Can four people play Star Fox on one Switch 2?
Yes. Star Fox now supports four-player split-screen Battle Mode on one Switch 2. Here is what to update, which controllers work, and how it differs from campaign co-op.
Update Star Fox, then choose Battle Mode > Local Battle. You need one controller per player; a single sideways Joy-Con 2 or original Joy-Con works for split-screen Battle Mode.
Yes. Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 now lets up to four people share one console in split-screen Battle Mode. Each person needs a controller. The free update arrived on September 29, 2026 in Nintendo's North American release notes.
That is separate from the story campaign. Campaign co-op is still a two-player setup: one person pilots and the other aims as the gunner. If three kids and a parent want to play together, choose Battle Mode.
Before everyone settles in, check Nintendo's update instructions: connect the console to the internet, highlight Star Fox on the HOME Menu without opening it, then press + or -. The version appears below the title. Choose Software Update, then Over the Internet. Four-player split-screen was added in version 1.2.0.
For split-screen Battle Mode, a single Joy-Con 2 or an original Joy-Con held horizontally can count as one player's controller. That means a pair can serve two players in this mode. Check what you already have before buying more. The campaign's pilot-and-gunner setup specifically uses Joy-Con 2, including mouse controls for the gunner.
To start, follow Nintendo's single-system Battle Mode steps: open Battle Mode, select Local Battle and set the player count to four. Follow the controller-pairing prompts, choose pilots, then select a mission. The Y Button opens Battle Settings before the match.
Local Battle keeps this session on the shared console. Online Battle is a separate choice, even when several players share that console; Nintendo Switch Online is required for online features. If the plan is just to play with the people in the room, stay with Local Battle.
This is a setup explanation checked against Nintendo's documentation, not a hands-on family review. Four available seats tell us who can join, but not how easily a younger child will manage the flying or follow a smaller view of the action.
Featured image: Star Fox Battle Mode in four-player split-screen. Image: Nintendo.
What this guide is built on
- websiteNintendo: Star Fox update historyVersion 1.2.0 release, controller support and online requirements. Checked October 3, 2026.
- websiteNintendo: how to start a multiplayer gameLocal Battle setup and campaign co-op controls. Checked October 3, 2026.
- websitePrevious featured photo: Patrick / Pexels (replaced)Previous featured image, replaced October 10, 2026 by Shannon-supplied Star Fox image. Original Joy-Con controllers. Pexels License checked October 3, 2026; attribution optional. Resized/compressed only.