Nintendo has confirmed that Kirby Air Riders will launch worldwide on November 20 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement came during a dedicated Kirby Air Riders Direct presentation hosted by game director Masahiro Sakurai, who provided a detailed look at the upcoming title’s mechanics, modes, and character roster.
The game builds on Kirby Air Ride, originally released for the GameCube in 2003, and introduces both returning and new features. Players can choose from a roster of familiar characters, including Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Bandana Waddle Dee, along with several classic enemies from the Kirby series. Each rider comes with unique attributes such as durability, weight, and special attacks that can affect gameplay.
Air Ride machines, the vehicles central to the game, feature varied abilities such as gliding, rail grinding, and drifting. As with the original, machines move forward automatically, while steering and maneuvering rely on directional input. Boost Charges, drifting, and character-specific special moves add layers of strategy to races and battles.
Sakurai also highlighted the return of City Trial mode, described as the game’s central feature. In this mode, players compete across a large floating island called Skyah, collecting upgrades, battling rivals, and participating in random field events. Following a timed exploration phase, upgraded machines are carried into Stadium events, which determine the winner through races, battles, or other challenges.
Multiplayer support will allow up to eight players locally and up to sixteen players online, with Nintendo GameChat integration for both voice and video communication. Additional game types include Air Ride mode, focused on competitive racing with speed boosts tied to attacks, and Lessons mode, which provides tutorials for new players.
Beyond gameplay, Nintendo confirmed that seven tracks from the game’s soundtrack, including a new English-language version of the main theme, will be released via the Nintendo Music app for Switch Online members.
Kirby Air Riders is being developed by Sora Ltd. in collaboration with Bandai Namco Studios. It will release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20, 2025.
