Star Fox Flies Again on Switch 2

Another Trip through the Lylat System is on the Horizon

Star Fox first graced Nintendo systems in 1993 on the SNES; this was a branching path on-rails shooter following the titular space pilot team led by Fox McCloud in a title that pushed the system to the limits with its Super FX chip-rendered polygonal visuals. 1997 brought Star Fox 64, a game with true 3D visuals and voice acting with some of the most iconic lines in Nintendo title history. In 2011, Nintendo brought the nostalgic classic to the then-new handheld, the 3DS, in Star Fox 64 3D. This handheld remake brought cleaner visuals, refined controls, and stereoscopic 3D. In my opinion this was one of the better remakes for the system. Now, ten years after the reception of the Wii U's Star Fox Zero, in the wake of May sixth's shadow-dropped Direct. Players get ready for yet another return to the Star Fox franchise on the Nintendo Switch 2 dubbed: Star Fox. According to Romano, "Star Fox is a cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 game, featuring newly overhauled character designs, freshly revamped looks for each stage, plus detailed cutscenes, fully voiced dialogue, and a sweeping orchestral soundtrack." (Sal Romano 2026).This quote provides information about specific game features allowing players to anticipate changes.

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/05/star-fox-announced-for-switch-2

Game Footage

The very first footage of the game comes from the single player campaign; following the general beat of the footsteps of predecessors. Fox and company arrive on Corneria following an order from General Pepper to fight off the invading forces of the mad scientist Andross. The campaign takes place over the course of several stages, the squadron's path is determined by the decision route taken by the player. The route is also affected by the player's success or failure of specific missions. The Switch 2 Star Fox adds a little extra to the story experience with mission briefings proceeding stages that will apparently expand upon the lore of this universe. This story experience offers a more in depth look at the core four members of the Star Fox crew. Footage from the direct might even be hinting at a prologue mission of sorts featuring Fox McCloud's father James McCloud. This could occur on that faithful mission to confront Andross on Venom which lead to his disappearance before the events of the story being retold. The finer details of that last statement remain to be seen, but the story is fortified.

Do a Barrel Roll!

The core gameplay doesn't deviate too far from the original. Which in my opinion could be a blessing in disguise considering the clumsy Wii U gamepad integration seen in 2016's Star Fox Zero. For players unfamiliar, Star Fox has you controlling a space craft known as an arwing. The arwing fires lasers to take out oncoming enemies as players scan the terrain for secrets and alternative paths. This makes every stage worth revisiting to check for routes to new stages. This affords the ability to brake in mid-air, fire bombs to clear large swaths of enemies at once, and even preform the ever iconic barrel roll to dodge enemy fire. Players could even reflect projectiles with enough shield! The land based tank known as the Landmaster and the submarine featured in the mission on Aquas from the original Star Fox 64 have not been featured, but a few of the iconic boss fights have returned. Among them the iconic mercenary team working for Andross known as Star Wolf with iconic theme and all. In addition, there's a Challenge Mode which adds a whole suite of new objectives to stages players already cleared, some of which aren't even available in the main campaign. These have been rendered with updated visuals to show off the improved visual tech of the Switch 2; from the ripples of water on Corneria to the texture of Fox's fur. From what I've seen this is all rendered in expertly crafted detail. Some of the more realistic redesigns of the iconic characters could require adaptive perception with these visual updates. There is just as much passion behind Star Fox the Nintendo 64 title from which Star Fox was derived.

AR Chat: The Switch 2 Camera brings a Fresh Face to Multiplayer

For those who aren't particularly keen on experiencing the same storyline this franchise has explored repeatedly, there's a new multiplayer mode available. Players can choose from three stages for these new four versus four battles, where participants assume the roles of Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf. The options include retrieving cargo from space pirates in Sector Y, maintaining control of a designated zone in Corneria, and collecting energy crystals on Finchina. These missions can be played in private matches or with players both locally and globally. However, one intriguing feature introduced by the Switch 2's technology is the use of AR avatars of Fox McCloud and crew through the system's Game Chat feature. The Switch 2 camera seems to effectively track facial movements as players speak, though the impact on the game's performance during online play is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, I'm eager to see how it all unfolds when Star Fox launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this June 25th.