Nintendo broke nearly a year of silence on April 21, 2026, dropping a new Splatoon Raiders trailer alongside the game’s first confirmed release date. The new Splatoon Raiders trailer — running approximately three minutes — consists entirely of gameplay footage, making it the most complete look at the Switch 2 exclusive to date. If you are looking for a quick summary of the release date confirmation and pricing details, see our Splatoon Raiders release date article. This piece focuses specifically on what the trailer itself reveals.
How the Splatoon Raiders Announcement Was Made
Nintendo’s official post, titled “Splatoon Raiders Makes a Splash with a New, Treasure-Hunting Trailer,” frames the reveal around character creation and the game’s gadget-heavy combat. Multiple gaming outlets reported the announcement came through the Nintendo Today app, with no prior Direct presentation or scheduled showcase.
Splatoon Raiders Story Setup
The premise established in the original June 2025 announcement trailer shows Deep Cut riding a helicopter — presumably piloted by the Mechanic — when a beam of light triggers a violent cyclone over the Spirhalite Islands and brings the helicopter down. Deep Cut are then seen in worn-down outfits aboard a ship-like structure that serves as the Mechanic’s base, with Shiver fishing and Frye fidgeting with scraps nearby.
Shiver, Frye, and Big Man find a map of the Spirhalite Islands hidden in a basement, and their attempt to claim its hidden treasure is what leads to the crash. They drive the plot of the game from that point forward.
Splatoon Raiders Gameplay Loop
The trailer opens with a brief look at the character creator, showing the stylish hairstyles players can choose for their custom Inkling, before the core Splatoon Raiders gameplay loop takes centre stage: the player blasts colorful foes, reveals new parts of an overworld map, and uses earned resources to construct gadgets that assist in battle.
Nintendo’s official store description outlines the loop as follows: customize your character, kit yourself out with mechanical gadgets and ink-flinging weapons, take on waves of Salmonids, have a Deep Cut member accompany you in a powerful construct called the Exploration Bot to help fend off enemies and gather loot, bring your haul back to camp, upgrade your gear, then head out in search of more treasure.
The trailer appears to show players collecting materials as they explore, which secondary coverage suggests are used to build new gadgets and pursue collectible relics. A weapon that appears to be called the Splatchet is visible in the footage, as is a location that looks like a base-building or crafting station. Big Man is shown launching a group-sweeping attack alongside the player in one segment, giving a sense of how Deep Cut members actively contribute to combat beyond dialogue.
Weapons and Tools in the Splatoon Raiders Trailer
The Splatoon Raiders trailer shows the Mechanic uncovering what appears to be a large open world while finding treasure and crafting new custom weapons, including what looks like an axe and a paint turret. Other weapons visible in the footage include what appears to be a sniper turret, a shark-based projectile, and a spinning ink disc shield. Several shots show ink tanks fitted with multiple attachments, suggesting a meaningful degree of loadout customisation.
The trailer also appears to show the player riding on top of a Stingray in battle and includes what looks like a character voice selection option in the creation screen. The closing moments of the trailer show what appears to be a larger, more powerful Salmonid, suggesting boss encounters may be part of the game.
What Nintendo Has Officially Confirmed for Splatoon Raiders
Nintendo’s official store description reads: play as a mechanic working with Deep Cut — a trio of swashbuckling musicians — and venture out into the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. Customize your character, kit yourself out with mechanical gadgets and ink-splattering weapons, and take on waves of foes called Salmonids as you raid the islands for salvage. This is mainly a single-player adventure, but one member of Deep Cut will raid alongside you in the Exploration Bot. Players can also join with up to three other players online or via local wireless.
Splatoon Raiders Pricing, File Size, and Technical Details
Splatoon Raiders is priced at $49.99 for the digital edition in the United States and £41.99 digitally in the UK, both confirmed on Nintendo’s official regional store pages. Nintendo of America’s product page lists an estimated file size of 20GB. The game supports TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes, requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online play, and supports Save Data Cloud. Nintendo’s US listing carries a content rating descriptor of Fantasy Violence. Pre-orders are live now on the Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store.
Splatoon Raiders Deep Cut Amiibo
The new amiibo for Frye, Shiver, and Big Man appear at the very end of the Splatoon Raiders trailer, showing all three Deep Cut members in their new in-game outfits. The figures’ bases connect together to form a unified display stand. Nintendo’s product pages list a separate entry for each figure, all releasing on July 23, 2026. In-game functionality has not yet been announced, and pre-orders for the amiibo are opening on My Nintendo Store.
Splatoon Raiders Series Context
The Splatoon franchise launched in May 2015 as a Nintendo Wii U exclusive. Splatoon 2 followed on Nintendo Switch, and Splatoon 3 arrived in September 2022. Splatoon Raiders is the franchise’s first ever spin-off, as confirmed by Nintendo at the time of the original June 2025 announcement, and will be the first Splatoon title released for Nintendo Switch 2.
What Is Still Unknown
Nintendo has not detailed the full progression structure, total mission count, or endgame content of Splatoon Raiders. The specific in-game benefits of the new amiibo remain unannounced. Nintendo has not confirmed whether a dedicated showcase or Direct for the game will follow before the July 23 launch.
Splatoon Raiders launches July 23, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Digital pre-orders are available now on the Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store.
