Surprise Star Fox Direct Drops: N64 Classic Gets a Full Cinematic Remake on Switch 2

Nintendo shadow-dropped a Star Fox Direct today! We got no warning, just a 17-minute video out of nowhere announcing that Star Fox is coming to Switch 2 on June 25, 2026. And it's a ground-up remake of Star Fox 64 with overhauled visuals, redesigned characters, new cutscenes, and a 4v4 multiplayer mode.

This is the same Star Fox that Fox McCloud fans have been waiting for since the character showed up in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. After years and years of waiting, Fox is getting his own game again, and it's built for the Switch 2.

The Short Version

• Release date: June 25, 2026
• Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive
• Price: $49.99 digital / $59.99 physical
• What it is: A cinematic remake of Star Fox 64 with complete visual overhaul, new character designs, fully voiced dialogue, orchestral soundtrack, new game modes, and 4v4 multiplayer
• New features: Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, GameChat feature, Challenge Mode, co-op Pilot/Gunner mode
• NSO N64 controller support: Yes
• Watch the Direct: Star Fox Direct 5.6.2026

What's New and Improved

This isn't Star Fox 64 with upscaled textures. Nintendo is calling it a "cinematic take" on the original, and it looks fantastic.

Visual overhaul: Every stage has been completely rebuilt, taking full advantage of the Switch 2's hardware. The Lylat System's planets, from the vibrant fields of Corneria to Zoness's polluted oceans, have been dramatically upgraded. Character designs are all new. This is the first time the Star Fox team has looked this good.

New cutscenes and voiced dialogue: There are never-before-seen mission briefings between stages, fleshing out the characters and the world. Fully voiced dialogue replaces the iconic (but dated) N64 chatter. The orchestral soundtrack is a complete re-score.

Three difficulty modes: Normal and Expert return, plus a new tier for players who want the original's bite.

Challenge Mode: Replay cleared stages with new objectives, each with Normal and Expert difficulty variants. This alone adds significant replay value to a game that was always short but worth revisiting.

Battle Mode — 4v4 dogfights: The multiplayer is real and it's four versus four. Split one Joy-Con 2 and you've got co-op: one player pilots the Arwing while the other aims and fires as the Gunner. That's a brand new way to play Star Fox.

Joy-Con 2 mouse controls: Point to aim. The Switch 2's mouse functionality comes to Star Fox, and it sounds like a natural fit for an on-rails shooter.

GameChat: A new feature that puts you in the cockpit as your favorite Star Fox characters. Details are thin but the Direct promises more cockpit immersion.

Nintendo Switch Online N64 controller support: For the purists. Plug in the NSO N64 pad and play it like it's 1997.

We Missed You Star Fox

Star Fox has been in rough shape for a long time. Zero on Wii U was divisive, and before that the franchise spent years in cameo mode, showing up in Smash Bros. and Starlink: Battle for Atlas but not getting a game of its own. The last original Star Fox title that resonated with players was Star Fox 64 itself, nearly 30 years ago.

This remake is Nintendo's clearest signal yet that Star Fox is back in the rotation. It's no longer a spin-off or crossover, it's a full remake of the game that defined the franchise, launching as a Switch 2 exclusive and looking better than ever before.

The 4v4 Battle Mode alone will keep this in the rotation at our house, but the chance to play through that classic campaign, especially with my kids in co-pilot mode, is like a dream come true.

Welcome back Star Fox, it's been too long.