Everything we learned about Kirby Air Riders from the new Nintendo Direct
A full, dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation for the new Nintendo Switch 2 title “Kirby Air Riders” was broadcast today, revealing the first in-depth look at the game’s features and its official release date.
The game is a full sequel to the 2003 cult classic, Kirby Air Ride, a title that has been highly requested for a follow-up by fans for over two decades.
The presentation was hosted by the game’s director, the acclaimed Masahiro Sakurai, who was the creator of the original Kirby Air Ride on the GameCube.
He revealed that the new title is a joint development between his own studio, Sora Ltd., and Bandai Namco.
Kirby Air Riders is a racing game that builds upon the unique, one-button control scheme of the original.
The Air Ride Machines automatically accelerate, with the player’s focus being on steering and using a single “Boost Charge” button to drift, brake, and gain speed.
Unlike the original game, which featured only a few playable characters, this new sequel will have a massive and diverse roster.
A total of twelve characters were shown, including Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee, each with their own unique traits.
The fan-favorite “City Trial” mode is officially returning.
In this mode, up to sixteen players can explore a large, sandbox-style floating island to find a vehicle and collect power-ups over a five-minute period.
After the time is up, players are launched into a final stadium event to compete.
Both online and local wireless multiplayer will be supported, with local play limited to eight players.
The main “Air Ride” race mode will support up to six players.
A full “Lessons” mode will also be included to teach new players the game’s mechanics.
Kirby Air Riders will be an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2.
It is scheduled to be released on Thursday, the 20th of November, 2025.
You can watch the full Nintendo Direct on the game below:
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