Nintendo's ink-splattered spinoff Splatoon Raiders will hit the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, the company confirmed this week. The game will cost $49.99 on the eShop, with physical copies expected to carry a higher price tag reflecting Nintendo's new tiered pricing strategy for Switch 2 exclusives.
The action shooter marks another major summer launch for the console. It follows Rhythm Heaven Groove, which arrives July 2, and aligns with a major leak of Nintendo's release calendar that surfaced earlier this year.
Splatoon Raiders centers on a customizable character known as the Mechanic, who ventures through an open world armed with colored ink weapons. The game emphasizes single-player exploration but supports up to four players total through online or local co-op, with difficulty scaling based on whether you go solo or squad up.
The standout feature is a companion mech tank that can be piloted by any member of Splatoon 3's Deep Cut band: Shiver, Frye, or Big Man. The tank packs ink cannons and serves as your heavy artillery while you retain standard Squid abilities like painting surfaces and wielding the ink roller.
Combat revolves around splatting enemies with ink and uncovering treasure across the game's map. Defeating larger enemies and clearing objectives gradually unlock new areas to explore. Nintendo emphasized that the co-op scaling system keeps the experience balanced whether you're playing alone or with friends.
The announcement came alongside a trailer showcasing the character creator at game start, where players customize body type, voice, hairstyle, eyebrows, and eye color before jumping in. Footage revealed sprawling landscapes and varied enemy types ready for ink-soaked combat.
A new triple amiibo pack featuring the Deep Cut trio will launch alongside the game, giving collectors a fresh set of Splatoon figures to display.
The July 23 release date validates predictions from the earlier Nintendo leak, which also flagged a Star Fox game arriving sooner than July, a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake due this Christmas, and a new 3D Mario title slated for 2027.
Author Emily Chen: "Splatoon Raiders looks like Nintendo's betting that slapping ink mechanics onto a treasure-hunting adventure will stick, and the co-op scaling trick might actually work for keeping squads together without making solo players feel left behind."
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