Kirby Air Riders Switch 2 release date

Nintendo confirms Kirby Air Riders as a Switch 2 exclusive, with a November release.

Kirby Air Riders lands on Switch 2 this November

Nintendo has announced Kirby Air Riders will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, releasing on November 20. The game is a collaboration between Bandai Namco and Sora and is directed by Masahiro Sakurai, well known for Kirby and for directing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Switch.

The news came during a 45 minute Nintendo Direct focused on the title. The original Kirby Air Ride, released for GameCube in 2003, has a loyal following but drew mixed reviews from critics, including Edge giving 3 out of 10 and IGN scoring 5.2 out of 10. The new title is positioned as a successor that leans on nostalgia while aiming to fit modern play on Switch 2.

Nintendo is signaling a nostalgia-forward strategy to anchor a new hardware launch. Sakurai’s involvement lends credibility and raises the bar for expectations in a title tied to a beloved, albeit divisive, classic. Exclusivity can drive early hardware adoption, but it also concentrates risk on one platform and may alienate players who do not own Switch 2.

The real test will be in the game’s execution. Fans may expect a remake in spirit, but the project will be judged on fresh ideas, online play, and control refinement. The original Air Ride’s mixed reviews create a benchmark, yet a bold take could redefine Kirby on a new platform and shape Switch 2’s early narrative.

Highlights

Time will tell whether nostalgia can power a new era for Kirby