⬢ JUNE 25, 2026 — SWITCH 2 EXCLUSIVE

Star Fox 2026 — Everything We Know

Star Fox 2026 is the first new Star Fox game in eight years and the first Star Fox game built for Nintendo Switch 2. Announced in a surprise Nintendo Direct on May 6, 2026, it's a full-scale remake of Star Fox 64 with online multiplayer, redesigned visuals, and a freshly recorded orchestral score. This page is the definitive English-language source on Star Fox 2026 — gameplay, story, characters, price, pre-order details, and how it stacks up against the 1997 original.

Title
Star Fox
Released
June 25, 2026
Platform
Switch 2 only
Genre
Rail Shooter
Players
1 / 8 Online
Price (US)
$49.99
Developer
Nintendo EPD
Announced
May 6, 2026

What is Star Fox 2026?

Star Fox 2026 is a full remake of the 1997 Nintendo 64 classic Star Fox 64, rebuilt from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2. Every level, branching path, and boss from the original returns — the campaign is, by Nintendo's own description, a "1:1 recreation" of the SF64 mission structure. What changes is everything around the gameplay: visuals, audio, presentation, and online play.

For long-time fans, Star Fox 2026 is closer in spirit to the 2011 3DS port than to 2016's Star Fox Zero. There are no dual-screen gimmicks. There is no off-TV motion control. You pick up the Switch 2 Pro Controller, you press A to fire, and you do a barrel roll. That simplicity, combined with modern presentation, is exactly what most of the Star Fox fanbase has been asking for since the GameCube era.

Star Fox 2026 Release Date and Price

Star Fox 2026 launches on June 25, 2026, exactly seven weeks after its surprise reveal. Pricing is $49.99 USD on the Nintendo eShop, with an identically priced physical Switch 2 Game-Key Card available at retail. Pre-orders opened the day of the Nintendo Direct.

Pre-order tip: The physical version is a Switch 2 Game-Key Card — the cartridge is essentially a license, and the full game still downloads. If you want a true offline-friendly copy, the digital version is functionally identical and saves shelf space.

Gameplay and What's New

Single-Player: Star Fox 64, Reborn

The single-player campaign of Star Fox 2026 is structurally Star Fox 64. All seven branching mission paths return — Corneria, Meteo, Sector Y, Katina, Solar, Bolse, Venom — along with the harder routes via Sector X, Titania, Macbeth, Aquas, Zoness, and Area 6. Medal requirements have been preserved so speedrun and 100% completionists can carry over their muscle memory.

Online Multiplayer: A First for Star Fox

The headline addition is 4-versus-4 online multiplayer, supporting up to eight players in a single match. This is Star Fox's first true online multiplayer mode in series history — earlier multiplayer in Star Fox 64, Assault, and Zero was strictly local. Pilots can choose between Arwing, Wolfen, and Landmaster loadouts, with maps drawn from campaign locations like Sector Z, Katina's airfield, and a re-tooled Venom orbital arena.

Visual Overhaul

Character designs have been redrawn from scratch. Fox McCloud is taller and more militarized, Falco's plumage has more detail, Slippy looks less like a chibi mascot, and Andross's floating-head boss form is now a fully modeled organic horror. Every stage runs at 4K docked / 1080p handheld at 60 frames per second, with HDR support.

Voice Cast and Audio

All dialogue has been re-recorded with full voice acting in seven languages. The English cast retains the cadence of the SF64 original — Fox's "Mission Complete," Peppy's "Do a barrel roll!" and Slippy's "Help me, Fox!" all return — but the line readings are new. The soundtrack is fully orchestral, recorded with a 90-piece live ensemble, and Corneria's main theme remains intact.

Returning Cast

Krystal, who debuted in Star Fox Adventures (2002), does not appear in Star Fox 2026 — the campaign predates her arrival in series chronology.

Pre-order Bonuses and Editions

Pre-ordering Star Fox 2026 from the Nintendo eShop unlocks a retro Arwing skin (1993 polygon style) and a "Smart Bomb" emote for online matches. A Collector's Edition, sold only through My Nintendo Store, includes a die-cast Arwing replica, a hardcover art book, and a vinyl-pressed soundtrack. Pricing for the Collector's Edition is $129.99.

Why Star Fox 2026 Matters

Star Fox has been one of Nintendo's most uneven flagship franchises. The series peaked with Star Fox 64 in 1997, lost its way through Adventures and Assault, briefly tried strategy with Command, and stalled out completely after the divisive Star Fox Zero in 2016. Star Fox 2026 is Nintendo's first proper attempt to reset the franchise in nearly a decade. By choosing a remake of the most-loved entry — and by adding online multiplayer instead of another awkward control gimmick — Nintendo is signaling that they want Star Fox to be a mainstream Switch 2 pillar again, not a museum piece.

For new players, Star Fox 2026 is the perfect entry point: the only Star Fox game you need on a current console, with everything that made the 1997 original great and almost nothing that made later entries divisive.

Star Fox 2026 vs Star Fox 64

We've put together a full side-by-side comparison of Star Fox 64 vs Star Fox 2026 covering every stage, boss, voice line, and gameplay tweak. If you're a returning fan deciding whether to double-dip, that's the page to read next.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Star Fox 2026 release?

Star Fox 2026 releases worldwide on June 25, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Is Star Fox 2026 on Switch 1?

No. Star Fox 2026 is a Switch 2 exclusive. There are no plans for a Switch 1 release.

Is Star Fox 2026 a sequel or a remake?

Star Fox 2026 is a remake of Star Fox 64 (1997). The campaign structure, branching paths, and bosses are recreated 1:1, with overhauled visuals, audio, and a brand-new online multiplayer mode.

Does Star Fox 2026 have online multiplayer?

Yes. Star Fox 2026 is the first Star Fox game with online multiplayer. It supports 4-versus-4 battles for up to 8 players. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required.

How much does Star Fox 2026 cost?

Star Fox 2026 costs $49.99 USD on the Nintendo eShop. The physical Game-Key Card edition is the same price. The Collector's Edition is $129.99 on the My Nintendo Store.

Is Star Fox 2026 worth it for fans of Star Fox 64?

If you played Star Fox 64 or its 3DS remake, Star Fox 2026 is the definitive way to revisit that campaign. The added online multiplayer extends replay value far beyond what the 1997 original offered.