Nintendo Basically Says That Splatoon 4 Will Happen
Nintendo has essentially confirmed that Splatoon 4 is in development, though the company is taking a creative detour first. Producer Seita Inoue addressed in a recent “Ask the Developer” interview why Nintendo chose to release Splatoon Raiders—a cooperative action RPG spin-off—instead of the long-awaited fourth mainline entry.
The Splatoon franchise has been a significant success for Nintendo since its 2015 debut on Wii U, spawning two successful Switch sequels. However, after over 11 years of continuous development, the team wanted to explore a different direction before returning to the series’ traditional competitive multiplayer focus.
Splatoon Raiders marks a notable departure from the ink-based combat the franchise is known for. Rather than focusing on competitive Turf War matches, the spin-off emphasizes single-player and cooperative gameplay with a focus on shooter mechanics. Despite this shift, Inoue clarified that competitive PvP gameplay will remain central to Splatoon’s future, with the explicit mention of “Splatoon 4” providing reassurance to fans.
The spin-off appears designed to give the development team creative breathing room while still delivering Splatoon content. This strategy suggests Nintendo views Raiders as a palate cleanser between mainline entries rather than a replacement for traditional Splatoon gaming.