Star Fox returns on June 25, and Nintendo says pre-orders and pre-loads are available now. The surprise announcement came during a Nintendo Direct and confirmed the title, simply called Star Fox, as a ground-up cinematic reimagining of Star Fox 64 exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo says the remake adds a full visual overhaul, fully voiced dialogue, new cutscenes, optional missions and modern multiplayer features while keeping the Arwing-centred, on-rails combat fans expect. If you plan to buy digitally, make sure you have enough free storage on your Switch 2 and consider pre-ordering to guarantee access on launch day.

You are deciding whether to buy, pre-order or clear space for the new Star Fox remake this month. Nintendo dropped the reveal in a surprise Nintendo Direct, and the company has set a firm release date of June 25 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The title, presented simply as Star Fox, relaunches Star Fox 64 as a cinematic reimagining that keeps the original’s core flying combat while modernizing presentation and adding new play options.

What’s changed from the original

Nintendo positions the project as a modernized take on Star Fox 64, with a full visual overhaul and newly written mission briefings and character moments meant to deepen the team’s interactions compared with the 1997 original. The remake includes new cutscenes and fully voiced dialogue, and Nintendo has emphasised an orchestral soundtrack alongside reworked stage looks across the Lylat System.

At its heart, the game retains the Arwing-centred, on-rails space combat that defined the original. But the remake layers in more detailed environments and optional new missions and routes designed to reward multiple playthroughs. Campaign mode will offer Easy, Normal and Hard settings. On Hard, Nintendo says players lose the ability to continue after a Game Over, and there's an Expert-level set of Challenge objectives for experienced players who want added difficulty and replay value.

Coverage around the reveal also noted that Fox McCloud made a cameo appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earlier this year, and that a prior large leak had listed a new Star Fox title. Those items were used as context for Nintendo’s surprise reveal, and the company framed this release as the first major Star Fox launch in nearly a decade.

Multiplayer, controls and how you’ll play

Multiplayer is a clear focus. Nintendo described a Battle Mode built for team-based play with returning Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf opposition. The mode supports multiple objective types, including zone control on Corneria, crystal collection on Fichina and cargo retrieval in Sector Y.

Nintendo’s description, and subsequent coverage, note matches with up to eight players taking part in Battle matches, organised as four-versus-four play.

Mastheads

New social features are part of the package. GameChat will let players use augmented-reality avatars of Star Fox characters that map to facial expressions during online play. For local sessions, Joy-Con sharing is supported so one player can pilot the Arwing while another mans the guns. Nintendo also supports the Switch 2’s mouse controls and offers a retro N64-style controller option to give players a more classic feel.

Local play and online modes will both be available, with Battle matches playable locally via GameShare or online. That mix gives players several ways to approach multiplayer matches, whether they want a casual local session or a more competitive online game.

On the single-player side, the remake’s cinematic presentation and narrative expansion include newly written mission briefings and character moments intended to deepen the Star Fox team’s interactions. Nintendo has emphasised these story beats as part of the reimagination, not as a change to the routes and core dogfighting mechanics that long-time fans expect.

One detail reported about the original is worth flagging. A single outlet’s write-up said the original Star Fox 64 sold more than 4 million copies. That sales figure appears only in that one account and should be treated as single-source reporting.

Practical control choices matter too. The inclusion of mouse support and a retro controller option will appeal to players who want either modern precision or a nostalgic stick-and-button feeling. Joy-Con sharing could be useful for parents or friends who want to join a session without buying extra controllers.

Price, file size and availability

Pricing and distribution details are now public. Digital pre-orders and purchases are listed at US$49.99 and at 5,480 yen for the digital release in the Japanese listing. The physical edition is priced at US$59.99, which the Japanese listing shows as about 6,480 yen. Other coverage rounds the physical price to US$60 and confirms pre-orders and pre-load availability on Nintendo’s storefront.

Thing is, coverage didn't include a Canadian-dollar price for either the digital or physical editions, so the exact Canadian retail price and any region-specific promotions remain unconfirmed. If you shop through Nintendo’s stores in other regions, the listed prices are the current references.

Storage is another practical point. Nintendo’s published estimate for required free storage to install the game on Switch 2 hardware is 14.8GB. That figure appears only in one Nintendo-focused report that published box art and technical details, so it should be treated as single-source until more outlets confirm the number. Still, if you plan to buy digitally Nintendo recommends ensuring you have that space free for install and for pre-loading ahead of launch.

Nintendo has positioned the Switch 2 exclusive title in its release calendar between Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on May 21 and Splatoon Raiders on July 23, with Star Fox specifically scheduled for June 25. Pre-orders and pre-loads are available now on the Nintendo eShop, which means buying digitally should let you start playing immediately when the game unlocks on launch day.

Finally, a note on the reveal itself. The announcement was a surprise drop in Nintendo Direct, and Nintendo framed the game as the first major Star Fox release in nearly a decade. The presentation leaned into cinematic storytelling, with new cutscenes and voiced lines designed to expand character moments beyond what the 1997 original offered.

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The hard date to mark is June 25, when Star Fox launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. If you plan to buy digitally, make sure you have enough free storage and you can pre-order and pre-load now via the Nintendo eShop.

This article was created with AI assistance.