Star Fox launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25, 2026, ending what has been almost a decade without a major Star Fox release. Developed by Velan Studios and published by Nintendo, it is a cinematic reimagining of Star Fox 64 – the game that defined the franchise – with full voice acting, a new orchestral soundtrack, and multiplayer modes that the original never had. It is a Switch 2 exclusive and costs $49.99 on the eShop.
What the Game Is
Nintendo describes Star Fox as a “cinematic take” on the Star Fox 64 story. The underlying game – the Corneria, Meteo, Fortuna, Aquas, Zoness, Macbeth, Area 6, Bolse, Venom route structure – is Star Fox 64 with a new visual overhaul and audio production. The storytelling beats are the same. Fox McCloud, Peppy, Slippy, and Falco intercept Andross’s forces across the Lylat System while working through the history between Fox and his father James.
What “cinematic” means in practice: fully voiced cutscenes for the main characters, a new orchestral score, and a complete rebuild of the game’s visual style for the Switch 2’s hardware. The art direction departed enough from the original’s aesthetic to generate divided reactions when the game was revealed at a Nintendo Direct on May 7 – some fans felt the new look lost something essential from the N64 original’s character, while others appreciated the commitment to a fully realized visual style.
Velan Studios
Velan Studios, the developer, is best known for Knockout City – a competitive dodgeball game that launched in 2021 and built an audience before EA shut down the publisher service and the studio went independent. The team has a background in multiplayer-focused design, which explains why the Switch 2 Star Fox includes multiplayer elements the original game never had.
Nintendo’s choice of Velan for a flagship franchise revival is noteworthy. This is not an internal Nintendo production – it is a third-party developer working under Nintendo’s oversight on one of the company’s oldest active properties. Critical reception has been broadly positive, with reviewers repeatedly describing it as the definitive version of the Star Fox 64 experience.
The Campaign Length Conversation
The most prominent criticism of Star Fox 2026 is its campaign length. Multiple reviewers clocked the main story at approximately three hours. At $49.99, a three-hour campaign has generated pushback from players expecting more content for the price.
The counterargument is that Star Fox 64’s campaign was never about length. It was about routes, secrets, medal rankings, and replay – the game was designed to be played multiple times on different paths. The 2026 version includes the same route structure, plus co-op play and a 4-vs-4 multiplayer Battle Mode pitting Team Star Fox against Team Star Wolf with up to eight players. Whether three hours plus multiplayer justifies $49.99 is a question each player will answer differently. The critical consensus has leaned toward yes.
Switch 2 Features
Star Fox takes advantage of several Switch 2-specific features. The Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are supported in certain modes, adding a control option that has no equivalent on the original hardware. The game’s visual output has been cited as one of the better demonstrations of what the Switch 2’s hardware can do in terms of lighting and particle effects.
The 4-vs-4 Battle Mode is the feature most clearly built around the Switch 2’s online infrastructure – structured competitive play with team assignments that the original Star Fox Arwing-based multiplayer never approached in depth.
First Star Fox in Nearly a Decade
The last mainline Star Fox game before this was Star Fox Zero, released in 2016 for the Wii U. That game was poorly received, largely due to mandatory Wii U Gamepad gyro controls that divided players, and it effectively ended the franchise’s active development for the rest of the Nintendo Switch’s lifecycle.
Ten years is a long time for a franchise that was once a Nintendo tentpole. The Switch 2 launch is the first serious attempt to bring Fox McCloud back to relevance since then, and early sales numbers suggest Switch 2 owners have been receptive.
Conclusion
Star Fox 2026 is the franchise revival Star Fox Zero was supposed to be. Velan Studios has delivered a game that respects the original while giving it genuine new production value, and the multiplayer additions give the release more legs than a pure remake would have. The campaign length will remain a flashpoint. But as a statement that Star Fox is back – and that the Switch 2 is a platform worthy of Nintendo’s legacy franchises – it works.
FAQ
When did Star Fox come out on Switch 2? June 25, 2026.
Who developed Star Fox for Switch 2? Velan Studios, developed under Nintendo’s oversight and published by Nintendo.
Is Star Fox Switch 2 a remake of Star Fox 64? Yes. It is a cinematic reimagining of Star Fox 64 with full voice acting, a new orchestral score, updated visuals, co-op, and 4-vs-4 multiplayer modes.
How long is the Star Fox Switch 2 campaign? Approximately three hours for the main campaign, with multiple routes and replay content extending the experience.
How much does Star Fox cost on Switch 2? $49.99 on the Nintendo eShop.
Is Star Fox a Switch 2 exclusive? Yes. The game is only available on Nintendo Switch 2.
