Nintendo has elaborated on the strategic decision behind releasing the new Switch 2 exclusive, Splatoon Raiders, instead of a direct sequel like Splatoon 4. Producer Seita Inoue, in a Nintendo Ask the Developer interview, explained that the team aimed to offer a fresh perspective and attract new players to the beloved ink-based franchise.
Since its debut on the Wii U in 2015, the Splatoon series has grown into one of Nintendo's most successful new intellectual properties. While Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 followed on the Nintendo Switch, the developers felt it was the right time to explore a different gameplay approach with Splatoon Raiders. This new title is primarily a single-player action RPG that shifts focus from the series' hallmark multiplayer battles to its shooter mechanics, boss encounters, and narrative.
"We've been going full speed ahead for over 11 years since the series' launch, developing and updating three titles along the way," Inoue stated. "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. Splatoon isn't just about competitive play; it also includes cooperative modes like Salmon Run and a single-player Story Mode."
Inoue highlighted that a key motivation for developing Raiders was to create a new entry point into the series. By releasing these non-competitive elements as a standalone spin-off, Nintendo hopes to engage players who might be initially drawn to the action RPG elements before potentially diving into the more competitive aspects of the franchise. "That said, we will continue to develop competitive gameplay going forward. That's why we developed this game as a spin-off and not as 'Splatoon 4'," he clarified.
Despite the focus on a spin-off, the prospect of a Splatoon 4 remains a possibility for the future, though Nintendo has not provided details on the series' long-term direction. For now, players can experience the new adventure in Splatoon Raiders, which tasks them with battling the Salmonids on the Spirhalite Islands. The game has already garnered strong reviews, with IGN awarding it a 9/10, praising its "incredibly well-designed action RPG with an expertly executed loop" and calling it "the best Splatoon campaign yet and one of the top games on Switch 2."