Nintendo Announces ‘Kirby Air Riders’ for Switch 2, Masahiro Sakurai Returns to Direct
Nintendo has officially unveiled ‘Kirby Air Riders,’ a highly anticipated sequel to the beloved GameCube racing game ‘Kirby Air Ride,’ set to launch on the upcoming Switch 2 console in 2025. The announcement has generated significant buzz among fans, particularly with the news that Masahiro Sakurai, the original director of ‘Air Ride’ and creator of both the ‘Kirby’ and ‘Super Smash Bros.’ franchises, will be returning to lead the development.
The original ‘Kirby Air Ride,’ released in 2003, introduced players to a unique racing experience featuring four-player competitions with Kirby and other popular characters from the franchise, including Meta Knight and King Dedede. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, which utilized simplified controls focusing on steering, boosting, and Kirby’s signature ability to absorb enemies’ powers.
Sakurai’s involvement in the project has raised expectations for a high-quality gaming experience. The reveal trailer suggests that ‘Kirby Air Riders’ will maintain the four-player racing format that made its predecessor a fan favorite. Nintendo has emphasized that the game will preserve the simplified control scheme and core gameplay mechanics that defined the original title.
‘Kirby Air Riders’ is scheduled for release on the Switch 2 in 2025, following the console’s anticipated launch on June 5th. This announcement comes as part of a broader initiative by Nintendo to bring GameCube classics to their next-generation platform. The company has also revealed plans to introduce GameCube titles to the Nintendo Switch Online service and launch a wireless GameCube controller compatible with the Switch 2, further fueling nostalgia for the early 2000s gaming era.
As development progresses, fans eagerly await more details about ‘Kirby Air Riders’ and its potential to recapture the magic of the original while introducing new elements for modern gaming audiences.
