Star Fox & Final Fantasy XIV Switch 2: Release Date, Price, and How to Get Started (2026)
Star Fox (the 2026 remake) launched on Switch 2 on June 25, and Final Fantasy XIV arrived in August 2026 with a changed subscription model, plus GameCube games on Nintendo Switch Online. Updated 2026-08-31 with the FFXIV Switch 2 post-launch state, the 8/13-14 emergency maintenance, and what we know about cross-play limits.
Nintendo’s 2026 Switch 2 lineup has two massive third-party / first-party crossovers landing within two months of each other: Star Fox (the cinematic remake of Star Fox 64) shipped on June 25, 2026, and Final Fantasy XIV shipped on August 4, 2026 with a subscription model change Nintendo required. Both are reasons to actually plug a Switch 2 into a 4K TV this summer. Updated 2026-08-31 with what changed in the FFXIV Switch 2 launch month.
Note: This article was last updated 2026-08-31. Star Fox is on the eShop for ~9 weeks (steady install base); FFXIV Switch 2 has been live for 27 days and the 8/13-14 emergency maintenance is shipped.
Star Fox (Switch 2, June 25, 2026)
What it is
Nintendo dropped Star Fox — internally referred to as a “cinematic remake” of Star Fox 64 — on Switch 2 on June 25, 2026, with no prior announcement. The Hong Kong eShop listed it at HK$329 (≈ US$42). The US MSRP is $39.99, the EU MSRP is €39.99.
The game is built on the same internal codepath as Star Fox 64, with the original 15-level campaign structure intact, but every visual asset is redone. Voice acting, all-range mode, the branching medal system — all preserved. Two new additions:
- Online multiplayer for the medal-attack-style Versus mode, supporting up to 4 players online (this is the first online-enabled mainline Star Fox game ever).
- A new branching path at the end of the Lylat Wars campaign that lets Fox face Andross directly without the usual “choose your medal” gate.
Who’s developing it
Velan Studios — the independent studio behind Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and Knockout City. Nintendo kept them under wraps until launch. Velan’s involvement explains the polished vehicle physics and the surprisingly good online netcode.
How long is it
| Mode | Approximate length |
|---|---|
| Main campaign (Medal path) | 6–8 hours |
| Main campaign (Expert path) | 4–6 hours |
| All medals + Expert unlocks | 12–15 hours |
| Online Versus (ranked grind) | Infinite |
| 3D all-range mode missions | 3 hours |
It’s a short game. The value is in the replayability — the medal system genuinely rewards multiple runs.
Should you buy it
Yes, if: you liked Star Fox 64, you have a Switch 2, and you want a 10-hour experience with online multiplayer.
Skip it if: you’re not into arcade flight games, or you’d rather wait for the inevitable “Switch 2 Edition” deep-discount in 12 months.
Setting it up on Switch 2
- Update your Switch 2 to the latest firmware (system version 20.1.5 or later is required for Star Fox’s online mode).
- Make sure you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription if you want online Versus — the game uses NSO infrastructure for multiplayer matching.
- Insert a microSD Express card if your Switch 2 has the 256GB or smaller internal storage — Star Fox is 14.2 GB.
- Open the eShop, search “Star Fox”, and download. The game is single-player ready offline; only Versus requires a connection.
Tip: Use a Pro Controller 2 — the Joy-Con 2 mouse-mode gyro aiming works, but for arcade-style flight, the Pro Controller 2’s sticks are noticeably more precise.
Performance on Switch 2
Reviews from launch week (Nintendo Everything, eShopperReviews, Switchaboo, July 2026) report consistent 1080p / 60fps in handheld and 4K / 60fps in docked — both with HDR enabled. There are no confirmed performance dips in the campaign. Online Versus occasionally drops to 50fps during heavy explosions, but it’s not gameplay-breaking.
Final Fantasy XIV (Switch 2 — launched 2026-08-04)
What’s confirmed (now live)
Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu announced the FFXIV Switch 2 port during the April 2026 FFXIV Fan Fest keynote in Anaheim. The Switch 2 client shipped on 2026-08-04 as confirmed by the Nintendo eShop listing.
- Subscription model change: Per Nintendo’s requirement, FFXIV on Switch 2 uses Nintendo’s eShop subscription system rather than Square Enix’s direct subscription. The standard entry is ~$12.99/mo, same as PC/Mac, but managed through NSO. The free trial runs 30 days as expected.
- Cross-platform play: Confirmed live. Switch 2 players can party with PC, Mac, and PS5/Xbox players via Square Enix’s standard cross-realm system.
- Cross-save: Not supported. Your Switch 2 character is tied to a Square Enix account but cannot be transferred to PC/Mac (the same restriction already applied between Xbox and PC). Treat the Switch 2 client as a separate account if you already play on PC.
- Touch / gyro support: Limited. Combat uses stick + button input; gyro is supported for camera control only. Touch is not used in combat.
What expansions are included (confirmed)
The base game + all expansions up to and including Dawntrail are included in the standard subscription. If you have an active PC/Mac FFXIV account, your existing subscription applies — the platform change doesn’t double-charge you. You’ll need to log in to your Square Enix account on the Switch 2 version, not re-buy.
Post-launch: the 8/13-14 emergency maintenance
2026-08-13 → 2026-08-14: Square Enix pushed an emergency maintenance to address four Switch 2 launch issues:
| Issue | Status after maintenance |
|---|---|
| Crystalline Conflict matchmaking infinite-queue bug | Fixed |
| 「In the Shadow of the Tower」 main scenario soft-lock on the final cutscene (Switch 2) | Fixed |
| Switch 2 revive lag — revive actions took 2-3 seconds longer than expected | Fixed |
| Au Ra (dragon race) horns desaturated after glamour change on Switch 2 | Fixed |
If you started FFXIV on Switch 2 between 2026-08-04 and 2026-08-13, install the Switch 2 client update (auto-download via eShop) before doing Crystalline Conflict or the final 「In the Shadow of the Tower」 cutscene. The other two fixes are non-blocking but you’ll notice the colour desaturation if you play an Au Ra.
Performance: what to expect
From the 27 days of post-launch community reports (r/ffxiv Switch 2 megathread):
- Docked mode: 1080p / 30fps with occasional dips to ~25fps in Limsa Lominsa and major city hubs
- Handheld mode: 720p / 30fps stable in open-world zones; 25-30fps in crowded cities
- Zone load times: roughly 1.5x the PC version (the Switch 2’s SSD helps, but the client does extra decompression)
- Battery life: roughly 3-4 hours on the standard Switch 2 battery, depending on the zone (open world > city)
- Touch and gyro: as advertised — camera only, no combat touch
These are not catastrophic numbers, but if you have a gaming PC, the Switch 2 version is not a substitute for the PC experience. It is a viable way to play the game if you do not have a PC.
How both games fit into the Switch 2 ecosystem
The two releases point at a deliberate Nintendo strategy: convert the existing Switch 2 install base into long-tail revenue. Star Fox is a one-time purchase, but the online Versus mode drives NSO subscriptions. FFXIV is a recurring subscription through Nintendo’s eShop, which means Nintendo gets a cut of every monthly fee — a first for the platform.
For Switch 2 owners, both games are basically no-brainers to try. Star Fox is a 10-hour arcade romp for $40; FFXIV is a 100+ hour MMO with the full subscription library.
Common questions
Q: Will Star Fox come to Switch 1? A: No. Nintendo confirmed it’s a Switch 2 exclusive. The Switch 1 version of Star Fox 64 (via NSO) is still available, but the new remake is Switch 2 only.
Q: Does FFXIV Switch 2 use the Joy-Con 2 mouse mode? A: For camera, yes. For combat targeting, no — it uses stick-aim because precise mouse-equivalent input would unbalance the cross-play meta.
Q: Can I buy Star Fox digitally and use a physical cartridge? A: Nintendo still offers both. The cartridge version is $39.99 with no download code; digital is $39.99 with the standard eShop discount tiers.
Q: Will there be DLC for Star Fox? A: Nothing announced. Velan Studios is reportedly working on a separate Switch 2 title; expect Star Fox DLC only if the sales numbers justify it.
GameCube games are now on Nintendo Switch Online (August 2026 update)
Since the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo has rolled out the first wave of GameCube titles on Nintendo Switch Online. If you have an active NSO + Expansion Pack subscription, you can now play classic GameCube games on your Switch 2 — with higher resolution and clearer image quality than the original discs (Nintendo officially markets this as a “remastered” layer rather than a true remaster).
Confirmed launch titles (as of August 2026):
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Soul Calibur 2
- F-Zero GX
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Super Mario Strikers
- Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure
- Luigi’s Mansion
Why this matters for Switch 2 owners:
- Back-catalog value: if you owned a GameCube as a kid, this is the easiest path to replay your old library without dusting off the original hardware.
- Subsidy for Expansion Pack: NSO + Expansion Pack is the only way to access these — a pure nostalgia play that strengthens Nintendo’s recurring-revenue strategy alongside FFXIV’s subscription model.
- Display parity: the emulated versions output at higher native resolution than the original GameCube’s 480i, which means they look meaningfully better on a 4K TV than the original hardware ever could.
For the full list and setup tips, see our GameCube in 2026 guide, which now includes an NSO play section.
Where to start after launch
If you finish Star Fox’s campaign and want more Switch 2 games, see the compatibility and what-to-play-first sections of our Switch 2 games and setup guide. If you start FFXIV, see our FFXIV Dawntrail jobs tier list for what to play first.
Last updated 2026-08-19. Added NSO GameCube section; we’ll update this page with FFXIV’s exact launch date and pricing the moment Square Enix announces it.
HistoryRevision history
- v1.1
- Editorial review pass — content checked against the latest stable patch.
- v1.0
- Initial publication.
Send us feedback
Found something wrong, missing info, or have a tip? Let us know — we read every message.