Splatoon Raiders Release Date Confirmed for July 23 – New Trailer Reveals Fish Paste Brigade Battles Ugly Salmon!

Nintendo has confirmed that Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off title in the Splatoon series, will launch exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, 2026. The announcement was made on April 21, 2026, alongside the release of a new gameplay trailer showcasing the game’s features. Splatoon Raiders shifts the series’ focus from competitive multiplayer to a single-player adventure with optional multiplayer elements. Players take on the role of a mechanic tasked with exploring the Spirhalite Islands and battling against the Salmonid-aligned faction known as the Grizzco Crew in pursuit of treasure. The game introduces base-building mechanics, allowing players to upgrade and expand their own ship as a mobile hub during exploration. A notable addition is the inclusion of a “Salmon Run”-inspired dungeon system, where players face off against various mutated salmon enemies in procedurally generated underground stages. The title also features RPG-like progression elements, marking a departure from the traditional ink-based shooter formula of the mainline Splatoon entries. To coincide with the launch, Nintendo will release three new Deep Cut-themed amiibo figures, available at open pricing. These figures are expected to unlock in-game content when scanned via the Switch 2’s NFC functionality. Splatoon Raiders was first announced on June 10, 2025, through a trailer on the Nintendo Today! app, which also revealed the upcoming Version 10.0.0 update for Splatoon 3. The recent April 2026 trailer provided further details on gameplay, weapons, enemies, and confirmed the July 2026 release window. The game will be available both as a physical game card and as a digital download via the Nintendo eShop. It carries a file size of approximately 20 GB and has received age ratings from multiple regional boards, including ESRB’s Everyone 10+ rating for North America. As a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch 2’s early software lineup, Splatoon Raiders represents Nintendo’s effort to expand the Splatoon franchise into new genres while maintaining its signature art style and whimsical tone. The title underscores the company’s strategy of leveraging established IPs to drive adoption of its next-generation hybrid console.