Nintendo just gave Switch 2 owners another proper reason to keep July free. Splatoon Raiders is officially landing on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, bringing the series into spinoff territory for the first time.
Unlike the usual Splatoon setup where multiplayer turf wars are the main course, Raiders is being positioned as a single-player-focused Splatoon game. That alone is interesting, because Splatoon has always had style, lore and weird Nintendo energy hiding behind all the ink-splattering chaos. Now it looks like Nintendo is finally giving that side of the series more room to breathe.
In Splatoon Raiders, you play as a mechanic rather than the usual Inkling/Octoling battler setup fans may expect. After customising your character, the adventure sends you across the Spirhalite Islands in search of treasure. You will also team up with Deep Cut, the fictional idol group from Splatoon 3, while upgrading weapons and fighting off hostile sea creatures.
The latest trailer leans hard into colourful action, strange gadgets and very Nintendo-style nonsense. One of the big highlights is that you can ride Big Man, Deep Cut’s manta ray member, into combat. The footage also shows the kind of ridiculous weapon ideas Splatoon fans love, including what appears to be a shark-firing attack for clearing enemy swarms. Memang very Splatoon — cute, chaotic, and just unhinged enough to work.
For Malaysia and SEA players, the bigger takeaway is that Switch 2’s early library is starting to look less empty. A new Nintendo console always lives or dies by how quickly it gets games that feel properly built for it, not just ports or safe sequels. Splatoon Raiders may not be Splatoon 4, but a dedicated spinoff gives Nintendo something colourful and family-friendly for players who want an adventure game instead of another competitive grind.
There is also good news for the squad. Nintendo confirmed that Splatoon Raiders is not strictly solo. Players can invite up to three friends for raids, either through local wireless or online multiplayer. That local wireless part matters here, especially for Malaysian players who still bring Switch consoles to cafes, campus hangouts, family gatherings or weekend lepak sessions. If the raid mode has enough depth, this could easily become one of those “bring your Switch” games.
Nintendo is also releasing a new Amiibo pack featuring the three members of Deep Cut alongside the game. No Malaysian pricing or local availability details were included in the source, so collectors here will probably need to keep an eye on the usual game shops and import listings closer to launch.
Splatoon Raiders launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23.
Source: Engadget