Masahiro Sakurai took the stage once again this morning for the second Kirby Air Riders Direct, offering fans a deep look at what’s next for the long-awaited return of Kirby’s racing spin-off. What started as a niche GameCube title has now evolved into a full-blown celebration of speed, creativity, and charm this time with a surprise addition: a proper story mode.
A Fresh Take on a Classic
Right out of the gate, Sakurai confirmed that Kirby Air Riders is designed to feel familiar to those who adored the original while offering a more refined experience built around the Nintendo Switch 2’s new hardware. The presentation opened with several minutes of gameplay footage, showing off new tracks that glide through Dream Land’s skies, volcano-rimmed arenas, and even a floating amusement park known as “Sweet Circuit.”
The game retains its trademark free-form handling where riders glide automatically and players focus on timing turns, boosts, and attacks but the controls now include more nuance. Boost management has become essential, with a new “Air Burst” mechanic letting players trade stored energy for powerful bursts of speed or defensive shields.
Story Mode: The Heart of Dream Land
The biggest announcement came halfway through the Direct: a full story campaign titled Road Trip. Rather than a simple tournament structure, the story is built around Kirby and his friends rebuilding Dream Land after a massive storm scatters its energy cores. Players can freely explore hub zones, chat with familiar faces like Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee, and King Dedede, and tackle missions that blend racing, exploration, and light combat.
Each chapter ends in a “Grand Race,” where the narrative and gameplay collide boss-like rival racers try to stop Kirby from restoring the planet’s balance. Sakurai described the mode as “a mix of adventure and competition,” promising both solo depth and unlockables that carry over into multiplayer.
More Riders, More Machines
Sakurai also revealed new playable characters. Alongside the returning roster are Chef Kawasaki, Gooey, Magolor, and Adeleine & Ribbon, each with distinct special abilities. Machines now have classification tiers Speed, Power, Glide, and Trick letting players tailor their style.
The Direct confirmed that machine customization goes far beyond colour swaps. Players can equip parts that adjust handling, boost output, or defence, with visible cosmetic changes. A new “Tuning Garage” allows players to experiment before hitting the track.
Multiplayer and Online Upgrades
Online play is expanding to 16 racers per match, a first for the series. Local play supports up to eight players, with cross-platform leader boards and “Team Derby” events planned post-launch. The fan-favourite City Trial mode returns on a larger floating island called Skyah, where players roam freely to collect items before converging in random endgame events everything from glider races to last-rider-standing duels.
Sakurai hinted at “seasonal challenges” and “community tournaments”, suggesting a steady flow of post-launch content similar to Nintendo’s recent approach with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Visuals and Performance
Running natively on Switch 2 hardware, Kirby Air Riders boasts silky 120 FPS gameplay in performance mode, with a 4K fidelity option when docked. Dream Land’s pastel palette pops against the newly detailed environments grass ripples under the wind, dust kicks up from turbo slides, and Kirby’s expressions change dynamically as you race.
Sakurai explained, “We wanted the world to feel alive at every corner like you’re gliding through a storybook that’s just barely holding itself together.”
Amiibo, Music, and Extra Touches
The Direct closed with a surprise reveal of new Kirby Air Riders Amiibo, featuring Kirby, Meta Knight, and Dedede on their signature machines. Scanning them in unlocks themed skins and soundtrack tracks. Speaking of music, Nintendo confirmed that the full Air Riders Original Soundtrack will release day-and-date on the Nintendo Music app.
Release
Kirby Air Riders launches November 20, 2025, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are live now, with an early-purchase bonus including a “Retro Machine Set” inspired by the 2003 GameCube original.
This latest Direct felt like a love letter from Sakurai to his fans a blend of nostalgia and new ambition. Kirby Air Riders is no longer just a cult classic reborn; it’s shaping up to be one of Nintendo’s most polished racing titles to date, capturing that perfect middle ground between chaos and control that only Sakurai seems to master.
Dream Land’s skies are calling once again and this time, there’s a story worth racing for.
1-Up Games 
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