Nintendo reveals surprise Star Fox title for Switch 2 during Direct presentation.

Fox McCloud and his crew are making a comeback in a brand-new game, Star Fox, set for the Nintendo Switch 2. This announcement came during a surprise Nintendo Direct showcase, marking the first new entry in the Star Fox series since 2016’s Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard for the Wii U, not counting the long-awaited release of Star Fox 2 in 2017.

The game was unveiled by Nintendo legends Shigeru Miyamoto and Yoshiaki Koizumi, who shared that it draws inspiration from the classic Star Fox 64, originally launched on the Nintendo 64. The upcoming Star Fox will feature a significant graphical upgrade while retaining many of the routes and gameplay mechanics reminiscent of the 1997 rail shooter. Iconic characters like Fox McCloud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi have been redesigned to look more realistic and animal-like, with new cutscenes added, yet the overall design stays true to Star Fox 64.

On the new features front, Star Fox for Switch 2 will introduce online multiplayer, allowing for 4v4 dogfights in an exciting new Battle Mode. Players can team up locally with GameShare or connect online using GameShare via GameChat. Additionally, cooperative play will be available, enabling one player to pilot an Arwing (or other vehicles) while another takes on the role of a gunner, utilizing Joy-Con 2 mouse controls to aim and fire.

Mark your calendars for June 25, as Nintendo’s new Star Fox is set to launch exclusively for Switch 2. Pricing and pre-order details have yet to be revealed.

The return of Star Fox was hinted at back in April when Fox McCloud made a notable cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, where he, voiced by Glen Powell, assists Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach by transporting them across the galaxy. The existence of the new game was initially leaked by a well-known source, who hinted at a “classic-style Star Fox game” ahead of Nintendo’s official announcement.

The Star Fox franchise began in 1993 with the original Star Fox for the Super NES, a 16-bit on-rails shooter that utilized Nintendo’s Super FX chip for 3D graphics. A direct sequel was developed for the SNES but was ultimately canceled despite being completed. Nintendo later released this game for the Super NES Classic Edition mini console and through its SNES Nintendo Classics service for Nintendo Switch Online.

Over the past three decades, Nintendo and its partners have launched several sequels and spin-offs, including Star Fox 64 for the Nintendo 64, Star Fox Adventures for the GameCube, and Star Fox Command for the Nintendo DS. Fox McCloud has been a playable character in all of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. titles, with his ally Falco joining the roster in Super Smash Bros. Melee and rival Wolf making his debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Do a barrel roll!