Splatoon Raiders — Release Date, Gameplay, Price and Everything You Need to Know Before July 23

Eleven years. Four games. Hundreds of hours of Turf War, Salmon Run, and ranked battles. And through all of it, the one thing Splatoon fans kept asking for was a proper single-player game where the campaign was the point — not a side feature you finish in four hours before going back online.

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 launches July 23, 2026. Here's everything confirmed.

Release Date and Platform

The Splatoon Raiders release date is Thursday, July 23, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Splatoon Raiders is a single-player focused Splatoon game exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. There is no Switch 1 version, no PC version, no PlayStation or Xbox release. If you want to play Raiders, you need a Switch 2.

The game will be the first in the Splatoon series to support High Dynamic Range, meaning Switch 2 owners with HDR-capable displays will see the Spirhalite Islands in the most vibrant colour the series has ever produced.

Price — Cheaper Than Most First-Party Nintendo Games

Splatoon Raiders launches for $49.99 USD digitally and $59.99 USD physically in the US. In Europe, the digital price is €49.99.

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 Switch 2 owners in Europe, €49.99 is meaningfully cheaper than the standard first-party Nintendo price point. Pre-orders are live now on the Nintendo eShop.

The Story — Who You're Playing As

After crash landing on the mysterious Spirhalite Islands, the Mechanic — that's you — must collaborate with a trio of swashbuckling musicians by the name of Deep Cut to get back home, solve the mystery of the islands and, most importantly, recover as much loot as possible.

Deep Cut — Frye, Shiver, and Big Man — return from Splatoon 3 in a much more active role than their hosting duties in the previous game. At least one member of Deep Cut will fight alongside the player at any given time, operating out of a powerful bot. Players can interact directly with the companion bot, boosting off it for extra height, triggering special combo moves, and even mounting Big Man as a rideable unit in combat.

This is a significantly more interesting use of the trio than commentary and idol performances — and suggests Nintendo is treating them as actual characters with gameplay weight rather than background decoration.

The Gameplay — How Raiders Actually Works

Players traverse the Spirhalite Islands and embark on raids in search of treasure. Each location is packed with Salmonids — silly fish-like monsters of various sizes.

The enemy structure has three tiers:

Lesser Salmonids — basic foes, weak alone but dangerous in groups

Boss Salmonids — tougher enemies with unique strengths and weaknesses

Seasoned Salmonids — the most dangerous category, described as "the saltiest" of the bunch

Defeating enemies grants XP to progressively level up your character, and you'll find loot including weapons, gadget parts, materials, and Spirhalite Shards — the main currency used alongside various enemy parts to upgrade and craft your gear.

Weapons, Gadgets and Customisation

This is where Raiders gets deep.

There are over 100 weapons in the game, each with different levels and rarities. Some also come equipped with passive abilities that further increase their power.

The Hideout Ship is the main hub for managing gear between raids. This includes Weapons, Ink Tanks, Gadgets, Relic Powers, and your Bot Buddy — plus your outfit and cosmetics. Here you can upgrade weapons using Spirhalite Shards, or scrap unwanted ones for materials. Players can also craft Gadgets using enemy parts acquired throughout raids.

One of the most defining features for customisation is the Ink Tank. There are three to choose from: the Speed Tank, Power Tank, and Tactical Tank. Each changes how your character plays at a fundamental level — the Speed Tank for aggressive players who want to close distance fast, the Power Tank for raw damage output, and the Tactical Tank for players who prefer methodical, strategic encounters.

Head out to the islands in search of treasure. Each raid earns loot, new weapons and other goodies to take back to the Hideout Ship. Use your spoils to upgrade your equipment and even the ship itself — then tool up and head out to take on even bigger enemies for even bigger bounties.

Co-op — Yes, You Can Play With Friends

While Raiders is primarily a single-player game, you can join with up to three other players online or via local wireless. There's also a feature that allows you to "call for help" during single-player raids — a friend can hop in and assist on the spot, providing an extra opportunity to turn the tide. After requesting help, you'll have to wait a while before doing so again.

The game scales player power automatically to help make sure everyone has a good time regardless of level differences.

If you join someone else's raid, enemy strength scales between players' levels. Failing the raid won't award any loot — whereas single-player will. Success earns a help bonus in the form of weapons, gadget parts or other materials.

Difficulty Settings

Players can choose between Tourist (Easy), Raider (Medium), and Survivalist (Hard) difficulty settings. Importantly, difficulty only affects combat — not the loot you can get. This is a smart design decision — it means players who want a more relaxed experience don't miss out on weapons or gear.

The Amiibo

Three new Deep Cut amiibo figures launch alongside the game on July 23 — Shiver, Frye and Big Man in their Splatoon Raiders designs.

Tapping compatible Splatoon series amiibo unlocks stylish outfits for the Mechanic. The new Deep Cut amiibo triple-pack is available for pre-order now on My Nintendo Store.

Additionally, a set of Joy-Con 2 controllers with colours themed after Deep Cut will release alongside the game — a nice collector's item for fans of the trio.

Why This Game Matters for the Switch 2

A dedicated campaign has long been the thing fans asked for and never quite got, which is why Raiders matters beyond its modest spin-off billing.

Switch 2 arrived as the successor to one of the best-selling consoles ever, and Nintendo needs system-sellers to keep momentum going. A Splatoon entry that reaches players who bounced off competitive shooters is exactly the kind of title that broadens a console's reach in its first full year.

The three mainline Splatoon games all required engagement with competitive multiplayer to get the most out of them. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Splatoon Raiders come out?

July 23, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

How much does Splatoon Raiders cost?

$49.99 USD digitally and $59.99 physically in the US. €49.99 digitally in Europe.

Is Splatoon Raiders on Nintendo Switch 1?

No — it is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. There is no Switch 1 version.

Is Splatoon Raiders multiplayer?

Splatoon Raiders is primarily a single-player game, but supports online and local wireless co-op for up to four players. There is also a "call for help" feature that lets a friend drop into your single-player raid.

Do I need to have played Splatoon 3 to understand the story?

No — Raiders is designed to be accessible to newcomers. Familiarity with Splatoon 3 will help you recognise Deep Cut, but the game is positioned as playable without prior series knowledge.

Are there amiibo in Splatoon Raiders?

Yes — three new Deep Cut amiibo featuring Frye, Shiver and Big Man in their Raiders designs launch alongside the game on July 23. Tapping compatible Splatoon series amiibo unlocks outfits for the Mechanic.

Is Splatoon Raiders a mainline Splatoon game?

No — it is the first spinoff in the Splatoon franchise. It is not Splatoon 4.

What are Spirhalite Shards?

Spirhalite Shards are the main currency in Raiders, used alongside enemy parts to upgrade and craft gear at the Hideout Ship.

Splatoon Raiders launches July 23, 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. We stock Nintendo eShop EU Gift Cards with instant digital delivery — top up your Nintendo wallet now and be ready to download Raiders the moment it goes live.

Sources:AIDigitalKeys, Nintendo Official Site (US & UK), Wikipedia, Inkipedia, Swisher Post, FanBolt, Mobalytics, BitsFromBytes, Vice. All details confirmed as of July 5, 2026.