Summary
Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the 2003 GameCube titleKirby Air Ride, will be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. The announcement was made during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct livestream on April 2, with fans happy to see Masahiro Sakurai returning to directKirby Air Riders.
The recent Direct was filled with information about the highly anticipated console, including theNintendo Switch 2 price and release date. Fans can get their hands on the new hardware on June 19, 2025, with the console itself selling for $449.99 or $499.99 when paired withMario Kart World. Several major titles were also teased, including an exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 game from FromSoftware with majorBloodbornevibes,Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and a slew of third-party releases coming to the system at or after launch. One of these announcements shocked longtime fans of a popular franchise, with a beloved director set to return.
During the latter half of the April Nintendo Direct,Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the popular GameCube title, was revealed,withKirbyseries creator Masahiro Sakuraireturning to direct the game. This announcement came as a shock to many, as Sakurai hasn’t directed aKirbytitle since the originalKirby Air Ride. While little is known about the upcoming sequel, a brief trailer showed off plenty of high-octane gameplay, with Kirby and friends racing around a colorful landscape made even more impressive by the Switch 2’s upgraded graphics. A follow-up toKirby Air Ridehas been on fans' wishlists for years, and it remains to be seen how the title will utilize some of the Switch 2’s more unique hardware.
Kirby Air Riders Will Be Released in 2025
The rebirth ofKirby Air Ridein the form of a new title has many fans nostalgic for the days of the Nintendo GameCube, and the recent Direct gifted viewers with some good news. TheSwitch Online Expansion Pack will add GameCube titlesexclusively on the Switch 2, with popular games likeThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX all making a comeback. Additionally, a wireless controller in the shape of the original Nintendo GameCube controller will be released for the new console.
Since the Nintendo Switch 2 was first revealed in January, fans have wondered whatthe mysterious C Button on the updated Joy-Conswould be utilized for. Pressing this button will launch a new Game Chat feature, allowing players to screen share and chat with friends while playing games together. This button will also appear on the updated Switch 2 Pro Controller, along with two new buttons for additional customization.
