*Splatoon Raiders* launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, shifting Nintendo's ink shooter into a treasure-hunting action game built around repeatable raids. Players control the Mechanic after a crash landing on the Spirhalite Islands, working with Deep Cut to gather loot, upgrade equipment and find a route home.
Nintendo's official game page confirms that the game can be played solo or with up to three other players online or through local wireless. It is a single-player-focused spin-off rather than a replacement for the competitive multiplayer structure of the main *Splatoon* series, but cooperative help is built into the raid loop.
Each trip onto the islands produces weapons, gadget parts and materials that return to the Hideout Ship. Those rewards improve the Mechanic's equipment and the ship itself before the next run. Nintendo lists 11 weapon types and more than 100 variants, with differences such as improved range or ink efficiency.
The loadout also includes Speed, Power and Tactical ink tanks. Each tank supports a different style, carries its own deployable gadgets and can equip Relic Powers for further adjustments. Skill Points improve tanks over time, while gadgets add specific tools such as the Power Tank's armour-cutting Splatchet, the Speed Tank's Blast Boot and the Tactical Tank's Shot Pot.
Deep Cut members accompany the Mechanic through Exploration Bots. Shiver, Frye and Big Man each have a separate Showstopper attack, giving players another ability to use when a raid becomes crowded. Online helpers can join before a hunt or enter another player's run, with successful assistance paying out a Help Bonus in weapons and materials.
The enemies are Salmonids, ranging from large groups of lesser creatures to Boss Salmonids with distinct attack patterns. Nintendo also warns about stronger Seasoned Salmonids deeper into the islands. The environments extend beyond the tropical opening area, including lava-covered mountains and underground dungeons that suggest the islands once supported an older Salmonid civilisation.
Nintendo lists a 13.1 GB download, a PEGI 7 rating and amiibo support. A new Deep Cut triple pack featuring Shiver, Frye and Big Man launches alongside the game on July 23 and unlocks additional outfits for the Mechanic. Existing compatible amiibo can also be used for clothing rewards.
Deep Cut also appears in a prequel comic called *Deep Cut's Island Misadventures*, available through the Nintendo Today app. It is optional background rather than required reading, but it gives Nintendo another way to frame the trio's role before players meet them on the islands.
The official July release schedule and GamesRadar's preorder coverage both confirm the July 23 Switch 2 release. The launch arrives as Nintendo continues building out first-party software designed specifically for its newer hardware.
The key change is progression. Mainline *Splatoon* matches reset around short competitive rounds, while *Raiders* asks players to carry loot and upgrades from one expedition into the next. That structure, together with drop-in assistance and Deep Cut's support abilities, gives the spin-off a clearer cooperative identity without presenting it as *Splatoon 4*.
