Preorders have officially opened for Splatoon: Raiders, Nintendo’s next big ink-slinging swing—and it’s not just “Splatoon 3, but again.” This one is a Switch 2 exclusive with a single-player focus, launching July 23 with multiple purchase options already listed at major retailers. Alongside the game, Nintendo is also rolling out a trio of new amiibo figures, giving collectors and Splatoon diehards another reason to lock in an early order.
If you’ve been waiting for Splatoon to break out of its comfort zone, Raiders is the most aggressive pivot the series has made in years—and the preorder details make it clear Nintendo is treating it like a full-scale tentpole release, not a side experiment.
What We Know About Splatoon: Raiders So Far
Nintendo has confirmed Splatoon: Raiders for July 23, and the headline hook is right there in the premise: this is a single-player focused Splatoon experience—one that trades the franchise’s traditional multiplayer-first identity for a more directed adventure structure.
The setup sends you to the mysterious Spirhalite Islands, where you’ll be searching for treasure while battling hordes of Salmonids. That Salmonid emphasis matters. Splatoon has spent years turning Salmonids into fan-favorite chaos engines through Salmon Run, and Raiders looks like it’s ready to build an entire game around that pressure-cooker energy—just reframed into a campaign-like progression.
Nintendo is also positioning co-op as a supporting feature rather than the main event: a few friends can tag along for a cooperative experience. That phrasing is important because it signals intent—this isn’t being sold as a competitive ladder game, and it isn’t being pitched as “the next esport chapter.” It’s Splatoon taking a breath, stepping away from the always-online grind, and trying to prove its world can carry a more traditional adventure loop.
The other big, unmissable detail: Splatoon: Raiders is exclusive to Switch 2. No cross-gen hedge, no “also on Switch” safety net. Nintendo clearly wants this to be part of the Switch 2 identity—something that says “this is what the new hardware era looks like for our biggest brands.”
Preorder Details: Physical vs. Digital Pricing (and Where to Buy)
Preorders are already live, and Nintendo is splitting the offering into two straightforward options with a notable price gap:
- Splatoon: Raiders (Physical Edition) — $60, releases July 23
- Splatoon: Raiders (Digital Code) — $50, releases July 23
Both versions are listed for preorder at major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop.
That $10 difference between physical and digital is the kind of detail that will spark debate immediately. Plenty of players expect digital to be the “same price for convenience,” but here it’s positioned as the cheaper buy-in—while physical carries the premium. Whether that’s a retailer-driven reality, a packaging/manufacturing reflection, or simply Nintendo testing what the market will tolerate on Switch 2, the message is clear: Nintendo wants you to choose, and it’s willing to price-incentivize digital.
What hasn’t been detailed yet are any preorder bonuses, special editions, or Switch 2 hardware bundles tied to Splatoon: Raiders. For now, it’s the cleanest kind of preorder rollout: date, platform, and price—no fluff.
The Trio of New Splatoon: Raiders Amiibo Figures
Nintendo is also pushing a trio of new amiibo figures alongside Splatoon: Raiders, and preorders for them are live as part of the broader launch moment.
Specific character identities, individual pricing, and what functionality they unlock in-game have not yet been confirmed in the available details. That matters because amiibo support can range from “cosmetic extras” to “meaningful unlocks,” and Splatoon’s history has included both—gear, cosmetics, and various bonuses depending on the entry.
Still, the timing tells you everything about Nintendo’s strategy: Raiders isn’t being treated like a weird spin-off you discover later. It’s getting the full collector ecosystem—game preorders, amiibo tie-ins, and a coordinated retail push.
If you’re the kind of Splatoon fan who buys the figures anyway, the smart play is obvious: lock them in early, because amiibo availability can go from “everywhere” to “good luck” depending on region and restock behavior. Nintendo’s track record with collectibles is inconsistent at best, and Splatoon is one of the franchises that reliably attracts collectors who don’t wait.
Why This Switch 2 Exclusive Pivot Matters for Splatoon
It’s been nearly four years since Nintendo launched Splatoon 3, and that gap has created a real question: does Splatoon keep iterating on the same competitive formula forever, or does it expand into something broader?
Splatoon: Raiders is Nintendo answering that question with a confident swerve. A single-player focused Splatoon game—built around Salmonid hordes, treasure hunting, and a new setting like the Spirhalite Islands—isn’t just “more Splatoon.” It’s Nintendo testing whether the brand can stand on narrative-driven legs, and whether its combat sandbox can carry longer-form progression without relying on PvP seasons to keep players engaged.
And making it Switch 2 exclusive is the loudest possible way to communicate confidence. Nintendo isn’t using the old install base as a crutch here. It’s using Splatoon to help define the new platform’s must-play lineup—exactly what you do when you believe a franchise has matured into a system-seller.
If the co-op implementation lands well, Raiders could also become the “friend game” Splatoon has always flirted with being outside of competitive queues: a shared adventure you can play together without the stress of ranked metas, weapon balance discourse, and the endless churn of online matchmaking.
What Remains Unknown
Even with preorders live, there are still some big unanswered questions Nintendo hasn’t clarified yet:
- Whether Splatoon: Raiders includes any competitive multiplayer modes (none have been confirmed so far).
- How deep the co-op feature goes (drop-in/drop-out, progression sharing, player count specifics, etc.).
- Whether there are preorder bonuses, retailer exclusives, or special editions beyond the standard listings.
- The price and exact characters for the three new amiibo figures.
- What the new amiibo figures do in-game (cosmetics, gear unlocks, missions, or other bonuses).
With July 23 locked in and preorders already rolling, expect Nintendo to start filling in those blanks as the marketing ramp-up accelerates—especially around co-op specifics and amiibo functionality, which are the kinds of details that can turn “interesting” into “day-one must-buy” for the Splatoon faithful.
