Nintendo fans just got another breadcrumb suggesting a major announcement is right around the corner. The trademark for Splatoon Raiders, the mysterious Switch 2 exclusive spin-off announced back in June 2025, has been updated with a publication date of February 17, 2026. This timing has sent the gaming community into overdrive, especially since it aligns perfectly with insider Nash Weedle’s recent prediction about a Nintendo Direct happening during the third week of February.
The trademark update was spotted on the United States Patent and Trademark Office database and quickly spread across Reddit, Twitter, and gaming forums. While trademark publication dates don’t always guarantee immediate announcements, they often signal that companies are preparing to share new information publicly. For a game that’s been radio silent since its surprise reveal eight months ago, this could finally be the moment fans get concrete details about release dates, gameplay, and what exactly this Splatoon spin-off is all about.
What We Know About Splatoon Raiders
Splatoon Raiders was shadow dropped on Nintendo Today back on June 10, 2025, catching everyone completely off guard. The brief reveal trailer showed players taking control of a character called The Mechanic as they join the popular Deep Cut trio to explore the mysterious Spirhalite Islands, which are trapped inside a dangerous storm. Unlike the multiplayer focused mainline Splatoon games, Raiders appears to be a primarily single-player PVE adventure emphasizing story and exploration.
According to leaks that surfaced shortly after the initial announcement, Splatoon Raiders will feature a new quest system for the franchise and focus heavily on mechanical modifications that The Mechanic uses to navigate the Spirhalite Islands. The game is being built exclusively for Switch 2 with support for HDR and 4K displays, making it one of Nintendo’s technical showcases for the new hardware. Early retailer leaks from Malaysia suggested a 2025 release window, but that obviously didn’t happen, leaving fans wondering when they’d actually get their hands on the game.
February 17 Direct Theory
The February 17 trademark publication date has fans convinced a Nintendo Direct is happening that exact day. This theory gained serious traction because Nash Weedle, a Nintendo insider who frequently appears on the AttackTheBacklog podcast, recently claimed he’d heard about a general Nintendo Direct planned for the third week of February. February 17 falls smack in the middle of that window, making the timing almost too perfect to be coincidental.
Reddit users on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit have been dissecting what this could mean. Some argue that if Splatoon Raiders gets announced through a Nintendo Today drop with a release date, Nintendo might not even need a full Direct. Others counter that the company has way too much to show off in early 2026 to skip a proper presentation, especially with games like Pokemon Generation 10, potential Metroid announcements, and other first-party titles still awaiting official reveals.
Nintendo’s Packed 2026 Lineup
If the February 17 Direct actually happens, Nintendo will have a lot to talk about. The Switch 2 launched earlier this year with Mario Kart World, but the console needs more heavy hitters to maintain momentum. Splatoon Raiders could fill a major gap in the release calendar, with fans speculating it might launch in May to coincide with Splatoon’s 11th anniversary. That timing would make sense, especially since May 28 falls on a Thursday this year, which is Nintendo’s preferred release day.
Community predictions for Nintendo’s 2026 schedule are all over the map. Popular theories include Yoshi launching in spring, Fire Emblem arriving in summer, a new Rhythm Heaven game hitting in August, and Pokemon’s 30th anniversary celebration with next-generation games during the holiday season. Some insiders have also hinted at a new 3D Mario game, a Zelda remake for the franchise’s 40th anniversary, Luigi’s Mansion 4, and even a potential MercurySteam Metroid project beyond Prime 4. If even half of these materialize, 2026 could rival some of Nintendo’s strongest years ever.
How Trademark Updates Work
Before everyone gets too hyped, it’s worth understanding what trademark publication dates actually mean. When a company files or updates a trademark, the publication date is when the USPTO officially publishes it in their gazette, making it public record. This allows other parties to oppose the trademark if they believe it infringes on their intellectual property. The publication date doesn’t necessarily correspond to an announcement or release date for the product itself.
That said, companies often time trademark publications to align with upcoming announcements because they know savvy fans monitor these databases. One Reddit user pointed out that World Fighters, another game, has a trademark publication date set for November 2025, yet that doesn’t mean anything significant happened on that exact date. So while February 17 could absolutely be when we hear more about Splatoon Raiders, it’s not a guarantee, and fans should temper expectations accordingly.
Why Raiders Matters for Switch 2
Splatoon Raiders represents something important for Nintendo’s strategy with the Switch 2. While Splatoon 3 received a free upgrade for the new console back in June, complete with improved visuals, performance enhancements, cross-gen play, and 30 new weapon kits in the Splatlands collection, that’s still essentially a last-gen game. Raiders gives Nintendo a true next-gen exclusive built from the ground up to showcase what the Switch 2 can actually do.
The emphasis on single-player storytelling and exploration also addresses one of the biggest criticisms of the Splatoon franchise, which has always prioritized competitive multiplayer over substantial single-player campaigns. While the mainline games have featured story modes, they’ve typically been secondary to the PVP experience. By spinning off a dedicated adventure focused on narrative and world-building, Nintendo can attract players who might have bounced off previous Splatoon games because they weren’t interested in online battles.
Community Reaction and Skepticism
The response to this trademark news has been a mix of cautious optimism and outright skepticism. Many fans are excited about the possibility of finally learning when Splatoon Raiders will actually release, especially since the game has been completely absent from Nintendo’s marketing since the initial reveal. The fact that it was announced on a random day through Nintendo Today rather than during a proper Direct made some people wonder if the project was even still a priority.
Others are more measured in their expectations. Some Reddit users have pointed out that Nintendo only having Splatoon Raiders and potentially Yoshi as major first-party Switch 2 exclusives until May seems oddly sparse, suggesting there might be unannounced projects we don’t know about yet. There’s also discussion about whether a Partner Direct focusing on third-party games plus individual announcements for titles like Splatoon Raiders and Pokemon could replace the need for a traditional general Direct entirely, though most fans consider that unlikely given how much the industry looks forward to Nintendo’s big presentations.
FAQs
What is Splatoon Raiders?
Splatoon Raiders is an upcoming Switch 2 exclusive spin-off focusing on single-player adventure and exploration rather than competitive multiplayer. Players control The Mechanic as they explore the Spirhalite Islands with the Deep Cut trio, using mechanical modifications and ink-based weapons to uncover treasures and investigate mysteries.
When was Splatoon Raiders announced?
Splatoon Raiders was surprise announced on June 10, 2025, through the Nintendo Today app. The reveal came alongside the announcement of Splatoon 3’s version 10.0.0 update and Switch 2 upgrade, catching fans completely off guard with no prior leaks or hints.
What does the February 17 trademark publication date mean?
The February 17 trademark publication date indicates when the USPTO will officially publish Nintendo’s Splatoon Raiders trademark in their gazette. While this doesn’t guarantee an announcement on that specific day, companies often time these publications to align with upcoming reveals, leading to speculation about a potential Nintendo Direct.
Will Splatoon Raiders have multiplayer?
Based on available information, Splatoon Raiders appears to be primarily a single-player experience focused on story and exploration. Nintendo has not confirmed whether any multiplayer features will be included, but the emphasis on narrative adventure suggests a departure from the mainline series’ competitive focus.
Is Splatoon Raiders coming to original Switch?
No, Splatoon Raiders is a Switch 2 exclusive designed to showcase the new hardware’s capabilities, including HDR and 4K display support. However, Splatoon 3 did receive a free Switch 2 upgrade with enhanced visuals and cross-gen multiplayer for players on both consoles.
When will Splatoon Raiders be released?
Nintendo has not announced an official release date for Splatoon Raiders. Early leaks suggested a 2025 window that didn’t materialize, and current fan speculation points to a potential May 2026 release to coincide with the Splatoon franchise’s 11th anniversary, but this remains unconfirmed.
What is the difference between Splatoon 3 and Splatoon Raiders?
Splatoon 3 is the mainline competitive multiplayer shooter focused on PVP turf wars and ranked battles. Splatoon Raiders is a spin-off emphasizing single-player adventure, story, exploration, and mechanical modifications, representing a significant departure from the traditional Splatoon formula while maintaining the series’ aesthetic and ink-based gameplay.
Conclusion
Whether February 17 brings a full Nintendo Direct, a simple Nintendo Today announcement, or nothing at all, one thing is clear: Splatoon Raiders needs to resurface soon. Eight months of silence after a surprise reveal is a long time, and fans are hungry for concrete information about release dates, gameplay mechanics, and how this mysterious adventure fits into the broader Splatoon universe. The trademark update might be the first domino to fall in what could be a major information blowout for Nintendo’s 2026 lineup. Keep your calendars marked for mid-February, but as always with Nintendo, don’t count your inklings before they hatch.