Splatoon Raiders is officially coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, 2026. While past Splatoon entries have offered multiplayer PvP experiences, Splatoon Raiders is putting itself forward as a “single-player focused action shooter game.”
Initially created by Shintaro Sato and Hisashi Nogami, the Splatoon franchise made its debut in May 2015 as a Nintendo Wii U exclusive. Right out of the gate, Splatoon became a strong new IP for Nintendo, with the series’ debut entry earning a Top Critic Average of 81 on OpenCritic. About two years later, Splatoon 2 landed on the Nintendo Switch, proving itself to be one of the hybrid console’s best launch window titles. Splatoon‘s third and most recent entry hit Nintendo Switch in September 2022, delivering the series’ most acclaimed experience to date.
How to Get Splatoon Villagers & Items in Animal Crossing New Horizons
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Splatoon Raiders Launches July 23 As a Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive
About 10 months after its initial reveal during the June 2025 Nintendo Direct, Splatoon Raiders finally has an official release date. Nintendo’s various social media accounts have just announced that Splatoon Raiders is launching on July 23 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. This announcement came alongside a brand-new, three-minute trailer for Splatoon Raiders, giving potential players an overview of what lies in store on July 23.
The new Splatoon Raiders trailer opens with a brief tease of the game’s character creator, showcasing some of the stylish hairstyles players can choose for their custom Inkling. Splatoon Raiders‘ core single-player-focused gameplay loop then takes center stage in the trailer, with the player-character blasting an array of colorful foes, revealing new parts of an overworld map, and using their earned resources to construct a range of gadgets that assist them in battle.
Nintendo’s Leaked Summer Slate Is Gaining More Credibility
Back in March, well-known leaker NateTheHate claimed that several major Nintendo titles would be launching this summer. NateTheLate’s alleged list of summer 2026 Nintendo releases included a new Nintendo Switch Sports game or a Switch 2 Edition of the 2022 title, a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Pikmin 4, an all-new Star Fox game, Rhythm Heaven Groove, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Splatoon Raiders.
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While there’s been no official news of a new Star Fox game or Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Switch Sports and Pikmin 4, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave hasn’t received an official release date just yet, Nintendo did recently give Rhythm Heaven Groove a launch date of July 2, putting it firmly within the rumored summer window. Splatoon Raiders‘ newly confirmed July 23 release date also places it in this year’s summer window, giving NateTheHate’s March Nintendo Switch 2 leaks some fairly substantial evidence. NateTheHate has also previously claimed that a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is hitting Nintendo Switch 2 towards the end of the year, and that a brand-new 3D Super Mario game is going to follow it at some point in 2027. Of course, any and all rumors and leaks should always be taken with a hefty pinch of salt.
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Nintendo EPD
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Nintendo
