Nintendo announces surprise new Splatoon game for Switch 2

The Splatoon franchise is headed to Switch 2 with a new game called Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo announced Tuesday. Described as “the first-ever Splatoon spinoff game,” Splatoon Raiders will cast players as a mechanic who explores the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Splatoon 3’s Deep Cut trio: Frye, Shiver, and Big Man.

A short trailer for Splatoon Raiders shows the Deep Cut gang on an exploratory mission, and the helicopter they’re traveling in crash-landing on a remote island. What little gameplay we do see shows the game’s main character exploring the island (with a mechanical sidekick), Frye and Shiver fishing, and Big Man getting hosed down with ink. While Nintendo hasn’t announced much in the way of gameplay details, Splatoon Raiders looks like it may be some sort of survival game, in which players need to build up a base and explore a remote island for food and supplies.

Splatoon Raiders does not have a confirmed release date.

Nintendo also announced Tuesday that Splatoon 3 is getting a free update later this week, which will add 30 new weapons as part of the Splatlands collection, consisting of new guns and gear from the Barazushi and Emberz brands. Urchin Underpass, a stage from the original Splatoon on Wii U, is also being added.

Splatoon 3’s new update drops June 12, for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The update, Nintendo said in a news release, will bring with it “more detailed visuals and a smoother appearance in locations like Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds” on Switch 2. Splatoon 3 will feature cross-play between the original Switch and Switch 2.