Nintendo's long-running competitive shooter franchise, Splatoon, is set to continue its focus on player-versus-player (PvP) gameplay, according to a producer involved with the series. While a spin-off title, Splatoon Raiders, is scheduled for release, the possibility of "Splatoon 4" remains open. Seita Inoue, a producer on the Splatoon series, addressed the franchise's direction in a recent "Ask the Developer" feature, as reported by Nintendo Life.
Inoue clarified that the development of Splatoon Raiders, which offers a different gameplay approach, was intended to provide a new entry point into the series. He emphasized that Splatoon is not solely defined by its competitive modes, citing the inclusion of PvE Salmon Run and single-player story campaigns in previous titles as evidence of the franchise's varied content. Nintendo has been actively developing and updating the series for over 11 years, launching three main titles since its inception.
The release of Splatoon 3 in 2022 proved to be a commercial success, making a potential fourth installment a logical progression, especially with the upcoming launch of the Switch 2. Inoue's comments suggest that while Nintendo is exploring different gameplay avenues with spin-offs, its dedication to the core competitive multiplayer experience that defines Splatoon is unwavering. Splatoon Raiders, described by GameSpot as "loads of fun" with a more satisfying single-player campaign than prior attempts, is slated to launch on July 23.