Splatoon Raiders is Nintendo's next big first-party exclusive for the Switch 2, and it's coming out this week! It's been a couple of years since we've gotten a brand-new Splatoon title, so it's safe to say that many fans are excited about this one dropping on Thursday, July 23.
If you're opting for the digital version of Splatoon Raiders(which is super tempting since it's $10 cheaper than the physical version), then you might want to know the exact release time for your region. Let's get into the info!
Release Time for Splatoon Raiders (Countdown Clock)
Splatoon Raiders, like other first-party Switch titles, will release at 12 a.m. Eastern Time on July 23, so that means if you're on the West Coast, it'll be available to play at 9 PM PT. That translates to 10 PM Mountain Time and then 11 PM Central Time.
However, if you don't live in the United States, Splatoon Raiders will release at midnight local time, which means the game will come out way earlier in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
Can You Play Splatoon Raiders Early?
If you want to spend a couple extra bucks on Splatoon Raiders, there is indeed a way to play early on the Nintendo Switch 2, but you'll need to create a new eShop account for a different region, like New Zealand or Australia (since the game technically comes out first in that area of the world).
After making the new account, you will also need to purchase digital eShop cards from that country, since US cards don't work on those specific eShops. I've done this process before for big games like Tears of the Kingdom and mainline Pokemon titles to get ahead of other players, but you really need to be dedicated just to play a day early.
For specific timing, since Splatoon Raiders drops at midnight for New Zealand on Thursday, July 23, you would theoretically be able to start playing around 8 am Eastern Time the day prior (Wednesday, July 22).