TL;DR
Nintendo has revealed the full voice cast for the upcoming Star Fox title on Nintendo Switch 2, including new actors for Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad. This marks the first mainline Star Fox game in over a decade and the franchise's debut on Nintendo's next-generation hardware, making casting decisions critical for both longtime fans and new players.
What Happened
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Nintendo Everything published the complete voice actor roster for the Star Fox game launching on Nintendo Switch 2, confirming that every major member of the Star Fox team — plus supporting characters — has been recast with new talent. The announcement ends months of speculation about whether the franchise would retain its original voice actors from the 1990s or pivot to a fresh cast for the new console generation.
Key Facts
- Fox McCloud will be voiced by Roger Craig Smith, best known for his work as Sonic the Hedgehog and Captain America in various animated series, replacing longtime actor Mike West.
- Falco Lombardi is now played by Dee Bradley Baker, a veteran voice actor with over 500 credits including Star Wars: The Clone Wars and American Dad!.
- Peppy Hare will be voiced by Fred Tatasciore, whose credits include The Hulk in Marvel projects and Soldier: 76 in Overwatch.
- Slippy Toad is voiced by Tom Kenny, the iconic voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, marking a notable departure from the character's previous high-pitched, nasally delivery.
- Katt Monroe and Andross have also been recast, with Grey DeLisle (The Fairly OddParents, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy) taking on Katt and Corey Burton (Transformers, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) voicing the villainous Andross.
- The game is being developed by Nintendo EPD in collaboration with PlatinumGames, the studio behind Bayonetta and Astral Chain.
- No specific release date has been announced beyond a 2026 launch window for the Nintendo Switch 2, which is expected to ship 20 million units in its first year according to industry analysts.
Breaking It Down
The recasting of Star Fox's core team represents a strategic bet by Nintendo that the franchise needs a generational reset to appeal to Switch 2 adopters. The original voice actors — many of whom had been with the series since Star Fox 64 (1997) — brought a distinctively campy, anime-influenced energy that became a beloved hallmark. However, those performances also carried a dated, low-budget quality that may not resonate with audiences accustomed to the cinematic voice work in modern Nintendo titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey.
Roger Craig Smith alone has voiced Sonic the Hedgehog across more than 50 games and 10 animated series, giving him a proven track record of sustaining a character across multiple media — a skill Nintendo likely values as it expands Star Fox into potential film, TV, and theme park ventures.
Smith's casting is particularly telling. By choosing an actor who has carried a major video game franchise for over a decade, Nintendo signals that Fox McCloud will be a long-term, multi-platform character — not just a one-off for Switch 2. Similarly, Dee Bradley Baker brings immense range (he voiced all clone troopers in Star Wars: The Clone Wars), suggesting Falco may receive more nuanced dialogue in the new game.
The choice of Tom Kenny for Slippy Toad is the most audacious. Kenny's SpongeBob voice is one of the most recognizable in animation history, but it carries comedic associations that could either refresh Slippy's annoying-but-lovable persona or clash with the game's tone. PlatinumGames' involvement suggests the gameplay will emphasize fast-paced, stylish combat — a departure from the on-rails shooter roots — and Slippy's role as the team's mechanic may expand accordingly.
What Comes Next
- Nintendo Direct (July 2026): A full gameplay reveal is expected during Nintendo's next major showcase, likely showing the first extended footage of Star Fox on Switch 2 hardware. Voice samples from the new cast will almost certainly debut here.
- Release Date Announcement (Q3 2026): With the Switch 2 launching in 2026, Nintendo will need to lock in a specific date — likely November 2026 for the holiday season — to maximize hardware sales. Star Fox is positioned as a launch-window exclusive.
- Voice Actor Interviews & Promo Tour: Cast members like Roger Craig Smith and Tom Kenny will likely appear on major gaming podcasts and YouTube channels in the months leading to release, building hype through their existing fanbases.
- Potential Film/TV Crossover Announcement: A Star Fox animated series or film has been rumored for years. The high-profile casting of voice actors with strong animation credentials (Kenny, Baker, Tatasciore) strongly suggests Nintendo is preparing for transmedia expansion.
The Bigger Picture
This casting announcement sits at the intersection of two major trends: Nintendo's belated embrace of high-quality voice acting and the company's push toward multimedia franchises. For decades, Nintendo treated voice acting as an afterthought, often hiring local radio personalities or in-house staff. The shift to union-tier talent like Roger Craig Smith and Dee Bradley Baker mirrors the strategy Nintendo used for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), which hired Patricia Summersett and Kevan Brighting — a move that paid off critically and commercially.
The second trend is Nintendo's aggressive expansion into film and television following the $1.3 billion success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). By casting actors who regularly work in animation, Nintendo is building a bench of talent that can seamlessly transition from game to screen. Star Fox, with its anthropomorphic animal cast and space opera setting, is a natural candidate for an animated series or feature film — and these casting choices make that transition far easier.
Finally, the collaboration with PlatinumGames signals that Star Fox on Switch 2 will not be a simple on-rails shooter. PlatinumGames is known for deep, combo-driven combat systems (Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising). If Star Fox incorporates ground-based combat or melee sequences — as hinted by early concept art — the voice cast will need to deliver both in-cockpit banter and dramatic cutscenes. The new actors' collective experience in action games and animation suggests they are prepared for that dual role.
Key Takeaways
- [New Voice Cast]: Every major Star Fox character has been recast for Switch 2, with Roger Craig Smith (Sonic) as Fox, Tom Kenny (SpongeBob) as Slippy, and Dee Bradley Baker (Clone Wars) as Falco — a dramatic upgrade in voice acting pedigree.
- [PlatinumGames Collaboration]: The game is co-developed by PlatinumGames, known for stylish action titles, indicating Star Fox may feature expanded ground combat beyond traditional rail shooting.
- [Multimedia Strategy]: The casting of animation-industry veterans strongly suggests Nintendo is preparing Star Fox for film or TV adaptations, following the Super Mario Movie blueprint.
- [2026 Launch Window]: Star Fox is a key launch-window title for Nintendo Switch 2, expected to ship 20 million units in its first year, making this game a critical hardware driver for the holiday 2026 season.
