Nintendo has updated the Japanese Switch and Switch 2 eShop schedule for the week of June 25, 2026, and the lineup is headlined by Star Fox - the first new entry in the franchise in a decade.
Star Fox: The Decade-Long Wait Ends
The franchise has been dormant since Star Fox Zero in 2016, making this week's release a significant moment for Nintendo fans. Star Fox is developed by Velan Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. It is a remake of Star Fox 64 (1997), expanding on the original game's level design, story, and gameplay mechanics, while introducing a new art style and rebooting the series.
This cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story features new fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system. Players can choose the classic third-person perspective or enter first-person mode from inside the cockpit, and can even take on missions using the mouse controls on Joy-Con 2 controllers.
Star Fox was not formally revealed until a surprise Nintendo Direct on May 7, 2026, which itself was announced just ten minutes before broadcast. Nintendo confirmed a free playable demo became available on the eShop on June 19, 2026 - six days before the full release.
On the Switch 2-specific features front, Star Fox supports the GameChat feature of the Switch 2 - both for in-game multiplayer and general video chat - with filters for any Star Fox team member available for the webcam. The game also supports GameShare, allowing multiplayer across not just multiple Switch 2 consoles, but even different models of the original Nintendo Switch.
In early June 2026, press outlets were given an opportunity to preview Star Fox, with responses predominantly positive. Logan Plant of IGN praised the game for its "crisp graphics, snappy controls, and majestic orchestral soundtrack."
Star Fox is available now on Switch 2 - check the current best price in your currency: AU$62.44
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Also Arriving June 25: Namco Legendary Mountains
Alongside Star Fox, Namco Legendary Mountains, a 3D puzzle game by BeXide and Bandai Namco, also releases on Switch, Switch 2, and PC via Steam on June 25, 2026. The title is similar to games like 2048 and Suika Game in that players combine icons to create bigger ones, but with a twist: it takes place in a 3D space and uses elements themed around Namco's rich history.
The game features stages inspired by classic Namco titles including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, The Tower of Druaga, and Xevious, with each stage including themed visuals and music based on its respective series. Players can also unlock more than 100 collectible voxel characters through gameplay challenges and display them in a customizable Collection Room, and the game includes online score-attack rankings inspired by classic arcade leaderboards.
Full Japanese eShop Schedule for June 25
Below is a breakdown of the digital releases arriving in the Japanese Nintendo eShop this week, organized by platform tier:
| Category | Notable Titles |
|---|---|
| Switch 2 Download | Citizen Sleeper SW2 Ed., Citizen Sleeper 2 SW2 Ed., Namco Legendary Mountains, The Necromancer's Tale |
| Switch Retail | Medabots Card Robattle RB, A Shared Illusion of the World's End, Blackish House: SideZ Retour |
| Switch Download | Shantae Advance, Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra 2, Mini Airways, Sands and Relics, Axel Quest (June 26) |
The week also includes Citizen Sleeper and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector in Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, continuing Nintendo's strategy of bringing quality indie titles to the upgraded hardware with platform-specific enhancements.
Editorial Take
Star Fox's arrival is the clearest sign yet that Nintendo is willing to revisit long-dormant franchises on Switch 2 - and do so with genuine production ambition. Whether the remake-of-a-remake approach satisfies longtime fans remains the open question, but the free demo already on eShop means there is no excuse not to check it out before committing. The surrounding week of 30-plus releases shows the Japanese eShop is far from short on variety.
