Takaya Imamura, the veteran Nintendo artist who designed the original Star Fox cast, has publicly praised the visuals of the upcoming Star Fox title for Nintendo Switch 2, saying the game fulfills the look he imagined while working on Star Fox 64 in the 1990s.
The new game, titled Star Fox, is scheduled to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25, 2026.
Imamura shared his reaction on X on May 10, 2026, noting that the modern visuals align closely with the images he carried in his head during the development of Star Fox 64.
In a translated summary of his remarks, Imamura said the game’s graphics “exactly match” the concepts he envisioned at the time and that he particularly appreciates the ultra-realistic character rendering, while also commenting that Fox’s portrayal in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie struck him as notably cute.
Rewriting his notable comments in journalistic terms: Imamura said the new Star Fox visuals realize his original Star Fox 64-era vision and praised the ultra-realistic character designs.
He also observed that, personally, he prefers Fox’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie but acknowledged the Switch 2 game’s design has a clear and valid artistic direction.
Imamura’s reaction carries weight: he designed the full 1993 Star Fox roster, including Fox McCloud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi, and is also credited with creating F-Zero’s Captain Falcon and The Legend of Zelda’s Tingle.
He retired from Nintendo in 2021 after a long career contributing to the company’s franchises.
Beyond Imamura’s comments, several confirmed details about the release and surrounding content have been reported.
Star Fox will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive when it launches on June 25, 2026.
Nintendo has confirmed the digital version will be priced lower than the physical edition on the eShop.
Additional tie-in content includes 10 tracks from the upcoming Star Fox game being added to Nintendo Music, and official Star Fox plush toys earmarked for release in Japan in late June.
Imamura’s endorsement underscores the significance of legacy creators weighing in on modern remakes and franchise reboots.
With launch day set for late June and tie-in music and merchandise already scheduled, Nintendo is positioning Star Fox as one of the platform’s marquee releases for Nintendo Switch 2.
The new game, titled Star Fox, is scheduled to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25, 2026.
Imamura shared his reaction on X on May 10, 2026, noting that the modern visuals align closely with the images he carried in his head during the development of Star Fox 64.
In a translated summary of his remarks, Imamura said the game’s graphics “exactly match” the concepts he envisioned at the time and that he particularly appreciates the ultra-realistic character rendering, while also commenting that Fox’s portrayal in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie struck him as notably cute.
Rewriting his notable comments in journalistic terms: Imamura said the new Star Fox visuals realize his original Star Fox 64-era vision and praised the ultra-realistic character designs.
He also observed that, personally, he prefers Fox’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie but acknowledged the Switch 2 game’s design has a clear and valid artistic direction.
Imamura’s reaction carries weight: he designed the full 1993 Star Fox roster, including Fox McCloud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi, and is also credited with creating F-Zero’s Captain Falcon and The Legend of Zelda’s Tingle.
He retired from Nintendo in 2021 after a long career contributing to the company’s franchises.
Beyond Imamura’s comments, several confirmed details about the release and surrounding content have been reported.
Star Fox will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive when it launches on June 25, 2026.
Nintendo has confirmed the digital version will be priced lower than the physical edition on the eShop.
Additional tie-in content includes 10 tracks from the upcoming Star Fox game being added to Nintendo Music, and official Star Fox plush toys earmarked for release in Japan in late June.
Imamura’s endorsement underscores the significance of legacy creators weighing in on modern remakes and franchise reboots.
With launch day set for late June and tie-in music and merchandise already scheduled, Nintendo is positioning Star Fox as one of the platform’s marquee releases for Nintendo Switch 2.
