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Star Fox 64 Has a Fan-Made PC Port: What to Know About Starship

Harbour Masters’ fan-made Star Fox 64 port, Starship, runs on desktop platforms and has a Switch workflow—but you must supply a supported game copy.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Yes: Harbour Masters has made Starship, a fan-made PC port of Star Fox 64. It is separate from the original game and does not include its copyrighted assets, so you need to provide a supported copy yourself. The project documents desktop releases for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus a Nintendo Switch workflow; its README also warns that CI builds may contain bugs or crash.

What Starship is—and what it is not

Harbour Masters’ Starship repository describes the project as an “SF64 PC Port.” It is a fan-made port, not an official Nintendo release. Starship supplies the port software, but its README says it does not include copyrighted game assets and requires users to provide a supported copy of the game.

The project’s support guidance says, “Please keep in mind that we do not condone piracy.” Use a game copy you are entitled to use; the Starship project does not provide the game.

What game copy Starship supports

For creating the base assets, the README lists US 1.0 and US 1.1 Rev A ROMs and requires the file to be in .z64 format. It also notes that EU and Japanese voice replacements can be used with a US ROM. EU and Japanese game versions are not supported for base asset O2R creation.

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#1 Best Overall
Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak) (Renewed)
  • Authentic Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak)
  • Does not come with original case or manuals. Cartridge only
  • Cartridge and label are in nice condition
  • Fully tested and guaranteed

Those compatibility details are specific to the project’s documented asset-generation process. Check the current README before setting up, since release instructions and supported files can change.

Install Starship on a supported platform

Choose the instructions for your device in the project README. The documented desktop process uses a release build and your supported game copy; the README gives platform-specific launch steps.

Rank #2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
  • Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
  • Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
  • A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
  • Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
  • Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls

Windows and macOS

Download the appropriate release, launch Starship, and select your supported ROM when prompted. The README documents DirectX 11 for Windows, OpenGL on all listed desktop platforms, and Metal on macOS. These are available graphics backends, not performance comparisons.

Linux

The README’s Linux instructions use an AppImage. Download the Linux release and follow the project’s launch and ROM-selection steps.

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Rank #3
Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak)
  • The Lylat system has been invaded! Join Fox McCloud and his Star Fox team as they fight to save the galaxy from the clutches of the evil Andross. Travel to many different 3-D worlds. Battle the enemy in the air and on the ground and listen in as Fox McCloud interacts with a cast of characters.

Nintendo Switch

The documented Switch workflow begins on a PC: run a PC release to generate an sf64.o2r file, then copy the required files to the Switch SD card as described in the README. Consult the current instructions for the exact file locations and steps.

Controls: keyboard works; a gamepad is optional

Starship documents keyboard controls, so a controller is not stated as a requirement. Its default map includes X, C, Z, and Space; WASD; the arrow keys; and T, F, G, and H. If you prefer physical controls, a USB game controller is an optional choice; the README does not recommend a particular model.

Rank #4
Star Fox 64 3D
  • A complete graphical update of the original Star Fox 64 game brings the Nintendo classic into the era of portable 3D fun of Nintendo 3DS
  • Two control methods for the player to experience: the original Nintendo 64 Mode and the Gyro Sensor based Nintendo 3DS Mode
  • Trusted Fox McCloud wingmen Peppy, Slippy and Falco are along for the ride
  • Each mission takes players through a different planet of the Lylat system as they blast enemies, collect power-ups and fight powerful bosses on their way to the final battle
  • A new multiplayer option lets up to four players engage in fierce aerial combat via a local wireless connection and only one game cartridge
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Which build should you use?

The README distinguishes CI builds from stable releases: CI builds are for playtesting, and the project cautions that users may encounter bugs and crashes. If you want to avoid knowingly using a playtest build, choose a release build where one is available and check the release notes. No performance or image-quality advantage over playing the Nintendo 64 version or using an emulator is established by the project instructions.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak) (Renewed)
Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak) (Renewed)
Authentic Star Fox 64 (without Rumble Pak); Does not come with original case or manuals. Cartridge only
$70.00
Bestseller No. 2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2
Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion; Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
$59.00
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
Star Fox 64 3D
Star Fox 64 3D
Trusted Fox McCloud wingmen Peppy, Slippy and Falco are along for the ride
$74.99
Best Value
Super 64 Plus 340 in 1 Multi Game Cartridge for Nintendo N64
  • 340 GAMES IN 1: Enjoy a massive collection of 340 built-in classic games on a single cartridge
  • COMPATIBLE WITH NINTENDO 64: Designed specifically for the Nintendo 64 console for plug-and-play convenience
  • EASY TO USE: Simply insert the cartridge, browse the game menu, and start playing instantly
  • WIDE GAME VARIETY: Includes a diverse selection of genres to keep players of all ages entertained
  • CONVENIENT ALL-IN-ONE: Eliminates the need to swap multiple cartridges with one multi-game solution

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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