Ask the Developer Vol. 22, Splatoon Raiders – Chapter 3
22 July 2026
Some of the images and videos shown in text were created during development.
This article has been translated from the original Japanese content.
Chapter 3: The most versatile protagonist
Chapter 3: The most versatile protagonist
We’ve talked about how you created the gameplay and the game's world. Now I’d like to hear more about the characters themselves. In this game’s story, the spotlight is very much on Deep Cut. Was that something you had in mind from the early stages of development?
Inoue:
We felt that we hadn’t fully explored Deep Cut within the series, and that there was still more of their charm we wanted players to discover. So from quite early on, we decided to give them a major role and really let them take centre stage this time. Besides, with all the new actions and gameplay mechanics in this title, we needed characters who could serve as guides and help drive both the gameplay and the story forward.
Sonoyama:
Deep Cut appeared as antagonists in the previous game’s Story Mode, but they’ve always been the kind of characters who actively seek out treasure and willingly throw themselves into battle. That led to the basic story premise of the protagonist and Deep Cut heading out together on treasure hunts. I think their role in this game as allies who fight alongside the player fits them perfectly.
Ito:
As you play through the game, you’ll collect items called Briny Scrolls, which include snippets of background info about Deep Cut. Whether or not you've played Splatoon 3, we think these give everyone a chance to appreciate Deep Cut’s charm on a deeper level.
Inoue:
Deep Cut's fashion sense has also evolved after a month spent living on an uninhabited island. We discussed what kinds of outfits they'd wear if they were in that situation.
Sonoyama:
In fact, Deep Cut’s style in this game also draws inspiration from a Splatfest that was held in Splatoon 3. The theme was “What would you bring to a deserted island? Gear vs. Grub vs. Fun”. That’s why Shiver from Team Gear has a fishing rod, and Big Man from Team Fun is carrying something that resembles a tiny handheld video game console. Frye, who was on Team Grub, is constantly going on about being hungry. (Laughs)
I see. It sounds like we'll get to see a new side of Deep Cut. Next, could you tell us how the Mechanic protagonist came about – the “ultimate multitasker” who hunts for treasure alongside Deep Cut?
Inoue:
As the story started coming together, we discussed how you progress in this game by creating all kinds of gadgets, which involves using your head and working with your hands. But Deep Cut really isn't the group to take on that kind of role. (Laughs) So, we thought it would make sense for the protagonist to be a somewhat reserved, craftsman-like character who could create anything, even in harsh conditions. That's how the player character known as the Mechanic was born. The name “Mechanic” might suggest more brains than brawn, but the protagonist is deceptively strong, capable of intense action using gadgets they've built themselves. The Mechanic isn't just someone who can build things, but someone who can work non-stop and handle themselves alone on a harsh island.
So the Mechanic is more action-oriented than the name suggests.
Ito:
As you progress through the game, not only do stats like attack power and HP grow, but the range of actions the Mechanic can perform continues to expand as well. By the end of the game, you'll be able to do so many things that you might find yourself thinking, "What am I even doing right now?!". (Laughs)
Inoue:
Before they know it, the Mechanic is involved with Deep Cut and ends up fighting for survival on the island, growing steadily stronger over time. There have been many strong protagonists in the past, but when you also take into account how hardworking and capable the Mechanic is, they might just be the most versatile one we've ever had in the Splatoon series.
Even the versatile Mechanic has the same uninhabited island vibe as Deep Cut.
Sonoyama:
Yes. We explored a wide range of ideas by imagining what life on an uninhabited island would be like.
Inoue:
Even small details, like their eyebrows, add to their cool image.
Sonoyama:
They've been living on an uninhabited island, so they've let them grow out. Details like that wouldn't have fit the previous Splatoon games, since they're city-based, but we kept pushing the designers, saying, "It's a spin-off, here's our chance to explore new ideas!", and managed to get them into the game somehow or other. (Laughs)
So even their facial design has had that much thought put into it.
Sonoyama:
When we're crafting the setting, Inoue-san always reminds us to make sure the designers can picture actually being there. We carefully define details such as how far the location is from the Splatlands, what kinds of plants and creatures live there, and what the environment is like, and we even map it all out. When we imagine ourselves in that fully fleshed-out setting, we think things like, “In a place like this, their hair would just keep growing out, and they wouldn’t have the proper tools to groom themselves, so they'd start to look a bit worn". But even then, we thought they'd still find ways to enjoy themselves and express their own sense of style. For example, they might use things that have washed ashore and combine them in unusual ways. From there, more and more concrete ideas naturally started to come to mind.
Inoue:
Even on an uninhabited island, they haven't stopped taking pride in their style. After all, they’re young Inklings and Octolings from Splatsville. The Mechanic wears overalls, and we’ve created a variety of designs to choose from. We hope players will collect lots of them and enjoy exploring a variety of styles, changing outfits to match their mood or their gear.
Ito:
The Mechanic really can make just about anything. They built a hideout ship that serves as a hub on the Spirhalite Islands, and even developed minigames inside it. (Laughs)
The Mechanic made minigames?
Inoue:
Yes, the Mechanic can even make video games to enjoy between treasure hunts. (Laughs) You can play 2D minigames on the hideout ship, and the pixel art for them was actually drawn by our general producer, Nogami-san (4).
The minigames themselves were developed by a team composed mainly of staff who are relatively new to the company. Nogami-san joined in to support them as well.
(4) Hisashi Nogami. Producer, Entertainment Planning & Development Department. Producer of the Animal Crossing and Splatoon series. Previously appeared in Ask the Developer Vol. 7, Splatoon 3.
So that’s what Nogami-san's been up to. I was expecting to see him here.
Tamura:
Since we were aiming to recreate the visual aesthetic of old CRT televisions in the minigames, Nogami-san went and explained how they work to our younger members of staff. (Laughs)
Inoue:
The minigames have a charming retro feel that contrasts well with exploring the Spirhalite Islands. They're a nice palate cleanser between busy treasure hunts, so we hope you’ll give them a try as well.
Shifting gears a little, Splatoon has always been the kind of series where differences in player skill tend to stand out, given the nature of its gameplay. That’s why players work hard to improve their skills. Do you think the “ultimate multitasker” experience is something that newcomers or players who aren't confident in competitive games can also enjoy?
Inoue:
Definitely. We’re grateful to all the people who've played the series and helped it grow over the past three games. Through that, we’ve seen that differences in player skill tend to stand out. In this game, the more you play, the more your level goes up and the stronger the Mechanic becomes. Since it isn’t a competitive game, we aimed to make it easy to jump in for newcomers or people who haven’t played Splatoon games in a while. It’s an action game that can be a bit challenging at times, but we hope people will play it at their own pace and enjoy it without any pressure.
Ito:
With that in mind, players can choose from three difficulty options in this game: Tourist, Raider, and Survivalist. We’ve balanced the difficulty levels so that players can experience the key elements of the game – the satisfying sense of busyness and the feeling of growth – no matter which one they choose. Feel free to pick the difficulty level that suits you best.
Inoue:
This is actually the first time we've introduced difficulty settings in a Splatoon game.
Sonoyama:
If you still find yourself stuck because the enemies are too strong, there’s an online feature where players can help each other. Using the Help feature, you can ask another player online for assistance and work together to clear difficult levels.
Online features for this software require a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Additional accessories, games and/or systems may be required for multiplayer mode, sold separately.
Ito:
With the Help feature, even if players have reached different points in the game, their strength and the strength of enemies scale according to each player’s level. So even if a player who's just started teams up with one who's been playing a while, neither ends up doing all the work, and both can feel the satisfaction of working together.
Tamura:
Of course, you can also create a room with friends or players nearby and play through the story together. If your friends aren't nearby, we recommend using the GameChat (5) feature on Nintendo Switch 2 to share your screen while playing together.
(5) A feature of Nintendo Switch 2 that lets up to 12 people chat and up to 4 people share their game screens while playing games. If you connect a compatible USB camera (sold separately), you can video chat while you play. Up to four people can video chat at the same time. Find out more about using GameChat on the official Nintendo Switch 2 website.
Internet connection, paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, and mobile phone number registration required to use GameChat. Children must get approval from a parent or guardian via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app to use GameChat.
Inoue:
At the same time, we’ve designed the game to offer plenty of depth for players who've been with the series for a long time and are confident in their skills.
Ito:
Once you’ve reached a certain point in the story, you discover a dungeon where you can keep going deeper and deeper, with no apparent end in sight. It’s a chaotic experience where you'll need to bring your A-game, as well as pretty much maxing out your equipment. We believe those who are confident in their abilities will find it both challenging and rewarding.
It sounds like Splatoon veterans and newcomers alike will be able to enjoy the game in their own ways. To wrap things up, could each of you say a few words to the players who are looking forward to this game?
Tamura:
We really focused on how this game feels and responds, carefully crafting both the sound effects and the sound design. To ensure the "ultimate multitasker" experience feels satisfying, we’ve not only fine-tuned the sound effects but also the overall audio design in great detail, so we hope you’ll give it a listen. As for the background music, I ended up talking mostly about the Salmonid side of things earlier. (Laughs) But of course, we have plenty of new Deep Cut tracks as well, so please check those out too.
Sonoyama:
Players have helped shape the members of Deep Cut over years of Splatfests in Splatoon 3. Being able to fight alongside them in this game is an exciting development, hopefully not just for us, but for players as well. We also put a lot of effort into this game's cutscenes. We believe we were really able to bring out Deep Cut's charm through their rich expressions, so we hope you'll pay close attention to that. Also, there's a four-panel comic series in the Nintendo Today! app (6) that serves as a prologue to the game. It depicts Deep Cut and the Mechanic’s vibrant life on the uninhabited island after being stranded there, including the events leading up to the completion of the hideout ship. We’d love for you to enjoy it alongside the game.
(6) Nintendo Today! is an app for smart devices that brings you daily updates from Nintendo based on what you like, including news and character animations.
Ito:
While this title carries over elements from previous Splatoon games, we believe it's evolved into a new kind of Splatoon experience filled with lots of fresh ideas and challenges. We hope you’ll give it a try and see for yourself how much we’ve poured into this game.
Inoue:
The protagonist of the original Splatoon game was portrayed as a teenager, and now some of the people who were teenagers when they first played it have joined the development team and worked on this new game alongside us. It really makes me feel that this series has grown alongside its players more than I ever expected.
Ito:
Tamura-san, you were still a student when the original Splatoon came out, right?
Tamura:
So were you. (Laughs)
Inoue:
Maybe we’ve helped bring in a few new recruits. (Laughs)
In that case, I guess we should look forward to a future where people who've played Splatoon Raiders join you in game development.
Inoue:
Exactly. Splatoon has always evolved through close interaction with its players. With this title, we feel we were able to take a step forward with the series, and we hope it continues to grow together with players.
I’m really looking forward to joining Deep Cut on a hectic treasure hunt across islands full of all kinds of outlandish things. Thank you all so much.
