Kirby Air Riders Direct: Release Date, New Roster, and Big City Trial Upgrade

The long wait is over – Kirby Air Riders has finally been given the spotlight in a jam-packed 45-minute Nintendo Direct led by Masahiro Sakurai himself. For fans who’ve been craving fresh details after months of silence, this showcase was the motherlode: gameplay reveals, roster confirmations, mechanical changes, and, yes, a firm release date.

The game will hit Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20, 2025.

One of the biggest changes from the GameCube original is the expanded roster. Players won’t just be picking different Kirbys anymore – Meta Knight, King Dedede, Chef Kawasaki, and Bandana Waddle Dee are officially part of the rideable lineup. Every character can now use copy abilities, leveling the playing field in a way the first game never attempted.

Sakurai also outlined how control has evolved. The one-button simplicity of Kirby Air Ride is gone, replaced with more nuance: a boost button and a dedicated ability button. These tweaks give riders freedom to switch machines, unleash specials, and shape unique playstyles. It’s still accessible, but with more depth than ever.

City Trial, perhaps the most beloved mode, has been scaled up massively. Online sessions now support up to 16 players racing around Skyah, a sprawling new map with multiple themed zones, while local wireless supports up to eight. That scale alone makes it one of the biggest shifts in the series’ DNA.

Music was also given its moment, with Sakurai previewing Starlit Journey, the new main theme. The track will be available today via the Nintendo Music app, alongside other tunes from the sequel. It’s yet another nod to how carefully this release is being staged as a centerpiece for Nintendo’s holiday lineup.

Still, the timing has raised eyebrows. With Mario Kart World already dominating summer 2025, some fans question whether Nintendo is stepping on its own toes. But Sakurai shrugged off comparisons, even joking, “Kirby Air Ride basically is like Mario Kart” – before quickly showing how the two racers diverge in tone, scale, and character-driven mechanics.

Perhaps more than anything, the Direct felt like Sakurai proving he hasn’t lost his flair. Decades after Smash Bros. changed the party-game scene, he’s still bringing humor, innovation, and relentless energy. Fans will even get to try Kirby Air Riders hands-on at PAX West 2025, a final tease before launch day arrives this November.