Splatoon 3 Director Says Player Count Grew in 2026 Despite the Game’s Age, Credits Splatoon Raiders’ Positive Impact

Splatoon 3 appears to be bucking the usual trend for an aging multiplayer game, as more people are playing Nintendo’s shooter in 2026 than they did in 2025. The increase comes four years after the game originally launched on Nintendo Switch in 2022.

The revelation came from Seita Inoue, director of Splatoon 3, during an interview with Famitsu. Inoue connected the growth to the announcement and release of Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo’s first Splatoon spin-off.

Splatoon Raiders May Be Bringing Players Back

According to Inoue, Splatoon 3 began seeing more players after Splatoon Raiders was revealed around a year ago. He specifically said,

“There are more people playing in 2026 than there were in 2025,”

suggesting that the two games are benefiting each other.

Inoue added that Nintendo believes Splatoon 3 and Splatoon Raiders have had a

“positive effect on each other.”

He also noted that Raiders has been designed to be approachable for people experiencing the franchise for the first time.

The growth also comes after Splatoon 3 received a major Nintendo Switch 2 update in June 2025. Nintendo improved visual detail and smoothed movement in areas including Splatsville, Inkopolis and the Grand Festival Grounds.

Nintendo continues supporting the game with updates in 2026, including multiplayer balance changes and new content.