Almost a year since it’s announcement, Splatoon Raiders has received a new trailer and release date as well as accompanying amiibo figures.
One of the big Nintendo rumours is that the company is planning to launch a brand-new Star Fox game (the first since Star Fox Zero in 2016) this summer, with it claimed that a formal announcement is happening this month.
Well, Nintendo has announced something today but it’s not Star Fox. Instead, it’s a new trailer for Splatoon spin-off Splatoon Raiders, which was unveiled out of the blue last year as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive with a vague trailer and then vanished.
Now we know the game is scheduled to launch in just a few months on July 23 and will be accompanied by some new amiibo figures.
The initial trailer seemed to present Splatoon Raiders as a purely single-player adventure, unlike the rest of the series, and now Nintendo has confirmed that is indeed the case.
‘Play as a mechanic working with Deep Cut, a trio of swashbuckling musicians, and venture out into the mysterious Spirhalite Islands!’ reads the trailer description on YouTube.
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‘Customise your appearance, equip mechanical gadgets and ink-splattering weapons, and take on hordes of aggressive sea creatures called Salmonids in search of treasure.’
We’re still not entirely sure what sort of game Splatoon Raiders is supposed to be, but it’s giving extraction shooter vibes since it involves exploring different islands and gathering resources, which can be spent on weapon upgrades and building new gadgets at your home base.
The three members of Deep Cut, who debuted in Splatoon 3, can also accompany you when exploring and help with fighting the returning Salmonid enemies.
While there’s no PvP like the main games, there will be local and co-op options according to Nintendo’s X account, but it’s unclear if players can take control of the Deep Cut members or if you can only play as your own Inkling character.
In addition, Nintendo will be releasing three new amiibo figures for each of the Deep Cut members in their Splatoon Raiders outfits. No prices have been shared yet, but they’ll launch alongside the game and come together in one package.
Digital pre-orders for the game are available on the Nintendo eShop, with it priced at £41.99, making it one of the Switch 2’s cheaper exclusives.
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Insider NateTheHate did previously claim that Splatoon Raiders was on track for a summer release alongside the rumoured Star Fox game as well as Rhythm Heaven Groove (which was confirmed for a July 2 launch just last week) and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, which is so far only slated to launch this year.
He also claimed that Nintendo is planning a full remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time for the second half of the year, no doubt as part of the franchise’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
So far, Nintendo has yet to hold a dedicated Nintendo Direct showcase to show off what new games it has planned for this year, opting to instead share updates and new trailers through its Nintendo Today app.
There have been several Nintendo Directs throughout the year so far, but none have announced any new first-party games from the company.
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