What This Star Fox 64 Remake On Switch 2 Actually Is
The Star Fox 64 remake on Nintendo Switch 2 is a modern reimagining of the N64 rail shooter classic that keeps its original missions and core mechanics intact while upgrading visuals, controls, and multiplayer to match current hardware expectations and online play standards. When Nintendo announced another Star Fox 64 remake, many fans wrote it off as one more trip through Corneria with little new to see. It does follow the same flight paths and objectives, from defending the planet to threading alternate routes through Meteos. Yet hands-on time shows how much care has gone into keeping the feel of the classic while tuning it for modern players. Launching June 25 as an exclusive among upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games, this new Star Fox aims to win over both veterans and newcomers.
From N64 Polygons to 4K Space Opera
The most immediate surprise with Star Fox Switch 2 is how familiar stages now feel spectacular. Corneria’s opening run still sends your Arwing skimming past buildings and under arches, but the city and sea now sit under detailed lighting, with shadows stretching across terrain and enemies exploding into clouds of metal scraps. The blue-and-white Arwing keeps its iconic silhouette while gaining visible panels and moving parts that hold up on a 4K screen. Between missions, longer cutscenes aboard the Great Fox show Fox, Falco, Peppy, and Slippy with far more detailed fur, feathers, and fabric than any earlier Star Fox. According to PCMag’s demo report, Star Fox on the Switch 2 “looks better than any other series entry, by far,” and the crisp widescreen presentation makes the familiar rails feel closer to a cinematic space anime than a retro throwback.
Velan Studios Star Fox: New Developer, Old-School Feel
The twist behind this Star Fox 64 remake is that Velan Studios, best known for Knockout City and Midnight Murder Club, is developing it in collaboration with Nintendo. Velan confirmed that Star Fox runs on its in-house VIPER engine, which lets the team deliver 60 FPS gameplay with all cinematics rendered in real time. That technical backbone explains why the game can combine detailed models and lighting with the tight, responsive controls fans expect. Importantly, Velan has prior experience with Nintendo hardware through Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, so the studio is not new to adapting action-heavy concepts to Nintendo systems. Here, Velan’s goal seems respectful rather than revisionist: keep the Star Fox 64 structure, keep the weight and snap of the Arwing, and improve everything around it. For players who doubted an external studio, the hands-on demo eases those concerns.
Modern Multiplayer That Earns the ‘Remake’ Label
Where this Star Fox 64 remake pushes furthest past nostalgia is multiplayer. Local and online co-op let two players share a single Arwing: one pilots while the other guns, each using one Joy-Con. It recalls Star Fox Zero’s dual-role setup, but without awkward dual screens. In practice, the pilot focuses on dodging and positioning while the gunner uses motion-style aiming for precise shots, creating a surprisingly coordinated rhythm. Classic four-player Versus Mode is gone, but in its place is 4v4 online competition pitting Team Star Fox against Team Star Wolf in objective-based battles. In the demo’s mode, teams fought over pirate cargo: returning it to base awarded 100 points, downing pilots gave 30, and destroying weaker starfighters earned 5. That scoring model encourages squad roles and intercepts rather than simple dogfights and makes Star Fox Switch 2 feel designed for modern online play.
Why This Remake Wins Over Skeptics
Initial reactions to yet another Star Fox 64 remake were skeptical for good reason: the flight paths, boss encounters, and branching routes remain almost unchanged. Yet hands-on impressions suggest that is now a strength instead of a flaw. The original’s rail-shooter design still feels sharp, and by leaving it alone, Velan Studios can focus on audiovisual upgrades and multiplayer features that freshen the experience without bloating it. Playing Corneria or Meteos on Nintendo Switch 2 feels like sliding into muscle memory, but the 4K presentation, detailed character animation, and expanded online modes make those memories feel contemporary instead of dated. Add in the promise of GameChat avatars, where you can appear as Fox McCloud himself, and this Star Fox 64 remake becomes more than a reissue. It is a case study in how to modernize a classic while letting the original design do the heavy lifting.
