Splatoon Raiders went through a fundamental concept shift during its development. According to Eurogamer, in conversation with four key Nintendo EPD developers, the game was originally conceived "like a base defence game" before evolving into a spin-off focused on "a strong sense of action".
The new title, launched on Switch 2 on July 23rd, marks a notable departure from the traditional Splatoon series. Unlike the main Splatoon games, which emphasize multiplayer arena-style battles, Splatoon Raiders functions as a PvE-focused looter-shooter where players face enemies, collect gear, and upgrade their characters to defeat increasingly challenging foes.
Monolith Soft, the studio known for the Xenoblade Chronicles series, collaborated with Nintendo on the spin-off's development, as it did on previous releases. The game features an upgradeable Tank system, Gadgets, and Boss battles that players unlock across the Spirhalite Islands.
Splatoon Raiders is now available exclusively on Switch 2, accompanied by a launch update bringing adjustments and bug fixes. Nine tracks from the soundtrack were also added to the Nintendo Music service as a special release coinciding with the game's launch.
