Splatoon Raiders, the upcoming single-player-focused title in the Splatoon series, will feature a co-op mechanic that draws inspiration from Monster Hunter's SOS Flare system. This new feature aims to assist players who encounter particularly challenging encounters against hordes of Salmonids.
As detailed in a recent Nintendo presentation, players can initiate a "call for help" before starting a raid. Other players can then select a "Go Help" option on the in-game map to be matched with and join the lobby of a player seeking assistance. Successfully aiding another player will grant the helper an "help bonus" of in-game rewards, while failing a raid means all collected loot from that session is lost. Following a successful raid, a cooldown period will be enforced before another call for help can be made.
This system closely resembles the SOS Flare mechanic seen in games like Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Wilds, though the implementation differs. In the Monster Hunter series, players typically activate a visual flare in-game, whereas Splatoon Raiders utilizes a menu-based call for assistance. The game also supports traditional co-op play for up to three additional players, accessible through online or local wireless options, with difficulty scaling dynamically based on the number of participants.
GameSpot's preview of Splatoon Raiders highlighted the potential for synergistic player builds in multiplayer, suggesting that "multiplayer seems like a fertile ground for high-level raids against tough opponents." The game is slated for release on July 23 and marks the first spin-off and the first title for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the series.