F-Zero 99 (Switch): all the updates (latest: Ver. 1.3.0)

On this page, you will find all there is to know about the various updates for F-Zero 99 on Nintendo Switch (originally released in September 2023 in North America, Europe, and Japan)!

Click here for more Software updates!

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.3.0

• Release date: March 27th 2024 (North America) / March 28th 2024 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

New Additions

• Mirror tracks have been added. The usual tracks are flipped horizontally, and tracks where the gimmicks are rearranged will appear.
  • Mirror tracks will appear in F-ZERO 99 races, Pro Tracks, Team Battle, Mini Prix, and Mirror Grand Prix.
  • Five Mirror Knight League tracks will be added first, followed by the Mirror Queen and Mirror King League tracks.
• Added the Steer Assist feature. This function avoids barriers and rough patches while driving, and prevents falling off the course while jumping.
  • You can switch the Steer Assist function ON or OFF in Options under Main Menu or from the lobby screen in each mode.
  • You cannot use Steer Assist in Classic mode.
• Practice Mode has been expanded. In addition to the previous 15 courses, Classic tracks and Mirror tracks are now unlocked for practice.
  • For save data played with Ver. 1.2.1 or earlier, Classic tracks that you have already raced on will be unlocked.
• Added Classic Mini Prix to special events. It’s a three-race series with Classic rules and courses.
  • SILENCE, WHITE LAND II, and FIRE FIELD will appear.
• Added Challenge Highlights. You can highlight limited-time challenges that can only be attempted for a set period of time, challenges related to ongoing events, and challenges that are close to completion.
  • Press the L Button on the Main Menu to advance to the Challenge Highlights screen.
• Added Boost colors and Spin Effects for machine customization, as well as backdrops, badges, and borders for Pilot Card customization. After specified conditions are met, these can be used for customization.
  • You can check the specified conditions and perform customization by selecting Workshop on the Main Menu, then selecting Machines or Pilot Cards.

Other Adjustments and Changes

• Pilot Card badges can now be set multiple times with the same card.
• At least one machine card is now included among Mystery Ranks in Lucky Ranks.
  • You can reach the Lucky Ranks screen by pressing the L Stick on the Main Menu.
• The Private Lobby passcode can now be toggled on and off.
• Lobby wait-time specifications have changed.
  • Before: If no other player joins the lobby for the first 15 seconds, matching will be terminated and the race will begin.
  • If no other player joins 10 seconds after the last player joins the lobby, matching will end and the race will begin.
  • Private Lobbies are not subject to this specification change.
• Made adjustments to machine balance.
  

  Machine	Adjustments
  All Machines	The amount of damage when machines collide with each other or with barriers has been reduced. Boost can no longer be used continuously without power.
  BLUE FALCON	Slightly increased maximum speed when using Boost. The maximum speed obtained when touching a dash plate has been slightly increased.
  GOLDEN FOX	Slightly reduced maximum speed when power is reduced. Slightly increased the amount of power required for Boost.
  WILD GOOSE	Decreased cooldown period after Spin Attacks. The maximum speed obtained when touching a dash plate has been slightly increased.
  FIRE STINGRAY	Slightly increased the amount of power required for Boost.

• Added penalty for players who intentionally exit a race.
  • This applies to players with a grade of S2 or higher, and if they are penalized, they lose the same number of skill points as they would have if they had lost to all of their rivals.
  • If you do not drive for a certain period of time during the race, give up from the pause menu, or rank out from driving the wrong way, etc., you will be penalized.
  • Repeated communication disconnections will also result in a penalty.
• Slightly reduced the number of skill points a player with a skill of S20 or higher loses when losing to three or four rivals.
• With the addition of the MUTE CITY I and BIG BLUE Mirror courses in this updated data, there will now be two secret courses, one based on DEATH WIND I and the other based on MUTE CITY I. As a result, the Mini Prix that consisted of three races on secret courses has been eliminated.
  • The two secret courses will continue to appear in the Mini Prix along with other courses in the future.
• In F-ZERO 99 and Classic, the specification for matching players who have just started the game or who are not yet accustomed to playing the game with other players has been eliminated.

Other Fixes

• Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.2.1

• Release date: February 7th 2024 (North America) / February 8th 2024 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

• Fixed an issue that could occasionally cause players to land off the track when exiting the Skyway on the secret track based on MUTE CITY I that occasionally appears in the F-ZERO 99 mode.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.2.0

• Release date: January 24th 2024 (North America) / January 25th 2024 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

New Additions

• Private Lobbies have been added. To utilize them, select a game mode, set a 4-digit passcode, and then join the lobby. Players with matching game modes and passcodes can meet in the same lobby to race.
  • Private Lobby race results are not reflected in leaderboard points, records, or challenge progress. Also, you will receive less EXP and fewer ticket points than in regular races.
• Secret Tracks have been added. These will occasionally appear in F-ZERO 99.
• Maximum level and skill rating for players have increased. The maximum level has increased from 99 to 399 and maximum skill rating has increased from S20 to S50.
  • Levels 100 and above are indicated in the game as ☆ = 1. For example, “☆00” for level 100 and “☆☆00” for level 200.
• Added one badge that can be used to customize Pilot Cards. After meeting the specified conditions, you will be able to use it for customization.
  • You can check the specified conditions and perform customization by selecting WORKSHOP on the main menu, and then selecting PILOT CARDS.

Other Fixes

• Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.1.5

• Release date: December 19th 2023 (North America) / December 20th 2023 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

New Additions

• Added Frozen Knight League, a limited-time Knight League where snow falls. All courses that are regularly included in the Knight League (MUTE CITY I, BIG BLUE, SAND OCEAN, DEATH WIND I, and SILENCE) will be blanketed in snow.
  • The Frozen Knight League event will be held for a limited time only. You can see how much time is remaining in the event by pressing the R Button on the main menu.
  • Regular Knight League tracks and Knight League Grand Prix cannot be played when the Frozen Knight League event is being held（except for training and practice modes).
• Added Boost colors to be used for machine customization as well as backdrops, badges and borders to be used for Pilot Card customization. These can be unlocked when certain conditions are met.
  • The customization items added for this update can only be obtained during the time when the Frozen Knight League event is live.
  • You can check specified conditions and progress for each item by pressing the R Button on the main menu.
  • You can perform customization by selecting WORKSHOP on the main menu, and then selecting MACHINES and PILOT CARDS.

Other Fixes

• Fixed an issue that was occurring even after application of the Ver. 1.0.2 update where a specific badge could not be obtained even though conditions had been met. That save data will be fixed and the badge can now be obtained.
• Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.1.0

• Release date: November 28th 2023 (North America) / November 29th 2023 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

New Additions

• Added a new Classic mode. These are 20-player races with the same rules as the Super NES version of F-ZERO. Classic races are one variety of special event and will be held periodically.
• Added Lucky Ranks gameplay. Every time you enter a race, your rank and the machine you used will be recorded. After entering five races, you can reveal the Lucky Ranks. If your ranks match any of the ranks on the cards—or your machine matches the machine shown—you can receive in-game rewards.
  • You can reach the Lucky Ranks screen by pressing the L Stick on the main menu.
  • You can reveal the Lucky Ranks card once per day.
• Added backdrops, badges, and borders that can be used to customize Pilot Cards. After meeting the specified conditions, you will be able to use them for customization.
  • You can check the specified conditions and perform customization by selecting WORKSHOP on the main menu, and then selecting PILOT CARDS.

Other Adjustments and Changes

• Made it easier to return to the main menu after crashing out or getting ranked out during MINI PRIX or GRAND PRIX races. (In Ver. 1.0.2 and earlier there were cases where, depending on the timing, it was not possible to leave the race for a little while).
• Adjusted the difficulty for the initial startup training to make it easier. A feature to skip training has also been added, making it possible to enter online races with other players right away.
  • After the first training race has ended, you can skip all remaining training by pressing the Y Button on the main menu. Additionally, from the second race (F-ZERO 25) onward, an option to skip to the next race will display if you crash out or are ranked out.
  • You cannot return to a training once you have skipped it.
• In F-ZERO 99, players who just started the game or are not yet used to the gameplay will now be matched together.

Other Fixes

• Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo / Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Content Update 2

• Release date: October 18th 2023 (North America) / October 19th 2023 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

No patch notes available yet. This update brings the following to the game:

• adds new tracks to King League:
  • MUTE CITY Ⅲ
  • RED CANYON Ⅱ (only available in Hard Courses, Mini Grand Prix and Grand Prix)
  • FIRE FIELD (only available in Grand Prix)

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.0.2

• Release date: October 12th 2023 (North America) / October 13th 2023 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

• Fixed Issues Related to Ranks
  • Fixed an issue where the leaderboard will show a player’s level as “0” when they reach level “99.”
  • Fixed an issue where the previous week’s weekly ranking result sometimes cannot be obtained correctly. Fixed an issue where a specific badge cannot be obtained when this bug occurs even though conditions have been met.
  • Even when this bug has previously occurred, save data will be fixed by applying this update and playing the game for a while.
• Other Fixes
  • Several issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

• Additional notes: none
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Content Update 1

• Release date: September 28th 2023 (North America) / September 29th 2023 (Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

No patch notes available yet. This update brings the following to the game:

• adds the QUEEN League to Grand Prix Mode, with new tracks
  • MUTE CITY
  • PORT TOWN
  • RED CANYON I
  • WHITE LAND II (only available in Grand Prix Mode)
• adds new track to King League:
  • DEATH WIND II (only available in Hard Courses)

• Additional notes: this update does not requires the download of a new version.
• Source: Nintendo

F-Zero 99 – Ver. 1.0.0

• Release date: September 14th 2023 (North America, Europe, Japan)
• Patch notes:

No patch notes available.

• Additional notes: this is the base version of the game.
• Source: game

How to download updates for F-Zero 99 for the Nintendo Switch?

To download the updates for F-Zero 99, you have three options:

• let the console do its thing if you have automatic downloads activated, and didn’t completely turn it off

If not…

• try to launch the game from the Home Menu while being connected to the internet. You should get a prompt when doing so: simply follow the instructions on screen;

OR

• select the game > press either + or – to go to the Options page > select Software update > select Via the Internet.

To check that you have the latest version installed, simply select the game on the Home Menu, and press – or + to go to the Options: the version number is displayed just below the game title.