintendo for finally offering “a deeper, darker look” into the Splatoon universe.
Nintendo’s Strategy: Why a Spinoff Now?
There are two key reasons behind this pivot:
- Switch 2’s Power Opens New Possibilities
With the rumored custom NVIDIA chip, better CPU-GPU balance, and SSD storage, the Switch 2 enables larger worlds and more complex gameplay than its predecessor. - IP Expansion is Key to Longevity
Just like Mario has platformers, RPGs, and racing games, Splatoon is now being positioned as more than a PvP shooter. It’s a universe. Nintendo clearly wants to replicate its Legend of Zelda success marrying lore and gameplay evolution.
If Splatoon Raiders lands successfully, it could open doors for even more creative offshoots maybe even a Splatoon tactics game or animated series down the road.
What We Hope to See
As we look ahead to gameplay reveals and demos, here are some Wishlist features fans are buzzing about:
- Customizable Squid Bases: Let players build or personalize home outposts.
- Mountable Sea Creatures: For fast travel and underwater boss fights.
- Deeper Role Progression Trees: Like in RPGs, to make each Raider unique.
- Seasonal Live Events: PvE-based Splatfests that change the world story.
- Photo Mode: For showcasing ink art in the new scenic zones.
With Nintendo already teasing “the most ambitious Splatoon experience yet,” much of this may already be in the works
Splatoon Raiders is more than just a spinoff it’s a bold step forward. By blending open-world exploration, co-op action, and rich storytelling, Nintendo is giving fans a completely new way to experience the Splatoon universe.
If done right, this game could do for Splatoon what Breath of the Wild did for Zelda transform it from beloved series into a genre-defining legacy.
