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Splatoon
The Splatoon series is approaching the July 23 launch of Splatoon Raiders, a single-player spinoff for Nintendo Switch 2, with a manga adaptation and a line of themed peripherals also on the way.
Synthesized from 4
Yomimono stories · updated
Jun 15
Splatoon Raiders, the first single-player spinoff in the series, launches July 23 on Nintendo Switch 2. A trailer shown during a Nintendo Direct livestream detailed the game's mechanics and introduced a new protagonist and setting. Three new amiibo of the Deep Cut band members Frye, Shiver, and Big Man launch the same day.
HORI announced a line of Splatoon Raiders-themed peripherals for the Switch 2 on June 3, including a wireless controller, headsets, a USB hub stand, and storage bags. Most items launch July 23, with the in-ear headset arriving summer 2026.
A manga adaptation was announced in the July issue of Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine. Sankichi Hinodeya, the writer and artist of the Splatoon and Splatoon 3: Splatlands manga, will also handle this manga. It will appear in the magazine's next issue on July 15.
Meanwhile, Splatoon 3, approaching its fourth anniversary, has seen a sharp rise in Twitch viewership, placing it alongside long-running hits like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2. The surge is linked to upcoming community tournaments and in-game events leading to the July release of Splatoon Raiders.
Key facts
- Splatoon Raiders launch date
- July 23 on Nintendo Switch 2 ↗
- Splatoon Raiders genre
- Single-player spinoff ↗
- Deep Cut amiibo launch date
- July 23 ↗
- Manga adaptation artist
- Sankichi Hinodeya ↗
- Manga adaptation release date
- July 15 in Coro Coro Comics ↗
- HORI peripheral lineup launch date
- Most items July 23; in-ear headset summer 2026 ↗
- Splatoon 3 Twitch viewership surge
- Linked to community tournaments and in-game events ahead of Splatoon Raiders launch ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
All coverage
Jul 22
Nintendo released the "Nintendo Switch 2 (Japanese, Domestic Only) Splatoon Raiders Set" on July 23, 2026, for 64,980 yen. The bundle includes a Switch 2 console with Light Blue and Light Red Joy-Con 2 controllers, a dock, and a download code for the game "Splatoon Raiders." The game itself, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, is a stage-clearing action shooter with hack-and-slash elements, supporting up to four-player co-op. It is set in the Uzushio Archipelago, where players control a mechanic protagonist alongside the music unit Surimi Union to fight Salmonids and collect treasures. The game features over 100 weapon types, a growth system, and local and online multiplayer. A separate physical version costs 7,480 yen, and a download version costs 6,480 yen. Nine tracks from the game, totaling 30 minutes of music, were added to the Nintendo Music service on the same day. Overseas reviews have been positive, with a Metascore of 81 on Metacritic, and a review by loot shooter expert YouTuber Skill Up compared the game to "DOOM," "Borderlands," and "Destiny."
Jul 20
Game Spark and Inside published their weekly roundups of new game releases for the week of July 20-26, 2026, covering both Japan and North America. The most prominently highlighted titles include Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, DragonSword: Awakening for Windows PC, and KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI for Windows PC. Splatoon Raiders and DragonSword: Awakening are both scheduled for July 23, while KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI launches July 24. Other notable releases mentioned in the opening of the Inside article are FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster (Nintendo Switch 2, July 23), SD Gundam G Generation Eternal (Windows PC, July 22), and Vampire (Windows PC, July 22). The lists also include dozens of smaller indie titles across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Both outlets note that release dates are subject to change.
Jul 4
Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders, the first standalone spin-off in the series, launches July 23, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. A June 30 Direct showcased the action-adventure flow on the Uzushio Islands, including combat with weapons and gadgets, base upgrades, and four-player co-op. The game follows a new protagonist, Mechanic, teaming with the Surimi Alliance to hunt treasures. With less than three weeks to release, the full scope of the adventure is now visible.
Jun 30
Nintendo streamed a Direct video for Splatoon Raiders, a single-player spinoff for Nintendo Switch 2 launching July 23. The preview showed treasure hunting gameplay, enemies including Salmonids, over 100 weapon variations, three tank types, facilities, outfits, stages, and four-player multiplayer. A manga adaptation begins July 15.
Jun 29
Nintendo announced on June 29 that a dedicated Direct for Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, will air on June 30 at 23:00 JST. The broadcast will run approximately 15 minutes and deliver detailed information on the Nintendo Switch 2 title. Splatoon Raiders is set on the mysterious Uzushio Islands and follows a new protagonist, a mechanic, who joins the Soremi Alliance in a treasure-hunting adventure. The game is an action shooter with RPG-like leveling and weapon customization, supporting one to four players locally or online. It is scheduled for release on July 23, 2026, priced at 7,480 yen for the physical version and 6,480 yen for the download version. The Direct comes less than a month before launch, suggesting a final marketing push before release.
Jun 27
Anime News Network went hands-on with a preview of Splatoon Raiders, a single-player-focused third-person platforming shooter from Nintendo. The game casts players as a customizable mechanic exploring the Spirhalite Islands for materials while fighting Samonid enemies. The preview showed a variety of weapons and gadgets, with the core ink-shooting and traversal mechanics intact.
Jun 23
Nintendo has begun serializing a 4-panel manga titled 'Surimi Alliance Chakapoco Distress Log' for the upcoming Switch 2 game 'Splatoon Raiders' on the official Nintendo Today! app. The manga will be updated daily for one month from June 23 to July 22, depicting the survival life of the Surimi Alliance and the Mechanic after crash-landing on the Uzushio Islands.
Jun 15
The July issue of Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine announced that Splatoon Raiders, a new single-player spinoff game in the Splatoon series, will receive a manga in the magazine's next issue on July 15. Sankichi Hinodeya, the writer and artist of the Splatoon and Splatoon 3: Splatlands manga, will also work on this manga. The game launches for the Switch 2 on July 23.
Jun 12
Nintendo's Splatoon 3, approaching its fourth anniversary, has seen a sharp rise in Twitch viewership, placing it alongside long-running hits like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2. The surge is linked to upcoming community tournaments and in-game events leading to the July release of Splatoon Raiders on Nintendo Switch 2.
Jun 10
Nintendo showed a new trailer for Splatoon Raiders during a Nintendo Direct livestream, detailing the single-player spinoff's mechanics. The game launches July 23 on Nintendo Switch 2, alongside three new amiibo of the Deep Cut band members Frye, Shiver, and Big Man.
Jun 3
HORI announced a line of Splatoon Raiders-themed peripherals for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 3, including a wireless controller, headsets, a USB hub stand, and storage bags. The Wireless Horipad TURBO features TMR sticks and clear materials with ink and squid designs. Most items launch July 23, with the in-ear headset arriving summer 2026.