Nintendo’s new racing game, Kirby Air Riders, is the console maker’s first Switch 2 title to support ray tracing features.
As seen in the screenshot below (via Reset Era member Neoxon), the license readme section for Kirby Air Riders found in the Nintendo Switch 2 menu reveals that the game takes advantage of NVIDIA’s ray tracing SDK. Specifically, it includes support for Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTXGI). “RTXGI SDK: This software contains source code provided by NVIDIA Corporation. NVIDIA RTX is a trademark of NVIDIA Corporation.”
Ray Traced Global Illumination is the most hardware intensive of the suite of RTX features, and it’s impressive for Nintendo’s handheld/console hybrid with limited capabilities to be able to run such a feature in its game. The Switch 2 port of Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws also impressed with its support for ray tracing features.
In related news, the game’s latest update brings a substantial set of improvements, combining both the prerelease Ver. 1.1.0 features and the newly deployed Ver. 1.1.1 refinements. Online play has now been fully implemented, offering matchmaking through the Connect menu, local wireless support, LAN options, and several new match types such as Swap Replay for Air Ride and Team Battle for City Trial. The Replay system receives meaningful expansions, including video conversion support, online sharing, and spectating. Daily Air Ride and Limited Time Events add new routine content, while a range of customization and balance changes help refine the overall experience. Alongside these additions, the update focuses on communication stability by preventing players with highly unstable connections from hosting matches while still allowing them to join existing sessions.
Kirby Air Riders is a fast-paced racing spin-off directed by Masahiro Sakurai, blending chaotic vehicle combat with simple two-button controls across Air Ride, Top Ride, and the open-world City Trial mode. The game officially released on November 20, 2025, and is available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
