Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2: Modes, Controls, and Release Details

Star Fox is now available exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Released on June 25, 2026, it is a cinematic remake of Star Fox 64 (known as Lylat Wars in Europe), with rebuilt visuals, expanded story presentation, new challenges, and online 4-versus-4 battles.

What the remake changes

The campaign keeps the original premise: Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad, and Peppy Hare cross the Lylat System to stop Andross. Players still pilot the Arwing, use barrel rolls and somersaults to avoid fire, and uncover branching routes by meeting objectives during missions.

The remake replaces the Nintendo 64 presentation with redesigned characters and stages, fully voiced dialogue, an orchestral soundtrack, new cutscenes, and mission briefings. Branching paths remain important because a different performance or route can lead to different stages and story details.

Campaign and Challenge modes

Campaign Mode supports Normal and Easy difficulty, while Expert difficulty offers a tougher replay target. Some missions move beyond the Arwing and use vehicles such as the Landmaster or Blue-Marine, giving the campaign more variety than a single style of space combat.

Challenge Mode reuses completed locations with different objectives. It is designed for players who want shorter score-focused or skill-focused missions after advancing through the campaign.

Battle Mode and multiplayer

Battle Mode adds online 4-versus-4 dogfights between Star Fox and Star Wolf teams. Its three stages use different objectives rather than one repeated deathmatch format: teams may fight for an area, collect energy crystals, or recover cargo.

Online play requires a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership. GameShare lets one owner share supported multiplayer play with up to three other people, locally or online through GameChat, subject to Nintendo's system and network requirements.

Joy-Con 2 mouse targeting and co-op

In Campaign and Challenge modes, players can switch between standard button controls and Joy-Con 2 mouse-style targeting. The control option separates aiming from flight more directly and is especially useful in the two-player Pilot-and-Gunner setup, where one person flies and the other aims.

GameChat character avatars

With a compatible USB camera, GameChat can display an interactive Star Fox character avatar that follows the player's facial expressions and head movements. Cosmetic filters inspired by characters such as Fox and Falco are also available. Camera features and GameChat availability depend on region, account, hardware, and online-service requirements.

Before you play

• Install the latest game update; Nintendo's launch update added Battle Mode, avatar settings, and Easy difficulty.
• Use Campaign Mode first if you want the story and branching routes; use Challenge Mode for replay objectives.
• Expect online Battle Mode to require Nintendo Switch Online.
• A free demo is available through Nintendo eShop in supported regions.

For current availability, regional requirements, and update notes, check the official Nintendo Star Fox announcement.