Fox McCloud is heading back to the cockpit. After a decade of silence following Star Fox Zero on Wii U, a new Star Fox game is reportedly set to land on Switch 2 this summer, according to prominent Nintendo insider NateTheHate, whose track record on Nintendo leaks has held up consistently. Video Games Chronicle independently corroborated the claims with its own sources, which adds real weight to what would otherwise be a very exciting rumor.
What the insider is actually claiming
Nate's description is specific enough to get genuinely excited about. According to him, the new Star Fox is a "classic style" game, meaning the series appears to be ditching the divisive dual-controller setup of Star Fox Zero and returning to the on-rails and free-range dogfighting that made the Nintendo 64 original a landmark title. He also noted that the visuals are reportedly impressive and, perhaps most importantly for a series that has always felt built for competition, the game will include online multiplayer.
Here's the thing: the timing makes complete sense. Fox McCloud was recently confirmed to appear in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which means Nintendo is actively warming audiences up to the character again. Releasing a new Star Fox game in that same window is exactly the kind of coordinated franchise push Nintendo does well.
According to multiple sources reporting on NateTheHate's claims, the announcement could come within the next month, ahead of a summer release window.
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These claims come from insider sources, not official Nintendo announcements. Nothing has been confirmed by Nintendo directly as of publication.
The Zelda anniversary piece Nintendo has been sitting on
The second major claim is arguably the bigger one for the broader Nintendo audience. The Legend of Zelda series turned 40 earlier this year, and Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa pointedly declined to discuss any anniversary plans when asked. That kind of non-answer from a Nintendo executive usually means something is coming.
According to Nate, what's coming is a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, targeting a holiday 2026 release window. The original launched on Nintendo 64 in 1998 and still holds the distinction of being the highest-rated game of all time on Metacritic. A 3DS remaster did arrive in 2011, but that version is now further from today than it was from the N64 original at the time of its release. A proper remake is long overdue.
The strategic logic stacks up beyond just the anniversary. The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled for May 2027, and Nintendo has a clear playbook here from watching how it handled the Super Mario Bros. film cycle, staggering game releases and cultural moments to keep the franchise in the spotlight for an extended period.
OoT remake reportedly due holiday 2026
3D Mario fans will have to wait
The one piece of news that will sting: a new 3D Mario game is not coming in 2026. Nate's sources place it firmly in 2027. Super Mario Odyssey launched nearly a decade ago during the original Switch's debut window, and despite Donkey Kong Bananza arriving from the same development studio, a proper new 3D Mario entry has been conspicuously absent from Switch 2's lineup conversation.
The delay makes more sense when you look at what Nintendo is apparently putting in its place. A Star Fox revival, an Ocarina of Time remake, and anticipated Switch 2 editions for Pikmin 4 and Xenoblade 2 represent a strong year for Nintendo's legacy franchises without needing to play the Mario card yet.
Nate also suggested that Nintendo is unlikely to hold a full Nintendo Direct until June, though smaller social media reveals for Splatoon Raiders and Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave could surface before then.
For players who have been waiting to see what Nintendo's 2026 lineup actually looks like beyond Mario Kart World, this is the most detailed picture yet. You'll want to keep an eye on Zelda Ocarina of Time remake and Star Fox rumors as more details emerge in the coming weeks. Make sure to check out more:
