Nintendo Explains Why It Chose Splatoon Raiders Instead of Splatoon 4

Nintendo has revealed why the next game in its popular ink-based shooter franchise is Splatoon Raiders rather than the highly anticipated Splatoon 4. According to the development team, the decision reflects a desire to expand the series with a new gameplay experience instead of immediately continuing the mainline competitive formula.

The new title marks the franchise’s first entry built primarily around a single-player adventure, giving players a different way to experience the Splatoon universe while Nintendo continues planning the series’ competitive future.

Nintendo Wanted to Expand the Splatoon Experience

Speaking in a recent interview, Splatoon producer Seita Inoue said the development team felt it was the right time to explore a fresh direction after spending more than a decade creating and supporting the series.

A New Focus Beyond Competitive Multiplayer

“We’ve been going full speed ahead for over 11 years since the series’ launch, developing and updating three titles along the way,” Inoue said. “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.”

Although Splatoon is widely recognized for its online multiplayer battles, Inoue noted that the franchise has always included cooperative modes such as Salmon Run as well as dedicated single-player story campaigns.

He explained that the team wanted to transform those non-competitive elements into a standalone experience rather than treating them as side content.

“Our desire was to create a new entry point into the series by releasing these non-competitive elements not just as a secondary feature, but as a standalone spin-off,” Inoue said. “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.'”

Salmon Run Inspired the New Game

Director Yoshihiko Ito said the concept for Splatoon Raiders emerged as development on post-launch updates for Splatoon 3 was coming to an end.

Building a Single-Player Adventure

The team began exploring whether the cooperative mechanics from Salmon Run could support a full single-player experience.

In Salmon Run, four players work together to defeat waves of Salmonids while collecting Golden Eggs. According to Ito, the developers believed those mechanics could translate into an intense solo adventure if reimagined for one player.

“We were exploring whether we could develop a single-player experience that players could dive into to their heart’s content, leveraging the gameplay of Salmon Run,” Ito said.

The team envisioned an experience that would feel fast-paced, chaotic, and rewarding while giving players complete control over the action.

Nintendo Switch 2 Opened New Possibilities

Ito also said the developers saw an opportunity to take advantage of the additional performance offered by the Nintendo Switch 2.

Larger Battles and More Enemies

As work shifted toward Nintendo’s newest hardware, the team experimented with increasing the number of Salmonids on screen to create what Ito described as the “ultimate multitasker” experience.

Rather than relying on four-player cooperation, the goal became designing encounters where a single player could battle massive enemy waves while managing multiple objectives simultaneously.

Those technical experiments ultimately evolved into the foundation for Splatoon Raiders.

What This Means for Splatoon 4

Nintendo’s comments make clear that Splatoon Raiders is intended as a spin-off, not a replacement for the next numbered installment.

While the company has not announced Splatoon 4, Inoue emphasized that competitive gameplay remains an important part of the franchise and will continue to be developed in the future.

For now, players can experience the series from a new perspective through its first game centered primarily on solo play.

Conclusion

Instead of rushing into Splatoon 4, Nintendo chose to broaden the franchise with Splatoon Raiders, giving longtime fans and newcomers a fresh way to experience the Splatoon universe. By building on Salmon Run’s cooperative gameplay and leveraging the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio has created a standalone adventure while signaling that the series’ competitive future remains very much alive.

John Irving

John Irving writes for Bjournal, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, reliable reporting and useful information, helping readers stay informed about current events, emerging trends, and stories that matter.