Nintendo has unveiled Splatoon Raiders, a groundbreaking new spin-off in the beloved Splatoon series, exclusively for the Switch 2. The surprise announcement arrived via a trailer first released on the Nintendo Today! app, marking the franchise’s first venture beyond its core multiplayer formula.
Splatoon Raiders introduces an all-new protagonist—an expert mechanic with a mysterious past—joining forces with the fan-favorite Deep Cut trio on an adventure to the enigmatic Spirhalite Islands. The gameplay appears to blend exploration, mechanical tinkering, and ink-based combat, with the protagonist wielding a unique ink tank and accompanied by a walking robot companion. A floating ship-like structure serves as the team’s mobile base, while the islands themselves boast diverse and vibrant environments ripe for discovery.
The new protagonist for #SplatoonRaiders is an expert mechanic with a mysterious background. That ink tank and walking robot look rather intriguing, wouldn't you say? pic.twitter.com/XeP9t75JAW
— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA) June 10, 2025
We've identified a variety of interesting findings, including a floating ship-like structure that serves as the mechanic's base and an island with a unique atmosphere. We'll keep investigating! #SplatoonRaiders pic.twitter.com/huFy5BlF4Z
— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA) June 10, 2025
While Nintendo hasn’t revealed a release window, fans are encouraged to stay tuned for future updates.
In addition, a major free update for Splatoon 3 is set to launch on June 12 with version 10.0.0. This update brings the Splatlands Collection—30 new weapon kits from the Barazushi and Emberz brands—alongside the return of the Urchin Underpass stage from the original Splatoon on Wii U. Visual and performance enhancements optimized for the Switch 2 will deliver sharper details and smoother gameplay in key areas like Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds.
Cross-play remains fully supported between Switch 1 and Switch 2 users. The update also raises all weapon Freshness caps and introduces new in-game Badges. A new stat, Series Weapon Power, will be added to Anarchy Battle (Series), measuring a player’s effectiveness with each weapon based on win/loss ratios. This system helps match players with similar performance levels, encouraging experimentation with new weapons while allowing mastery of favorites—all without competitive disadvantage.
