Nintendo pulled a Nintendo and surprised everyone by announcing a Direct moments before it actually went live. The reveal? A new Star Fox game is just around the corner, and it will take us down memory lane for those of us who grew up with a Nintendo 64 at home.
If you are still recovering from the shock and still want to know exactly what Nintendo has in its hands, here is everything you need to know about Star Fox (2026).
What is the release date for Star Fox?
Star Fox will release on June 25, 2026.
What platforms will Star Fox release on?
Star Fox will release exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
What price is Star Fox launching at?
Star Fox’s digital edition is priced at $49.99. The physical edition will cost $59.99.
How does Star Fox’s gameplay work?
Star Fox, just like Star Fox 64, is a rail shooter game. You control Fox’s Arwing most of the time, which is constantly flying forward, except during All-Range Mode, where players can fly freely.
Avoiding incoming fire and obstacles with barrel rolls and somersaults is a must, and picking up upgrades to further increase your Arwing shields and weapons is the way to go. Making sure that the rest of the Star Fox team survives each mission is also vital, since each of them will aid you across all planets.
Each campaign mission takes place on a specific planet or sector of the Lylat System, some of them requiring you to use the Landmaster or the Blue Marine to explore and get rid of Andross’ minions. Based on your performance or whether you discovered a secret pathway, your campaign trail will vary, which also impacts which ending you get at the end of your run.
What changes does Star Fox introduce?
Star Fox’s skeleton is Star Fox 64. The stages show no major differences regarding the level design, but everything, including the characters, has received a major visual overhaul. As a result, the Star Fox Team features more realistic designs in comparison to previous entries in the series.
Campaign Mode is your traditional Star Fox experience. It now features two difficulty settings from the get-go: Easy and Normal, with a third one, Expert, being locked behind a medal requirement. Additionally, new briefing cutscenes will be introduced to add more depth to the story and allow for more character development.
Challenge Mode will have you replay stages with a twist: you will have to complete specific challenges, which are not found in Campaign Mode.
Battle Mode will have up to eight players compete in 4 vs. 4 dogfights. Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf will face each other, and, depending on your location, the teams will have to complete specific objectives, such as securing control of areas or collecting energy crystals, to win the game. And, of course, you can shoot the enemy team down at any given moment.
You can matchmake with randoms or locally with your friends. GameShare will allow up to four players to join Battle Mode, and will do so locally or online via GameChat.
Finally, the game is compatible with the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls during Campaign Mode and Challenge Mode. Players will be able to swap seamlessly between button and mouse controls. And, should you choose to do so, you can also play Star Fox with a Nintendo 64 controller for the Nintendo Switch.
What is the plot and setting of Star Fox?
You play as Fox McCloud, the leader of the Star Fox Team. Your mission is to take down Andross, a maniacal scientist whose goal is to take over the Lylat System after he was exiled to the planet Venom for nearly destroying the planet Corneria with his experiments. You will have to destroy his minions and allies, facing the Star Wolf Team, a rival mercenary squad, along the way.
Is Star Fox a remake?
While the game does add a bunch of new content and gameplay options, Star Fox remains a remake of the original Star Fox 64. This will be the third time Nintendo has put out a Star Fox 64 remake, with this 2026 version being preceded by 2011’s Star Fox 64 3D and 2016’s Star Fox Zero.
Be sure to check out our 2026 video game and tech calendar for more on upcoming releases.
