The next Nintendo Direct goes live this morning with a dedicated look at the upcoming Splatoon Raiders. The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive takes the ink blasting in a new direction with a single-player focused adventure and we will more than likely get a more in-depth look at what it’s all about this morning before being treated to some livestream gameplay action from the Nintendo Treehouse team.
June Nintendo Direct – Splatoon Raiders
Splatoon Raiders is officially set for release on Nintendo Switch 2 come July 23. Pre-orders for the physical copy are still live and marked down at Amazon, presumably until release, with the Amazon price guarantee – you pay the lowest prices it drops between the time of pre-ordering and launch day.
- Splatoon Raiders pre-order $50 (Reg. $60)
In this single-player-focused adventure, 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 enemy Salmonids as you raid the islands for treasure.
Today’s dedicated direct is hopefully designed to give us a proper look at what makes the single player Splatoon experience something new and worthwhile. Thus far, Nintendo has showed off some compelling mechanics and the overall direction, but we should get a solid 15-minute deep dive here during the Direct itself and then get to see it all in action as part of a Nintendo Treehouse: Live gameplay event immediately following the main show.
Join us on June 30 at 7am PT for the Splatoon Raiders Direct! The presentation will last roughly 15 minutes and provide more info on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game.
Tune in to Nintendo Treehouse: Live for more Splatoon Raiders gameplay after the Splatoon Raiders Direct.
New official details straight from Nintendo:
- Treasure Hunting – The Spirhalite Islands feature varied terrain and environments, teeming with challenges, enemies and treasure. There are areas with Spirhalite crystals to mine, dens swarming with aggressive creatures called Salmonids, strange facilities where only certain equipment is allowed and dungeons in which you’ll dig deeper underground.
- Salmonid Enemies: To reach the loot, you’ll have to get through these ferocious foes first. They lurk across the islands, crowd around treasure and attack anything that gets too close. There are many different types, including:
- Lesser Salmonids – These enemies aren’t much of a threat on their own, but they attack in hordes that can overwhelm you if you’re not careful.
- Boss Salmonids – These creatures present a beefier challenge, with their own strengths and weaknesses to uncover. Defeat Boss Salmonids, and they’ll drop a Mega Power Egg – a great energy source for the Bot.
- Seasoned Salmonids – These tough foes are the peak of Salmonid evolution! They are like Boss Salmonids but they’re well-seasoned (with salt), and it seems like the saltier the Salmonid the tougher they are to overcome. Good thing you’ll have the mechanic’s tools of the trade at your disposal, including lots of weapons and gadgets to secure your treasures.
- Weapons – Weapons spray ink from your refillable tank and are essential for defeating Salmonids. With more than 100 weapon variations to discover, you’re bound to find something to roll with. Salmonids might drop a weapon when they’re defeated, and you might even find some rare weapons with special powers, too.
- Tanks and Gadgets: There are three types of tanks at your disposal: The Speed Tank, Power Tank and Tactical Tank. Each tank can be equipped with two gadgets to start, and the gadgets you can equip depend on the tank.
- Speed – Move quickly, fight fast and evade attacks with this tank. Gadgets include Blast Boot to leap forward and attack (or retreat) at high speed, Dash Bomb to launch forward, sideways or backward with a bomb explosion, and the Booyarang to throw and strike enemies – it’ll also stay airborne for a bit before returning to you.
- Power – Overpower enemies and tackle swarms head-on with this tank. Charge into battle with gadgets like the Splatchet to perform a quick slash in a wide-sweeping arc and break through tough shields; Splatellites that spin around you and attack with ink while coating the ground; and the Spinwheel, which swirls and sprays ink as you move forward, pushing back Salmonids that touch it and locking on to Boss Salmonids.
- Tactical – Fight more strategically with this tank! Gadgets suited for tactical play include the Shot Pot, a deployable turret, which can automatically attack enemies, Bombloons which can be linked together to create a big blast when you fire at them, and the Tether Wail, which connects to your tank with a powerful laser.
- Customize and Build – The true value of your gadgets comes from how you customize them. Collect gadget parts during island excursions and add them to available slots to upgrade your gadgets in several ways, like increased damage, fire rate, duration, or adding effects like ink explosions or knockback gas, and more. Plus, Shiver can help you craft new gadgets in the Gadget Workshop, Frye can assist with upgrading weapons or turning them into materials in the Weapon Stash, and Big Man will lend a fin by cataloging all sorts of useful info and more. Build facilities that can be used to further optimize your treasure-hunting toolkit.
- Levelling Up – There are plenty of ways to get stronger in Splatoon Raiders. You’ll level up by defeating Salmonids and you get to keep any weapons and salvage you find, even if you’re defeated during a raid. Use the spoils from your hunt to upgrade your tanks at the Mechanic’s Shack and increase stats like attack power and HP. Tanks also gain other enhancements the more you use them, like being able to equip three gadgets instead of two.
- Additional Features: Here are a few more features covered in the presentation:
- Outfits – No matter where adventure takes you, looking stylish is essential. Complete challenges across the islands and you’ll obtain slick outfits with all sorts of designs. If you tap compatible amiibo figures1 from the Splatoon series, you can get a unique outfit. And by tapping the new Splatoon Raiders amiibo figures, you can unlock a corresponding outfit inspired by the figure used.
- Difficulty Options – There are three difficulties to choose from: Tourist for a casual adventure, Raider for a standard experience, and Survivalist for veterans and challenge-seekers. You can change these options at any time on the hideout ship. The loot will be the same for each, but Salmonids will be a lot tougher on higher difficulties.
- Multiplayer – This game can be fully enjoyed solo, but you can also team with up to three other players online2 or via local wireless3 to hunt for treasure and progress through the story together.
- Call for Help – Even when playing solo, you can request help from other players online for temporary aid. Once you’ve requested help and finished a raid, you’ll have to wait to use this feature again. Or lend a helping tentacle to answer someone else’s request and receive rewards in turn.
- Salmonid Relics – These Salmonid treasures are hidden around the Spirhalite Islands. Find them to discover their strange, hidden powers.
Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Splatoon Raiders
The Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Splatoon Raiders edition will kick off at roughly 10:15 a.m. ET, or shortly thereafter with 30 minutes of gameplay:
Join us after the Splatoon Raiders Direct 6.30.2026 to watch Nintendo Treehouse: Live for additional Splatoon Raiders gameplay. The livestream will last approximately 30 minutes.
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