SplatoonExplainer
Splatoon 4 release date: not announced, and Nintendo's newest Splatoon is the Switch 2 spinoff Raiders
Splatoon 4 doesn't have a release date, because Nintendo hasn't announced it. The newest Splatoon game is Splatoon Raiders, a single-player-focused spinoff that came out only on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23, 2026, for $49.99. Splatoon 3, released on Sept. 9, 2022, is still getting updates, with version 11.3.0 on Aug. 20, 2026.
Splatoon 3 is more than four years old, and Nintendo’s next Splatoon turned out to be a spinoff, not a sequel. Here’s what’s official about Splatoon 4.
When does Splatoon 4 come out?
There’s no release date, because Nintendo hasn’t announced Splatoon 4. It hasn’t revealed a title, a console or a trailer, and leaks, logos and dates shared online under that name aren’t official.
The last mainline game, Splatoon 3, came out on Switch on Sept. 9, 2022, and it’s $59.99 on the Nintendo US store. Splatoon 2 arrived on July 21, 2017. By simple arithmetic, the gap between the two was a little over five years, and as of October 2026, Splatoon 3 is more than four years old.
Splatoon Raiders, the Switch 2 spinoff
Instead of a sequel, Nintendo made the series' first spinoff. Splatoon Raiders came out on July 23, 2026, only on Nintendo Switch 2, for $49.99. It’s a single-player-focused action shooter: you play as a mechanic who joins the band Deep Cut to hunt treasure on the Spirhalite Islands, fighting Salmonids with ink weapons and gadgets you build and upgrade. It also has online co-op and local play on multiple consoles. Nintendo held a Splatoon Raiders Direct ahead of launch and posted its recap on July 1, 2026.
Splatoon 3 is still getting updates
Splatoon 3 hasn’t been left behind. A free update on June 12, 2025, sharpened its visuals on Switch 2, smoothed the frame rate in the plaza and Grand Festival grounds, and added 30 weapon kits and the returning stage Urchin Underpass. Version 11.0.0 reworked battles on Jan. 29, 2026, with a new Flow Aura boost and visible health for damaged players.
The latest, version 11.3.0 on Aug. 20, 2026, ties the two games together: players with Splatoon Raiders save data on the same console unlock the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica. Nintendo says the next update will focus on multiplayer balance. The Expansion Pass, with Inkopolis and Side Order, is $24.99.
For what else is dated on Nintendo’s console, see our upcoming Switch 2 games and next Nintendo Direct pages, and for other Nintendo series waiting on their next big game, our new Smash Bros on Switch 2 and next Zelda game pages.
This page is updated as soon as Nintendo announces Splatoon 4.
FAQ
When does Splatoon 4 come out?
There’s no release date. Nintendo hasn’t announced Splatoon 4, and dates and logos shared online aren’t official.
Is Splatoon 4 coming to Switch 2?
Nintendo hasn’t announced Splatoon 4 for any console. Its newest Splatoon game on Switch 2 is the spinoff Splatoon Raiders, and Splatoon 3 also runs on Switch 2 with a free update.
Is Splatoon Raiders Splatoon 4?
No. Nintendo calls Splatoon Raiders the first Splatoon spinoff. It’s a single-player-focused action shooter about hunting treasure on the Spirhalite Islands with the band Deep Cut, and it has online co-op.
Is Splatoon 3 still getting updates?
Yes. Version 11.0.0 reworked battles on Jan. 29, 2026, and version 11.3.0 followed on Aug. 20, 2026. Nintendo says the next update will focus on multiplayer balance.
Does Splatoon 3 work on Switch 2?
Yes. A free update on June 12, 2025, sharpened the visuals on Switch 2 and smoothed the frame rate in the plaza and Grand Festival grounds, and Switch and Switch 2 players can play together.
How much is Splatoon Raiders?
$49.99 on the Nintendo US store. Splatoon 3 is $59.99, and its Expansion Pass is $24.99.
How long was the gap between Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3?
Splatoon 2 came out on July 21, 2017, and Splatoon 3 on Sept. 9, 2022. By simple arithmetic, that’s a little over five years.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
What does Splatoon 3 version 11.3.0 add for Splatoon Raiders players?
Version 11.3.0, released on Aug. 20, 2026, adds the Plastic-Bottle Shot Replica for players with Splatoon Raiders save data on the same console.
Your call
What do you want from Splatoon 4?
