Well, a Splatoon Raiders release date reveal wasn't on my Tuesday afternoon bingo card - but here we are. Squids the world over can look forward to a new fin-tastic adventure this summer.
While I wasn't expecting Splatoon 4 any time soon, I also didn't see a spin-off coming. Specifically, I wasn't expecting Nintendo to shadow-drop a fourth entry to a huge franchise on the Today app, given that you can't share videos or screenshots from it.
When is the Splatoon Raiders release date?
The Splatoon Raiders release date is set to arrive on July 23, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2. Sadly, it won't be coming to the original Switch.
What is Splatoon Raiders?
As the name suggests, Raiders is a little different from the regular Splatoon games. This isn't a team-based, turf-war brawler; this is a single-player game with a story, similar to the DLC that Splatoon 2 and 3 got.
Splatoon Raiders sees you take on the role of a mechanic and head out alongside Splatoon 3's idol trio, Deep Cut, to the Spirhalite Islands. Here, you see a glowing column of light surrounded by clouds, which surely won't be anything bad, right?
There are bosses to fight, machines to make, gear to tweak, and of course - paint to fling. It appears that a lot of combat involves Salmonids from Salmon Run, so get ready to blast some fry and collect some eggs.
Is there a Splatoon Raiders trailer?
You can watch the latest trailer above, along with the original announcement trailer on the Nintendo YouTube accounts. Both give a good glimpse at the game and what you can expect from it.
Where can I pre-order Splatoon Raiders?
There aren't any pre-orders live for Splatoon Raiders just yet, but it will be available through the Nintendo Store, and likely all major retailers like Amazon, ShopTo, Smyths, and more. We'll add any options with bonuses here.
Are there new Splatoon amiibo coming out?
Yes, there are! Three new amiibo of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man will be released alongside the game, each with a new outfit and accessories from Raiders.
This has shot right to the top of my upcoming Switch games wishlist. You can find the best Switch 2 accessories here, if you have the console and need to kit it out ahead of the new Splatoon game, too.