Star Fox Exploration Showcase: Ambitious SNES Mod Adds New Features, Ships, and Multiplayer

Star Fox Exploration Showcase: Ambitious SNES Mod Brings Multiplayer and Fresh Content to Classic Star Fox For decades, Nintendo fans have celebrated Star Fox as one of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System’s most pioneering titles.

While the official Star Fox franchise has yet to land on Nintendo Switch, the modding community is fueling excitement with major projects that honor and expand the classic 16-bit shooter.

The latest project gaining traction is 'Star Fox Exploration Showcase,' a wide-reaching enhancement crafted by modder KandoWontu and a talented team of collaborators.

This ambitious fan-made mod is designed not just to revitalize the original Star Fox, but also to introduce entirely new mechanics, ships, weapons, and—for the first time in SNES history—a fully-featured multiplayer mode. A Mod That Redefines Star Fox on the Super Nintendo Star Fox Exploration Showcase began with a simple goal: integrate Star Fox 2’s all-range mode and innovative camera functions, inspired by work from fellow modder Starxxon.

In a recent interview with Time Extension’s Jack Yarwood, KandoWontu reflected on how what started as a modest expansion quickly escalated into a comprehensive overhaul.

“After making a few tweaks, I wondered why not make the ships or weapons changeable? Before long, I found myself adding all sorts of features and even secret codes,” KandoWontu explained.

The final result is a dramatically expanded experience for Star Fox fans.

Players can now access a full pre-game mod menu, choose new ships and weapons, and enter a robust New Game+ mode packed with unlockables.

The mod delivers not only a preserved version of the original Star Fox map but also an additional map, introducing three new courses, a hidden stage, original enemies, bosses, music, and background art.

Replayability is further enhanced through a fully-operational two-player multiplayer mode—a feature many fans had only dreamed of for the SNES edition. A Collaborative Community Effort KandoWontu credits a dedicated community of contributors for the project’s depth and polish.

Team members like SegaRetro92, phonymike, livvy94, MrL314, Euclidium, Sunlitspace542, chuckborrisnorris, and Random Stuff assisted in areas ranging from texture design to music composition, exemplifying collaboration within the retro gaming scene.

“The multiplayer feature was especially tricky, but with input from the entire team, we overcame each technical hurdle,” KandoWontu shared with Time Extension. Development Timeline and Availability Originally scheduled for release in August, Star Fox Exploration Showcase saw its launch date postponed due to the growing ambition of the project, with the team later confirming a target window for late October.

Most recently, a teaser trailer published on November 5th confirmed the official release date as November 11th.

Upon release, the mod is expected to be available via official modding channels, requiring a legitimate copy of the original Star Fox SNES ROM for play. A Milestone for Fan-Led Game Development Star Fox Exploration Showcase stands as a testament to the creative capacity of Nintendo’s modding community, breathing new life into a beloved classic and demonstrating the technical limits of the Super Nintendo platform.

The project represents not just a trip down memory lane, but also the evolving potential of retro gaming in the hands of dedicated fans.

For industry observers and Nintendo Switch enthusiasts alike, the emergence of such comprehensive fan modding projects highlights a persistent demand for innovative Star Fox experiences—both official and unofficial—on modern and classic hardware.

SNES Xbox Series X|S Star Fox Exploration Showcase KandoWontu Star Fox