Nintendo dévoile Splatoon Raiders pour Switch 2 et met à jour Splatoon 3

Nintendo Unveils Splatoon Raiders – A Bold New Spin-Off for the Switch 2

In a thrilling surprise reveal, Nintendo has officially introduced Splatoon Raiders — the first standalone spin-off in the beloved Splatoon franchise — exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement, delivered via the Nintendo Today! app with a cinematic reveal trailer, has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, blending the series’ signature chaos, style, and aquatic flair with a fresh narrative and setting.

🚀 Meet the Mechanic: A New Hero with a Mysterious Past

At the heart of Splatoon Raiders is a newly introduced protagonist: an expert mechanic with a shadowed past, sporting a rugged ink tank strapped to their back and piloting a weathered but powerful walking robot. This character’s design suggests a blend of ingenuity and grit, hinting at a story that explores loyalty, innovation, and the hidden histories of the Splatoon universe.

"That ink tank and walking robot look rather intriguing, wouldn't you say?"
— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA), June 10, 2025

The game takes players to the Spirhalite Islands, a mysterious archipelago shrouded in fog and ancient tech. Early footage reveals strange energy anomalies, bioluminescent flora, and a floating ship-like structure that serves as the mechanic’s mobile base — a nod to the series’ love of surreal environments and inventive set pieces.

🌊 The Spirhalite Islands: A World of Secrets and Contraptions

Nintendo has dropped tantalizing clues about the world of Splatoon Raiders:

• A floating, ship-like base that moves between islands — possibly a relic from a forgotten era.
• Islands with unique atmospheres, from crystalline jungles to ruins humming with old-world ink magic.
• The Deep Cut Trio, a legendary trio of rogue splatters (previously hinted at in lore), now returning as allies — suggesting a story of rebellion, redemption, and high-stakes ink warfare.

Players will not only battle in chaotic, large-scale battles but also repair, customize, and pilot their robot, unlocking new abilities and traversal mechanics across the islands.

🔧 A New Direction: Combat, Customization, and Legacy

While Splatoon Raiders is not a direct sequel to Splatoon 3, it promises to honor the franchise’s core pillars — fast-paced combat, vibrant visuals, and player-driven creativity — while introducing new gameplay systems:

• Mechanic-based combat: Use your robot to grapple, boost, deploy turrets, and sabotage enemy objectives.
• Ink-powered upgrades: Customize your rig with modular parts from the Spirhalite tech tree.
• Dynamic environments: Islands shift in real-time based on ink levels, weather, and player actions.

Despite being a spin-off, Nintendo confirms that core Splatoon mechanics like ink-based terrain control and power-up strategies will remain integral — but adapted to this new, more narrative-driven experience.

🔄 In-Game Updates: Splatoon 3 Gets a Major Boost

In tandem with the Splatoon Raiders reveal, Nintendo announced a free major update for Splatoon 3 — Version 10.0.0, launching June 12, 2025.

Key features include:

• 30 new weapon kits from the Barazushi and Emberz brands — part of the Splatlands Collection, reviving fan-favorite designs from earlier entries.
• Return of Urchin Underpass, the iconic stage from the original Splatoon on Wii U — now reimagined for Switch 2 with enhanced visuals and physics.
• Visual and performance upgrades for Switch 2 users: crisper textures, smoother frame rates, and improved draw distances across zones like Splatsville and Grand Festival Grounds.
• Cross-play remains fully supported between Switch 1 and Switch 2, ensuring seamless multiplayer for all players.

🏆 New Competitive Features:

• All weapon Freshness caps increased, giving players more freedom to experiment.
• New in-game Badges unlockable through new challenges and events.
• Series Weapon Power (SWP) stat for Anarchy Battle (Series):
  This new metric tracks a player’s win/loss performance per weapon, matching them with opponents of similar skill level.
  ➤ This means new players can safely try weapons without being matched against experts, while veterans can rise through the ranks with proven mastery.

📅 What’s Next?

• June 12, 2025: Splatoon 3 Update 10.0.0 releases globally.
• Coming in 2025 (TBD): More details on Splatoon Raiders — including a full release window, gameplay trailers, and a potential demo at E3 2025 or The Game Awards 2025.

✨ Final Thoughts

Splatoon Raiders marks a bold evolution for the franchise — not just a new game, but a new era. By blending the series’ iconic energy with narrative depth, mechanical innovation, and a mysterious new world, Nintendo proves that Splatoon is far from finished. With a fresh protagonist, a retro-futuristic twist, and a deep commitment to player growth and creativity, Splatoon Raiders is poised to become a fan favorite — and a must-play for Switch 2 owners.

"The ink is flowing. The engines are revving. The Spirhalite Islands are calling."

Stay tuned. The rebellion has just begun. 🦑💥