The highly anticipated Kirby Air Riders just got an official rating in Saudi Arabia, which might mean the game is getting closer to a possible 2025 release. The news first came from Gmedia Games, the official Twitter account of the Saudi rating agency. They haven’t confirmed a specific release date yet, but ratings like this usually happen near the end of development, so fans are hoping we’ll get an announcement soon.
Originally announced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, Kirby Air Riders is being developed by Bandai Namco Studios under the direction of Masahiro Sakurai. Sakurai, best known for his work on the Super Smash Bros. series, returns to the director’s chair for this title after previously hinting at the project through his YouTube channel, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games. The idea for the game was initially pitched in 2021, with full production beginning in April 2022 following the completion of Sakurai’s YouTube content and post-launch support for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
As a sequel to the 2003 GameCube title Kirby Air Ride, Kirby Air Riders aims to modernize the franchise’s signature mechanics, which combine simplified racing controls with high-speed action across varied game modes. The original title stood out for its unique control scheme and multiplayer support, even featuring LAN connectivity long before it became common on consoles. Fans are hopeful the sequel will preserve the charm of the original while introducing new gameplay systems that take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware capabilities.
It is worth noting that while a rating in a major market like Saudi Arabia usually indicates a game’s content is finalized or near final, it does not necessarily confirm an imminent release. A similar pattern was observed with Metroid Prime 4 and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. The latter received a release window following its appearance in the July 31 Nintendo Partner Direct, while Metroid Prime 4 remains without a concrete launch date. As such, while the rating is a positive sign, fans should remain cautiously optimistic.
If Nintendo keeps doing what they’re doing, we might get more details—like a release date or new gameplay footage—in a future Direct or separate announcement. Until then, Kirby fans will just have to wait while the pink puffball gets ready to hit the racetrack again after more than twenty years.
