Nintendo has revealed Kirby Air Riders, a new racing title in the Kirby series, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20. The announcement came from director Masahiro Sakurai during a Nintendo Direct, where he described the game as “basically like Mario Kart.”
This marks Sakurai’s return as director for a Kirby game since the original. The project is being developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora LTD, not HAL Laboratory, the longtime Kirby developer. The roster expands beyond the original’s lineup to include Kirby’s friends and foes such as King Dedede, Meta Knight, and the lesser-known Starman, all able to use copy abilities similar to Kirby’s. Each character will have a special move that can boost speed, attack rivals, or transform into abilities like a giant snowball. The game supports up to eight players locally and 16 players online.
Alongside traditional races, Air Riders features City Trial, a mode where players upgrade their rides as quickly as possible by collecting power-ups, stealing new machines, and blasting opponents. Random field events offer quick races and battles, with a five-minute window to upgrade before entering Stadiums, the main venues for competition.
The game is being produced with teams famous for their work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, signaling a notable collaboration across studios. Sakurai, who created Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has kept a high profile in recent years, including a turn as a YouTuber. He recently confirmed that a new project he’d been working on is Kirby Air Riders.
Kirby Air Riders lands as part of a relatively light first-party Switch 2 lineup and is the second major racing game to release on the console this year after Mario Kart World. While Sakurai acknowledged similarities to the other racing game, he stressed that the appeal lies beyond racing itself, with broader modes and multiplayer experiences.
Nintendo says more details, including the game’s price, will come later this year. A hands-on demo will be available at PAX West in Seattle from August 29 to September 1.
Summary and context:
Kirby Air Riders reimagines the series’ racing premise with a larger character roster, expanded modes, and a focus on team-based and competitive play. It also marks Sakurai’s return to steering a Kirby title and continues Nintendo’s trend of pairing classic Nintendo IPs with collaborations from notable external studios to deliver fresh takes on familiar genres. For fans of party racers and Kirby alike, the game promises a deeper, more varied racing experience that goes beyond speed to emphasize strategy, customization, and chaotic fun.
Additional observations:
– The collaboration with Bandai Namco Studios and Sora LTD mirrors the level of polish seen in other big-name crossover projects, suggesting a concerted effort to balance familiar Kirby charm with modern, ambitious racing features.
– The emphasis on City Trial and upgrade-focused play adds a potential appeal for players who enjoy long-form, evolving game objectives over pure lap times.
– The November 20 release date positions Kirby Air Riders as a flagship title that could help diversify Switch 2’s early library, especially for local multiplayer sessions.
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