It was a bit of a surprise when Nintendo announced Splatoon Raiders as a Switch 2 exclusive last year. While it makes perfect sense to develop another Splatoon game, why was it a spinoff instead of a Splatoon 4? In a new “Ask the Developer” column on its website, Nintendo explains the decision and even hints that a fourth main entry is in the planning stages.
In the article, producer Seita Inoue and director Yoshihiko Ito state that creating a fourth main game would feel too iterative after 11 years. The three main Splatoon games are very similar, even if some key areas of its single-player campaigns vary a bit. Going for the same thing a fourth time in a row wasn’t what they wanted to pursue.
“We’ve been going full speed ahead for over 11 years since the series’ launch,” Inoue states, “developing and updating three titles along the way. We thought it might be interesting to create something with a slightly different approach to gameplay, where you can really savor the action on your own.” He notes how with Raiders, Nintendo is hoping this spinoff can serve as a new entry point for the series, bringing in players who otherwise aren’t interested in competitive multiplayer.
Ito added, “Originally, around the time our work on updates to Splatoon 3 was winding down, we were exploring whether we could develop a single-player experience that players could dive into to their heart’s content, leveraging the gameplay of Salmon Run… We thought that if we could adapt it for single-player, it might result in something hectic yet exhilarating.” With the power of the Nintendo Switch 2, the team was able to expand on the idea by ramping up the number of enemies far beyond previous iterations of Salmon Run.
Elsewhere in the article, Inoue and Ito mention that competitive modes will return in the future, though they don’t state when. Splatoon Raiders, for its part, is a done and dusted game. It may receive additional maps and updates, but it won’t be morphing into a mainline entry over time. As such, it stands to reason that Splatoon 4 is in some form of development, though it might actually launch without a proper campaign. We’ll have to wait and see.
Splatoon Raiders release date
Splatoon Raiders will release on July 31st on Switch 2. You can pre-order your copy at Amazon and GameStop today.
Check out more Nintendo content
Splatoon 3’s Raiders-themed Splatfest ends with a resounding victory for Team Power
More Splatoon Raiders gameplay shown in two new Japanese commercials
Splatoon Raiders demo kiosks should now be available at participating retailers
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
