How to Update F-ZERO 99
Follow these steps to update F-ZERO 99 or review the software's update history.
Notes
- This update must be applied in order to use the game’s online features.
- A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to use the game's online features.
- Save data will still be available for use after downloading the update.
- The update will download and install automatically if the console is connected to the internet and the Automatic Software Updates setting is enabled. If there is not enough space in the system memory or on a microSD card to download the update, you will first need to expand or free up memory space and then follow the steps below.
On 16 October 2024, a new software update for F-ZERO 99 became available for download. Please take a moment to download and install this update while your Nintendo Switch console is connected to the internet.
Complete These Steps:
- Connect the Nintendo Switch console to the internet.
- From the HOME Menu, select the icon for the software you wish to update without starting the game or application.
- Press the + Button or - Button on your controller. The current version number will display under the software title.
- Select "Software Update" followed by "Via the Internet".
Update history
- Ver. 1.5.1 (Released 16 October 2024)
- Ver. 1.5.0 (Released 2 October 2024)
- Ver. 1.4.1 (Released 12 July 2024)
- Ver. 1.4.0 (Released 4 July 2024)
- Ver. 1.3.0 (Released 28 March 2024)
- Ver. 1.2.1 (Released 8 February 2024)
- Ver. 1.2.0 (Released 25 January 2024)
- Ver. 1.1.5 (Released 20 December 2023)
- Ver. 1.1.0 (Released 29 November 2023)
- Ver. 1.0.2 (Released 13 October 2023)
Ver. 1.5.1 (Released 16 October 2024)
Fixed Issue with Display of Records within the Workshop
- Fixed an issue where the display for minutes and seconds gets stuck on “59:59” when Total Playtime for CAREER within RECORDS reaches 100 hours.
- Fixed an issue where results of ACE LEAGUE in RANK BY MACHINE in PRIX within RECORDS were not saved correctly.
For customers using this software from Ver. 1.4.1 or before
We have confirmed that within save data created using Ver. 1.4.1 or before, RANK BY MACHINE in ACE LEAGUE was not recorded correctly.
Therefore, for saved data from customers who have used this software since Ver. 1.4.1 or earlier, ACE LEAGUE's RANK BY MACHINE will be initialized in Ver. 1.5.1.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and ask for your understanding.
*ACE LEAGUE's TIMES PLAYED, WINS, WEEKLY POINTS and WEEKLY RANK will be retained.
*For customers who have achieved first place in ACE LEAGUE, there may be a discrepancy between WINS and RANK BY MACHINE.
Other Fixes
- Fixed other issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Ver. 1.5.0 (Released 2 October 2024)
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 in the game BS F-ZERO GRAND PRIX, which was distributed exclusively on the Super Famicom satellite broadcast adapter known as Satellaview. The Ace League Grand Prix 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.
- An Ace League Grand Prix 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 Ace League Grand Prix, 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 customise your machine. New backdrops, badges and borders have also been added for Pilot Card customisation. 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 to access 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 Mode and the 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.
- Made adjustments to machine balance.
Machine Adjustments WILD GOOSE - Increased maximum Boost speed
FIRE STINGRAY - Increased maximum Boost speed
- Increased maximum speed when driving on a dash plate
- Decreased the amount of power needed for a Boost
- Reduced the amount of damage received and the amount of repulsion when colliding with other machines
- Made adjustments to WILD GOOSE because, while it performed well in races with more participants, it struggled in races with fewer participants.
- Made adjustments to FIRE STINGRAY because it tended to lose power easily in situations where machines are crowded together, and due to the high cost of Boost and low recovery in the Pit Area, often performed worse than other machines in races with a large number of participants.
- In order to reduce situations where you are hit from behind by a Bumper after the Bumper has crossed a dash plate, we reduced the speed of the Bumper coming off the dash plate.
- The number of wins displayed above other players' machines is now hidden on the lobby screen for players who have never won a race.
- The EXP and tickets awarded for Lucky Rank matches have been increased.
- The bonus ticket obtained by opening the game once a day has been eliminated. In conjunction with this change, the daily bonus for completing F-ZERO 99, Pro Tracks, Classic and Team Battle was revised from 250 points to 500 points.
- In Pilot Card customisation, certain badges that reflect the number of times an action like Boost or spin has been achieved can now be set on a Pilot Card to show all the badges that you have acquired.
Other Issues
- Fixed an issue where limited-time challenges weren’t being updated.
- Fixed other minor issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Ver. 1.4.1 (Released 12 July 2024)
Fix for an issue related to Lucky Ranks
- An issue that caused the conditions for obtaining backdrop Bounty Chips from Lucky Ranks to be reset has been fixed.
Other Fixes
- Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Ver. 1.4.0 (Released 4 July 2024)
New Additions
- Added Festival Queen League. All tracks included in the Queen League (MUTE CITY II/PORT TOWN I/RED CANYON I/WHITE LAND I/WHITE LAND II) will appear as Festival Event tracks. During these events, Gem Sparks can be collected on Festival Event tracks.
- Added customisation items that can only be obtained during the time when the Festival Queen League event is live. You can check the acquisition status by pressing the L Button on the Main Menu.
- The Festival Queen League event will be held for a limited time only. You can see how much time is remaining in the event by pressing the L Button on the Main Menu.
- Regular Queen League tracks and the Queen League Grand Prix cannot be played when the Festival Queen League event is active (except in Private Lobbies and Practice Mode). Also, limited-time challenges will be unavailable.
- Added an event ranking tab to the weekly ranking based on Gem Sparks collected. A player ranking in 999th place or above when the event ends can get a special badge.
- Added Star Rivals. They will occasionally appear on Festival Event tracks during a Festival Queen League event.
- Star Rivals will appear in the F-ZERO 99 and Festival Queen League modes. They will not appear in Private Lobby races.
- The Star Rivals are the four characters Captain Falcon, Samurai Goroh, Dr. Stewart and Pico from the Super NES version of F-ZERO.
- When you beat a Star Rival in a race where they’ve been chosen as your Rival, you’ll receive a special badge that can be used for customising Pilot Cards.
- Added emotes that can be sent at specific locations during a race. A face icon will appear in the upper-right corner of the screen when the emote can be sent. At that time, hold the R Button and press the A, B, X or Y Button to select the emote you want to send.
- Emotes can be sent from the Pilot Card display screen before the race begins, during the camera intro at the starting point and while spectating a race.
- Emotes sent by other players who are spectating will appear in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- You can turn DISPLAY EMOTES on or off from Options in the Main Menu.
- The Team Battle rules have been changed. The previous two-team system has been changed to a five-team system, and the number of players per team is now 10. Also, in Team Battle, all teammates share one Team Super Meter. When the Team Super Meter is full, all teammates can drive on the Team Skyway together.
- Super Boost is activated by each teammate pressing the boost button within the time limit.
- The number of players allowed to participate in Team Battle is 50.
- Available team colours are blue, yellow, green, pink and white.
- Gray Bumpers, Red Bumpers and Gold Bumpers now appear in Team Battle as well. Gold Bumpers appearing in Team Battle can now be KO'd.
- Three weekend events have been added:
- Weekend Event: Lucky Weekend
- Lucky Ranks will reset every four hours. You can earn bonus ticket points and EXP when playing the F-ZERO 99 or Pro Tracks modes during the event.
- Weekend Event: Machine-Shuffle Mini Prix Weekend
- At the start of the race, one type of machine is randomly selected, and all players compete for the Mini Prix with that machine.
- Weekend Event: Team Battle Weekend
- Team Battles will be held frequently. You can earn bonus ticket points and EXP in Team Battles during the event.
Weekend events are scheduled to be held sequentially on the weekends following the end of the Festival Queen League period.
- Weekend Event: Lucky Weekend
- Added Boost colors and Spin Effects to be used for machine customisation, as well as backdrops, badges and borders to be used for Pilot Card customisation. These can be unlocked when certain conditions are met.
- New Boost colors and Spin Effects can be obtained mainly through limited-time challenges starting after the end of the Festival Queen League.
- New backdrops are primarily obtainable through Lucky Ranks.
- You can access your new customisation items via the Workshop on the Main Menu.
Other Adjustments and Changes
- Increased how much the skill rating of a player with skill S-S50 goes up when they defeat a Rival.
- Added variation to the pattern of Bumpers appearing.
- Due to a change in the Team Battle rules, the conditions for obtaining a Team Battle badge have been changed to "Finish in the top 3 teams in a Team Battle 20 times” (and 50 and 99 times after that).
- The number of times you have placed 1st in previous Team Battles will remain on record, and after this update is applied, the number of times you have placed 1st through 3rd will be added.
- The badge that can be obtained by a Double KO has been changed to a hidden badge.
- The Lucky Ranks reset time has been changed to 02:00 (CEST).
Other Fixes
- Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Ver. 1.3.0 (Released 28 March 2024)
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, Pro Tracks, Team Battle, Mini Prix and Mirror Grand Prix races.
- 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 you from falling off the course while jumping.
- You can switch the Steer Assist feature 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 colours and Spin Effects for machine customisation, as well as backdrops, badges and borders for Pilot Card customisation. After specified conditions are met, these can be used for customisation.
- You can check the specified conditions and perform customisation 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.
- If no other player joins the lobby for 15 seconds after the first player joins, 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 reduced the amount of power required for Boost.
- Added a penalty for players who intentionally exit a race.
- This applies to players with a grade of S2 or higher, and if they are penalised, 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 penalised.
- 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 tracks, 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 tracks has been eliminated.
- The two secret tracks will continue to appear in the Mini Prix along with other courses in the future.
- In F-ZERO 99, 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.
Ver. 1.2.1 (Released 8 February 2024)
Fixed Issue
- 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.
Ver. 1.2.0 (Released 25 January 2024)
New Additions
- Private Lobbies have been added. To use them, select a game mode, set a 4-digit passcode and 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.
- The maximum level and skill rating for players have increased. The maximum level has increased from 99 to 399 and the maximum skill rating has increased from S20 to S50.
- Updated 25/01/2024: There was an error in the previous explanation for level displays. The updated explanation is as follows:
When players are at level 99 and level up, their new level will be displayed as 1☆, and when players are at level 99☆ and level up, their new level will be displayed as 1☆☆. The current maximum level will be displayed as 99☆☆☆.
- Updated 25/01/2024: There was an error in the previous explanation for level displays. The updated explanation is as follows:
- Added one badge that can be used to customise Pilot Cards. After meeting the specified conditions, you will be able to use it for customisation.
- You can check the specified conditions and perform customisation by selecting WORKSHOP on the main menu, then selecting PILOT CARDS.
Other Fixes
- Fixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Ver. 1.1.5 (Released 20 December 2023)
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 customisation, as well as backdrops, badges and borders to be used for Pilot Card customisation. These can be unlocked when certain conditions are met.
- The customisation 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 customisation by selecting WORKSHOP on the Main Menu, 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.
Ver. 1.1.0 (Released 29 November 2023)
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 customise Pilot Cards. After meeting the specified conditions, you will be able to use them for customisation.
- You can check the specified conditions and perform customisation by selecting WORKSHOP on the Main Menu, 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) onwards, 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.
Ver. 1.0.2 (Released 13 October 2023)
- 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 could not be obtained correctly. Fixed an issue where a specific badge could not be obtained when this bug occurs, even though the conditions had been met.
- Note: 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.