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| Fox McCloud and the Arwing return in Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2. |
By Jon Scarr
If you've been paying attention to the big screen, you've already seen Fox McCloud kicking butt and taking names in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Now, Fox is making his return to the home screen. Nintendo announced during a surprise Star Fox Direct that a modernized Star Fox is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25. It isn't just a simple port; the project is a massive reimagining of the legendary Star Fox 64.
The game covers the classic fight against Andross, the maniacal scientist trying to tear the Lylat System apart. You're getting the full Fox McCloud mission with Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi, and Slippy Toad back in their Arwings. Since it's built for the Nintendo Switch 2, you're looking at a complete visual redo of the environments and a full orchestral soundtrack.
We speculated about this back in March when I saw Next Level Games hiring for a new project, and it’s great to see that speculation finally pay off with an official Arwing launch.
High-fidelity planets and branching missions return
The visual overhaul takes you from the lush, green oceans of Corneria to the toxic, murky depths of Zoness in way more detail than the N64 ever allowed. You're still piloting the Arwing, a high-performance aerospace fighter, using boosts, brakes, and somersaults to stay alive. The branching paths are still here. Your performance in one stage determines which planet you hit next. Taking out the searchlights in Corneria first is the trick; it triggers the harder route through Sector Y for those looking for a challenge.
Nintendo is also adding brand-new high-budget cutscenes and mission briefings between the action. These scenes are fully voiced. They give you more context on the crew and the worlds you’re trying to save. If you want a real challenge, the medals are back. You’ll choose between Easy or Normal at the start. You’ve got to earn those medals to unlock the Expert difficulty setting. I remember spending weeks trying to perfect my run on Sector Y just to see that Expert screen.
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| Story-driven mission briefings in Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2. |
Custom gunner setups change how you pilot
The biggest evolution in how the game works comes from the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. When you're playing by yourself in Campaign Mode or Challenge Mode, you can swap between standard buttons and mouse-style aiming. This setup is built to make aiming way more responsive. It also opens the door for a local co-op setup. A friend can jump in and handle the gunner duties. You stay focused on the flight path.
While the co-op handles the dogfighting, the new GameChat addition brings the social side into the cockpit. It uses interactive avatars of the Star Fox crew that mirror your real movements to track your face while you're talking with your friends.
You can even use AR filters to add Fox's ears or a Falco-inspired beak to your chat window while you're coordinating a run. It’s a bit of a weird addition for a series that's usually so focused on the dogfights, but it shows how Nintendo is using the new hardware for more social play.
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| Pilot and Gunner co-op modes in Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2. |
Eight-player dogfights take over Battle Mode
The multiplayer side is getting a massive boost with an all-new 4-vs-4 Battle Mode. You can gather a crew of up to eight players. Everyone splits up between Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf. There are three specific stages for this mode: a zone control match on Corneria, a crystal hunt on Fichina, and a cargo retrieval mission in Sector Y. You can match with players online or set up private matches for your own group.
GameShare makes it easier to get a full squad together. You can share the game online with other Nintendo Switch 2 owners. Local play is a different story. You can share the game with up to four of your friends in the same room, even if some are still using the original Nintendo Switch. It’s a great way to handle dogfights without everyone needing their own copy.
I’ve played every game in this series, but Star Fox 64 stays at the top of my list for a reason. It’s my absolute favourite because it defined how dogfights should work back on the N64. I’m genuinely stoked to see Nintendo finally return to that specific style of Arwing action. This June can't get here fast enough.
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