Star Fox Returns: Free Switch 2 Demo Drops During June 9 Nintendo Direct

Key gameplay features

Velan Studios has packed several modes and systems into the June 25 release :

• Single-player campaign with branching routes, extended cinematics, and multiple difficulty levels, including an unlockable Expert mode.
• Competitive multiplayer pitting Star Fox against Star Wolf, plus a two-player local co-op mode where one player pilots the Arwing and the other operates a gunner position.
• Joy-Con 2 mouse-mode aiming, taking advantage of the Switch 2’s updated controllers.
• Challenge Mode for replaying completed levels under specific objectives.

The game runs exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 and requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online multiplayer features .

Pricing and pre-order deals

Nintendo continues its Switch 2 variable pricing strategy with Star Fox :

• Digital (Nintendo eShop): $49.99 USD
• Physical (retail): $59.99 USD

However, several retailers including Walmart and Amazon have been offering the physical edition at a $10 discount, matching the digital $49.99 price . Pre-orders went live earlier in May 2026, shortly after the game’s initial announcement in a dedicated Star Fox Direct on May 6 .

Where Star Fox fits in the series timeline

Pinpointing the “last new franchise release” depends on how you define a new game.

The most recent officially published Star Fox title is Star Fox 2, which finally released on September 29, 2017 as part of the Super NES Classic Edition . However, Star Fox 2 was originally developed in the mid-1990s and shelved before completion — its 2017 launch was a historical release, not a new original entry .

If you count only brand-new, original console releases, the previous new Star Fox game was Star Fox Zero on the Wii U, which launched in April 2016 and was developed in partnership with PlatinumGames . Star Fox Zero was a reimagining of the Lylat Wars story with unique levels and a dual-screen control scheme. It released alongside the tower-defense spin-off Star Fox Guard .

No original Star Fox game shipped between 2016 and 2026, making the June 25 Switch 2 release the first fresh entry in a full decade .

Developer background

Velan Studios, the developer behind Star Fox on Switch 2, confirmed its role on Bluesky shortly after the June 9 Direct. The studio stated it had been working on the project for some time and is proud to bring the series back . Velan is best known for inventive multiplayer titles and Nintendo-adjacent collaborations, but Star Fox represents its largest profile single-player project to date.

What’s next

Nintendo followed the June 9 Direct with a Nintendo Treehouse: Live session that showed extended Star Fox gameplay, and the company confirmed that pre-loading is available now for digital pre-orders . With a reasonable $49.99 digital entry point and a playable demo available today, Star Fox on Switch 2 is positioned as one of the more accessible major 2026 launch-window titles.