Nintendo’s first-ever Splatoon spin-off is just six weeks away — Splatoon Raiders launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on 23 July 2026, and if you haven’t been keeping up, the Nintendo Direct on 9 June dropped a meaty new trailer plus a very tempting Switch 2 hardware bundle to go with it.
What Is Splatoon Raiders?
Splatoon Raiders is the fourth game in the Splatoon series and the very first spin-off Nintendo EPD has built for it. Instead of the competitive multiplayer that defines the mainline entries, this one puts you in the boots — or fins — of an Inkling or Octoling mechanic tasked with hunting for treasure across the mysterious Spirhalite Islands.
Fan-favourite trio Deep Cut — Frye, Shiver, and Big Man from Splatoon 3 — are your swashbuckling partners throughout the adventure. During raids, one of them rides alongside you in an Exploration Bot, giving combat support and keeping the banter going. If you loved their energy in Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC, this is essentially a whole game built around that vibe.
Gameplay and Features
Splatoon Raiders is built around a raid loop: dive into enemy-filled zones on the Spirhalite Islands, salvage treasure, upgrade your mechanic’s weapons and gadgets, and grow stronger with each run. The Salmonids — the bear-like enemies Splatoon regulars will recognise from Salmon Run — are the main threat here, though the island setting brings a fresh cast of enemy types alongside them.
Progression works through a level-up system that lets you customise both your look and your loadout over time. And while the core experience is single-player, Nintendo has confirmed a co-op mode for up to four players, playable online or locally. Difficulty scales to the number of players, so the raids get tougher (and presumably more chaotic) with a full squad. There’s also amiibo support — a Deep Cut triple-pack amiibo launches alongside the game on 23 July.
Switch 2 Bundle and New Joy-Con 2 Colours
The 9 June Nintendo Direct also confirmed a Nintendo Switch 2 + Splatoon Raiders bundle. The Japanese-market bundle (priced at ¥64,980) includes the console and a download code for the game. Nintendo Singapore hasn’t announced local bundle pricing yet — we’ll update when that comes through. Separately, a pair of Deep Cut-themed Joy-Con 2 controllers in blue and light yellow also land on 23 July for those who want matching flair without the full bundle.
Splatoon Raiders Direct — 30 June
There’s still plenty Nintendo hasn’t shown us. A dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct is scheduled for 30 June, where we can expect a deeper look at the island environments, the weapon upgrade system, enemy variety, and — hopefully — local pricing for Singapore. Mark your calendar: this Direct will almost certainly drop pre-order details for Singapore players too.
In the meantime, Nintendo is running a Splatoon 3 Splatfest on 10–12 July as a warm-up, and daily story comics for the game will begin rolling out on the Nintendo Today! app from 23 June.
Price and Singapore Availability
US pricing is confirmed at US$50 digital / US$60 physical. Singapore eShop and retail pricing is yet to be confirmed — watch for an announcement at or after the 30 June Direct. For other Switch 2 game news and SG release updates, we’ll keep this page current.
Last Words
Singapore has a loud Splatoon community — local ink battles have been a fixture at GameStart and casual LAN setups around the island for years. Splatoon Raiders doesn’t ask you to commit to ranked lobbies or the competitive meta; it’s a story-driven adventure you can pick up solo or drag three friends into. With six weeks to go and a dedicated Direct still ahead, this is shaping up to be one of the more exciting Switch 2 exclusives of the northern hemisphere summer. We’ll be watching the 30 June Direct closely — stay tuned to GameTrader.SG for a full breakdown.