Star FoxExplainer
Star Fox Switch 2 multiplayer: 8-player online battles, co-op gunner and 4-player split-screen since Sept. 29
Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 has three kinds of multiplayer. Battle Mode puts up to eight players into 4-vs-4 dogfights online, a second player can ride along as your gunner in the campaign, and a free update on Sept. 29, 2026, added split-screen for up to four players on one console. The game came out on June 25, 2026, for $49.99, and online play needs Nintendo Switch Online.
- Switch 2
Star Fox on Switch 2 started with online dogfights and co-op, and a free update in September added couch multiplayer. Here’s every way to play it with friends.
Battle Mode: 4-vs-4 online
The headline mode is Battle Mode, with 4-vs-4 dogfights for up to eight players, split into Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf. At launch it had three stages with different goals: hold a zone on Corneria, collect energy crystals on Fichina and grab cargo from space pirates in Sector Y. You can play through private matches or matchmaking, and online play needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Split-screen and team play since Sept. 29
The free update, version 1.2.0 on Sept. 29, 2026, added local split-screen for up to four players on one Nintendo Switch 2, with a controller for each player. Four players on one console can also join random online matches as a team. The update brought three more Battle Mode stages, Katina, Sector X and Venom, plus new items during battles, and Nintendo said the new stages show up more often online for a limited time.
Co-op in the campaign and GameShare
In Campaign and Challenge Mode, a friend can take the gunner’s seat while you fly, and the two of you can swap. That works locally or online through GameShare over GameChat. GameShare supports up to four players: locally it works with Switch 2 and the original Switch, as long as a Switch 2 starts the session, and online it needs Switch 2 consoles.
Star Fox is a reimagining of Star Fox 64, which came out in Europe as Lylat Wars. Nintendo showed it in the Star Fox Direct on May 6, 2026, and released it on June 25, 2026, for $49.99, with a free demo. For more on Nintendo’s console, see our upcoming Switch 2 games and next Nintendo Direct pages, and for the console’s biggest multiplayer game, our Mario Kart World update page.
This page is updated as soon as Nintendo adds new multiplayer modes or stages to Star Fox.
FAQ
Does Star Fox on Switch 2 have multiplayer?
Yes. It has a 4-vs-4 online Battle Mode for up to eight players, co-op in the Campaign and Challenge modes, and split-screen for up to four players on one console since Sept. 29, 2026.
Does Star Fox have split-screen on Switch 2?
Yes, since the free update on Sept. 29, 2026. Up to four players can battle on one Nintendo Switch 2, and four players can also team up and join online battles from a single console.
How many players can play Star Fox online?
Up to eight in Battle Mode, split into two teams of four, through private matches or matchmaking. You need a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Can you play the Star Fox campaign in co-op?
Yes. A friend can join the Campaign or Challenge Mode as your gunner while you fly, and you can swap roles. It works locally or online through GameShare over GameChat.
What stages are in Star Fox Battle Mode?
Corneria, Fichina and Sector Y at launch, each with its own objective, plus Katina, Sector X and Venom from the Sept. 29, 2026, update.
Does Star Fox GameShare work with the original Switch?
Local GameShare works with Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, but a Switch 2 has to start the session. Online GameShare through GameChat needs Switch 2 consoles.
How much is Star Fox on Switch 2?
$49.99 on the Nintendo US store, and there’s a free demo. It’s a Switch 2 exclusive.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
How many players can join a Star Fox Battle Mode match online?
Battle Mode is 4-vs-4, so up to eight players, split between Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf.
Your call
How do you play Star Fox on Switch 2?
