Category: Nintendo News

Splatoon Raiders has made a big splash today thanks to a big release date trailer. It’s our first proper look at the upcoming Splatoon game, which swaps the focus from online multiplayer to single-player, and it’s swimming onto Switch 2 on 23rd July 2026.

And, amazingly, this is the first time we’ve seen more of the game since Nintendo announced it on 10th June 2025 — yep, it really has been 315 days since the initial announcement. Soon you’ll tell us the Switch 2 is turning a year old. Pffft…

Anyway, while the new trailer has given us a dose of action, a look at Deep Cut, and a glance at some crafting mechanics, there’s still a lot to ponder on what Splatoon Raiders might be. Or even whether you’re interested in a more single-player experience for the Inklings and Octolings (don’t worry, multiplayer and co-op is still part of the game).

So, we’ve gathered our splat-tastic team together here at Nintendo Life to share their thoughts on the trailer, and whether they’re itching to dive into an ink-splattered desert island, or if the tank is running empty…

Gavin Lane, Editor

I don’t mind a Turf War, but I’ve always really enjoyed the linear, rollercoaster feeling of the single-player in the main games. Being funnelled from one set of enemies to the next in those tight levels, taking advantage of the terrain in neat ways, enjoying the weaponry and the moveset, and not really having to think too much about it. It’s good, simple fun!

The main beachy environment shown in this latest trailer looks a bit drab, like a DK Bananza level they only got halfway through designing, though I’m sure dungeons and other areas will offer plenty of visual and environmental variety. I’m more concerned about being stuck in some vast open space that’ll make movement less interesting – I love being able to ink a wall and dive in. I’m not massively into horde modes, either.

However! Nintendo knows a thing or two about compelling single-player games, and they’re extremely keen to highlight the single-player-ness of this. Having skipped Splatoon 3, this has my attention 100%.

Jim Norman, Features Editor

I was extremely excited for Splatoon Raiders when we still had no idea what it was, but from the first glimpse of gameplay, it looks an awful lot like Salmon Run.

Now, sure, I love a bit of Salmon Run as much as the next man, but surely some craftable weapons and Big Man in a tank isn’t enough to spin the game mode off into a stand-alone title of its own, right?

I’m hopeful that there’s still something under the surface that we haven’t seen yet. I want some of the platforming challenges from Splatoon 3’s single-player campaign to return, I want some story, I want… something other than Salmon Run.

Ollie Reynolds, Reviews Editor

I dunno guys, I’m not feeling this one at all.

Splatoon is known for its zany presentation, bold colours, and wild level design, and I’m just not getting any of that with Raiders so far. Like, why does it look so bland?! I was hoping that a single-player Splatoon game would really lean into some wacky mechanics that only Nintendo could pull off, but instead we’re just… fighting Salmonids? Really?

I know a lot of people have been itching for a single-player Splatoon experience, but I’m of the mind that the series shines brightest when it focuses on the online multiplayer mayhem. Y’know, the whole reason the IP was created in the first place. Maybe it will surprise me, but I’m not on board with this one yet.

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

I’m not much of a Splatoon fan myself, since I don’t really play a lot of games online. So Splatoon Raiders is actually appealing to me much more than any of the other games have.

Yes, I do agree that some of the environments look a bit bland, so I hope there are multiple areas that will allow Splatoon’s greatest asset, its aesthetics, to shine. And I don’t really know what the game is still — is it a roguelike à la Side Order? Will we be able to change or upgrade the island? Are those customisable and creatable weapons permanent? I’d like to know just how far crafting and customising goes, because that could be really fun.

But, ultimately, I like that Nintendo is keeping it a bit of a mystery, and I’m sure we’ll see something more before the July release date. But it’s good to see the excitement from the Splatoon fanbase, and at that digital price point? I don’t think many will be complaining.

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Those are our impressions (and hopes) so far, but let us know what you think of the trailer, and what you expect from the game, in our poll below — and the comments, of course.

What do you think of Splatoon Raiders after the new trailer? (138 votes)

1. It looks amazing! A day one purchase for me32%
2. Pretty good, I always preferred the single-player stuff18%
3. Not bad, but I need to see more37%
4. It’s worthless, online only for me!3%
5. I still have no idea what Splatoon Raiders is…10%

After months of radio silence on the Splatoon Raiders front, Nintendo has opened the floodgates today. We now know the release date (23rd July), we’ve seen the tie-in amiibo, and look, here’s the price and box art too!

We’ll start with that all-important price tag. Splatoon Raiders will set you back £41.99 / $49.99 digitally or $59.99 physically (we’re still waiting for word on the physical UK price, though it’ll likely be around £49.99).

The physical is marked a little higher, marking the second game to adopt the physical/digital split in North America after Nintendo introduced its new pricing structure for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. This pricing difference has been in effect in Europe for some time.

Honestly, that’s not too bad for a Switch 2 exclusive! We still don’t know all that much about the game itself, of course, but that’s still cheaper than we were expecting.

As for the cover art, we’ve got a fresh image of the Deep Cut trio and your playable Mechanic character all in cool action poses. There’s a lot of ink on the ground (natch), and a horde of ominous red-eyed Salmonids loom in the background. Here, check it out for yourself:

Quite the design, no? The accompanying amiibo see Shiver, Frye and Big Man in their new Raiders outfits, and their bases can even be slotted together to make up a sweet stand.

In other news, NOA’s website lists the estimated game file size at 20GB.

Will you be picking up a physical or digital copy of Splatoon Raiders? Let us know in the comments.

Well, this is a nice surprise! Keen to make sure that nobody has forgotten about Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo has today revealed its release date. What’s more, it’ll have a trio of new amiibo in tow.

The new Shiver, Frye and Big Man (Splatoon Raiders Edition) amiibo will launch alongside the game on 23rd July.

The figures see the Deep Cut trio in new outfits — the ones that they’ll be sporting in the upcoming single-player game, no less — and seem to be available either individually or as a pack of three. Interestingly, the bases of these three amiibo fit together for a more unified display.

Here’s a closer look at the set:

So, there you have it! Splatoon Raiders exists! We’ll be keeping an eye out for more information over the coming months, but at least we have a better idea of the Summer schedule now.

Will you be nabbing these new amiibo? Let us know in the comments.

After months of silence, Nintendo has finally remembered that Splatoon Raiders exists.

Showcasing a brand new trailer on Nintendo Today!, we now know the game is coming to Switch 2 on 23rd July 2026 and will cost £41.99 / $49.99 digitally. In the US, the physical version is $59.99 (UK pricing TBC).

You’ll be playing as the Mechanic, exploring the Spirhalite Islands with the Deep Cut Trio from Splatoon 3. And on this beautiful, barren desert island, you’ll be ink-splatting some familiar creatures all while searching for treasure.

And, as you’d expect being a mechanic, you can make your own weapons and tools to deal with the creatures all across the island. And it seems like Frye, Shiver, and Big Man will also be usable in fights, too.

Those of you who love playing Splatoon with friends, don’t fret, as you can play with up to three others both online and locally.

Along with a release date, Nintendo has confirmed that the game is a single-player focused and that three new amiibo will be launching on the same date — one for each member of Deep Cut.

Pre-orders for Splatoon Raiders and the amiibo will be going live later today.

What do you think of Splatoon Raiders so far? Excited for 23rd July? Let us know in the comments.

After reportedly being feature-complete roughly one year ago (see, the industry can still keep some secrets), Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is out now on the Switch.

If you thought that releasing on such a monumentally successful console like the Switch would dilute the game’s eccentricities, then worry not – it’s basically just as weird and wonderful as ever. But is it any good?

Well, yes, we thought it was actually the very definition of ‘good’ with our 7/10 review. Alana praised the game’s interactivity and bizarre sense of humour, but nevertheless felt that it became quite repetitive with some limited touchscreen implementation.

Here’s what she had to say:

“Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the strangest thing you’ll play from Nintendo, bringing with it laughs and creativity in abundance. But even with improvements over the 3DS game, it follows a familiar structure that isn’t always enthralling or hilarious.

“Tomodachi fans will certainly be living the dream with this new entry, but I’m not desperate to keep coming back to my island. A little more variety would’ve been welcome, but the customisation, and the thought of my cat being best friends with DMC’s Dante, will have me peep in every so often for a little pick-me-up.”

So now, it’s over to you. We’d like you to provide your own score for Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in the below poll. Is it a straight-up 10/10 masterpiece? Or does it contain some frustrations that perhaps knock it down a peg or two? Let us know.

And don’t worry if you haven’t played it yet or you’re not ready to provide your score at this time. This article won’t be going anywhere, so feel free to bookmark it and come back when you’re ready. Alternatively, leave a preliminary score now and revisit it later if you change your mind.

Thanks for voting! If you’d like to expound the reasoning for your score, then leave a comment and let us know what you think of the game so far.

If you’re anything like us, then BALL x PIT gobbled up a fair amount of your time last year with its super addictive Breakout-meets-roguelike gameplay. Well, it looks like Kenny Sun and Devolver Digital are back for more.

The team has revealed our first look at the upcoming ‘Shadow Update’, which is set to bounce onto Switch 1 and 2 next week on 27th April. And much like January’s Regal Update, there’s a lot to like about this one.

The headline addition is a pair of new playable characters, who each bring a unique skill to the table. There’s The Tunneller, whose shots burrow through the edge of the screen before reemerging on the other side, and The Tiptoer, who can remain undetected by close-range enemies.

There are also a bunch of new balls, passives, and a new building to look forward to. Aside from the teaser trailer above, Devolver shared the following update rundown on Steam:

Ball X Pit ‘The Shadow Update’ (27th April 2026)

2 new characters

• The Tunneller is a scrappy miner whose shots don’t stop at the edge; they wrap around the screen and come back in from the other side, making just about every angle fair game.
• The Tiptoer is a fragile but deadly ninja who stays undetected by enemies at close range at the cost of lower health and damage.

11 New Balls

• Venom stacks up with each hit, slowing targets and chipping away at them until enough buildup finally locks them in place with paralysis.
• Time leans into area control, dropping a timesnare that freezes enemies caught in its range.
• Erosion cuts straight through foes, with each hit shaving off a percentage of their current health, making it incredibly nasty against tougher targets.
• Time Bomb adds a bit of delayed chaos, planting an explosive that goes off after a short wait.
• Timestop does exactly what it sounds like, freezing absolutely everything on the field for a few seconds before going on cooldown.
• Warp keeps things unpredictable, blinking to a random spot on the field upon every enemy hit while ramping up speed as it goes.
• Sniper shots cut straight through enemies but burn out the moment they hit a wall or loop back, trading longevity for a boosted critical chance that rewards precise enemy line ups.
• Heart Swallower gives each hit a certain chance to drain a bit of life and heal you for one while also weakening the target’s attack by a percentage, but remember each enemy can only be drained once.

Plus a few more that we won’t spoil just yet…

4 New Passives

• Full Metal Rapier thrives on chaos with each ball scaling its damage based on how many baby balls and enemies are currently on the field.
• Arrow of Fate flips defense into offense, making you immune to incoming projectiles and firing back a burst of baby balls whenever you’re hit.
• Argent Stopwatch plays with momentum, starting balls off at 150% damage before shaving off 30% with every bounce, so timing and positioning matter more than ever.
• Sword Breaker keeps things steady but scalable, lowering base damage to 75% while quietly stacking an extra 1% for every enemy in play.

1 New Building

• Better start thinking of a spot to drop the Guildhall! This new building will allow players to re-roll previously chosen character upgrades.

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What are you most excited to see in this update? Bounce down to the comments and let us know.

Toei Company, the Japanese juggernaut known primarily for its work in the film and television industry, has announced the establishment of a new gaming publishing brand: Toei Games.

Originally founded in 1951, Toei Company describes the establishment as a “new challenge” and aims to release games first on Steam before expanding into consoles like the Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Its first game will be announced later this month on 24th April, but don’t expect any familiarity with the title; Toei Company confirms that its initial line-up will not be based on existing IP, but will instead be entirely new, original games from creators in Japan and around the world.

An official website is now live, but is understandably quite bare at the moment.

Toei Company is also the majority shareholder in Toei Animation, which has produced significant franchises such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more.

So we’ll keep an eye out for whatever this new game is on the 24th. Like we said, it’s unlikely to be confirmed for Switch / Switch 2 immediately, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a release later down the line.

What do you make of this? Are you excited to see some original works from Toei Games, or would you rather it work on existing IP? Let us know.

Capcom has commenced celebrations for Ōkami‘s 20th anniversary, so naturally, director Hideki Kamiya has shared a heartfelt message to commemorate the occasion.

Over on the official anniversary website, you can check out the first celebratory events for yourself. Capcom has invited fans to share their own messages, and you can even peruse some awesome Shikishi designs from key talent behind the iconic game.

For now, let’s see what Kamiya has to say:

It’s Ōkami’s 20th anniversary!

Looking back, I still can’t believe we got it out the door…but that’s a story for another time! Seeing the support you’ve all poured into Ōkami since its original release, together with my immense pride for having worked on it, could not make me happier to celebrate this milestone.

The enthusiasm and support you’ve all shown has helped sustain Ōkami’s legacy for two long decades, in which time the game has had a second adventure, a striking HD remaster, and a range of official products and projects that make me as excited as a creator as I would be as a fan. I think the affection the staff has for Ōkami can be seen— No, can be FELT in each and every one of the things they create. Me and my collection of Amaterasu figures and plushies could not be more thankful.

Ōkami’s influence can be felt in the connections people have built with the game, and with our continued support, I believe those connections will continue to deepen and expand well beyond its 20th anniversary. In the meantime, I’ll be putting my blood, sweat, and tears into the new Ōkami sequel that you’ve all been waiting for!

Until then, I hope you’ll all keep the love for Ōkami alive.
Warm regards,
Hideki Kamiya

The website also includes an awesome piece of celebratory art, which you can view directly below:

And finally, in collaboration with Capcom, Fangamer has revealed six new Ōkami products to celebrate the anniversary, including a desk mat, a pair of socks, a keychain, a t-shirt, a blanket, and a jacket. They all look wonderful, and they’re available for pre-order now ahead of a Q4 2026 release window.

We’ll keep an eye out for any and all news related to Ōkami’s upcoming sequel from Kamiya’s new development studio, Clovers. No platforms have been confirmed at the time of writing, but we’d be surprised if Switch 2 wasn’t included in the line-up.

20 years, huh? Time flies. Do you have any specific memories of Ōkami? Let us know with a comment down below.

Although Nintendo is already focused on the next game Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, The Good Smile Company is today celebrating the series’ past with the reveal of two new figures based on Azura from the 3DS title, Fire Emblem Fates.

There’s the Azura (White Songstress) 1/7 Scale Figure and the Azura (Dark Songstress) 1/7 Scale Figure, with each figure priced at $226.99 USD.

Pre-orders are now available in the US and Japan, with this window closing on 10th June 2026, and there’s an “estimated arrival” date between October 2027 and December 2027. Here’s the official description for these figures and another look:

“From the Fire Emblem series comes the latest figure in a series of figures made by the developer of the series, INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS! From “Fire Emblem Fates” comes a 1/7 scale figure of Azura, the songstress at the mercy of fate! Raised as a princess of Nohr, yet taken away to Hoshido—Azura carries a past shaped by a complex and turbulent upbringing. Depicted in her White Songstress attire / Dark Songstress attire, this figure captures Azura as she continues to sing, defying the cruel fate that leaves her torn between two kingdoms.”

This latest Good Smile Fire Emblem figure follows on from figures for Byleth (Dancer), Lucina, Edelgard von Hresvelg, and more. You can see what else is on offer on the Good Smile website.

In some other Fire Emblem news, earlier this year Nintendo added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the Switch Online’s GameCube library.

What do you think of this latest Fire Emblem Good Smile figure? Let us know in the comments.