Nintendo Switch Online Game Gets Surprise Update

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Nintendo Switch Online Game Gets Surprise Update

Key Takeaways

  • F-Zero 99 received a surprise update with 5 new tracks from the Ace League of BS F-Zero Grand Prix.
  • Celebrating its one-year anniversary, the game offers 12 new badges, backdrops, and emotes for a limited time.
  • Nintendo added 2 F-Zero Game Boy Advance games to the service, hinting at the possibility of a new mainline F-Zero game.

As a long-time fan of this exhilarating racing game, I am thrilled to see the exciting updates that have been rolled out! The expansion of Practice Mode with Ace League tracks is a fantastic way for me to hone my skills and compete against formidable opponents. The addition of the Grand Prix Ace League tab on the leaderboard adds an extra layer of competition, making it even more enticing to climb the ranks.

Surprisingly, the exclusive game for the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, known as “F-Zero 99,” has received a fresh update with five additional tracks for racers to compete on. This latest version of the popular game series, “F-Zero 99,” offers a massive online multiplayer experience similar to games like “Super Mario Bros. 35” and “Tetris 99.” The game was initially introduced to the Nintendo Switch Online service in September 2023.

The multiplayer battle royale version of the “F-Zero” game unexpectedly gained popularity, breathing life back into a previously dormant IP. This revival in a massive multiplayer setting provided a novel way to reacquaint players with Nintendo’s unique racing series. Despite some fans being let down by the absence of a new full-fledged “F-Zero” game, many were pleased that the series returned after two decades without any new installments. The resurgence of “F-Zero” has been sustained on the Nintendo Switch Online service, with updates such as the recent one for “F-Zero 99”.

The latest upgrade for F-Zero 99, rolled out at the beginning of October, took the game to version 1.5.0. In this new release, five fresh tracks from the Ace League of the overlooked SNES game, BS F-Zero Grand Prix, have been incorporated into the race courses. These tracks include Mute City IV, Sand Storm I, Big Blue II, Sandstorm II, and Silence II, all tailored to work with F-Zero 99’s mechanics. Successful players who conquer the league will earn a decal featuring the design of the BS F-Zero Grand Prix machine as a reward.

Back in the day, the game “BS F-Zero” was exclusively launched on the Super Famicom Satellaview in Japan, which kept its content away from Western markets. Now, players will experience the game’s content for the first time officially through “F-Zero 99”. To mark the one-year anniversary of “F-Zero 99”, Nintendo has added 12 new anniversary badges, backdrops, and emotes to the game. This special event is only available for a limited time.

Apart from this update, Nintendo also incorporated two F-Zero games from Game Boy Advance into their subscription service on the same day. These classic games include F-Zero GP Legend, a spinoff connected to the 2003 anime of the same name, and the Japan-exclusive F-Zero Climax which features a course editor mode. Notably, this was the last F-Zero game produced before the upcoming F-Zero 99 in 2023. While it’s just speculation for now, many fans are hopeful that Nintendo could be preparing the groundwork for a new high-budget mainline F-Zero game.

F-Zero 99 Version 1.5.0 Patch Notes

New Additions

  • We have added five tracks (MUTE CITY IV, SAND STORM I, BIG BLUE II, SAND STORM II, SILENCE II) from the Ace League of the BS F-ZERO GRAND PRIX game, which was distributed exclusively on the Super Famicom satellite broadcast adapter known as Satellaview. Grand Prix Ace League has also been added.
    • The new tracks have been adjusted for F-ZERO 99.
    • Practice Mode has been expanded so that you can practice by unlocking the Ace League tracks.
    • A Grand Prix Ace League tab has been added to the leaderboard.
    • Ace League track information has been added to TRACKS and PRIX under Records in the Workshop.
    • If you complete the Grand Prix Ace League, you will receive a decal with the motif of a BS F-ZERO GRAND PRIX machine.
  • A one-year anniversary event will be held. A total of 12 anniversary badges, backdrops, borders, and emotes have been prepared. During the event, if you match at least one Lucky Rank (updated daily), you can obtain one of the one-year anniversary rewards. If you collect all 12 of them, you’ll unlock a bonus decal for each machine.
    • The one-year anniversary event will be held for a limited time only. During the event, Ace League tracks will appear more frequently. You can press the L Button on the Main Menu to check the status of one-year anniversary rewards and how much time is remaining in the event.
    • One-year anniversary rewards that could not be obtained during the event period can be obtained from regular Lucky Ranks after the event ends. Unlock requirements for bonus decals will also remain in place.
    • If you obtain all the one-year anniversary items during the event period, you will revert to regular Lucky Rank rewards.
    • Any Bounty Chips from Lucky Ranks you earned before the event will be retained, and by returning to regular Lucky Ranks, you can pick up where you left off.
  • As part of the one-year anniversary celebration, players will receive four new emotes as a gift when launching the game.
  • Added the ability for players to set which emotes they want to enable, and added a function where they will be automatically displayed at specific times.
    • You can set which emotes to display by going to the Workshop menu and selecting EMOTES.
    • You can now also set emotes to automatically display when you KO another pilot, crash out, or finish a race.
  • In addition to one-year anniversary rewards, new boost colors and Spin Effects have been added to customize your machine. New backdrops, badges, and borders have also been added for Pilot Card customization. All of these can be unlocked when certain conditions are met.
    • One default decal, four backdrops, and four borders will be added upon completion of the F-ZERO 25 training. These will automatically be added for players who have already completed the F-ZERO 25 training.
    • The new boost colors and Spin Effects can only be obtained through limited-time challenges. Press the L Button on the Main Menu for the Challenge Highlights screen where you can check limited-time challenges.
    • You can check acquisition conditions and equip new items by selecting MACHINES or PILOT CARDS from the Workshop menu.

Other Adjustments and Changes

  • The training flow has been revised so that Practice and Workshop are unlocked sequentially while the game content of F-ZERO 99 is explained to first-time players. Also, it’s now possible to restart training at any time by selecting Replay Training from Options.
  • You can now choose team colors from Team Battle in a Private Lobby.
  • A new bar has been added to the top of the Main Menu that shows your skill rating and how far you are from the next level.
  • A screen showing a list of machines and Pilot Cards has been added to the Workshop.
    • Move the cursor over MACHINES or PILOT CARDS under Workshop and press the Y Button to display the screen.
  • Boost colors and Spin Effects can now be previewed by selecting Machines from the Workshop menu.
  • Adjusted Balance of Machines

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2024-10-03 07:13