The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct included a surprise reveal ofKirby Air Riders, a sequel to the classic GameCube racing gameKirby Air Ride.Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., will be at the helm of the project as director. This follow-up to the beloved 2003 title is a Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive game.
The announcement trailer fromNintendofeatures Kirby falling through darkness, struggling to start up his engine-powered star, and when he manages to get it started, he enters a lush green world with several other racers. The end of the trailer confirms that Sakurai is the game’s director, and therelease window is sometime in 2025,cementing this sub-series’s return after more than 20 years. Watch theKirby Air Riderstrailer below:
What Is Confirmed About Kirby Air Riders?
Not Much, But The Past Entry May Hold Some Hints
While the trailer showcased the concept of the sequel and several of the machines that Kirby can ride, there has been no mention of gameplay details. The originalKirby Air Ridewas known for its very simple control scheme,with one button performing almost every action in the game and then the control stick to steer, and that was virtually it. With practically no gameplay footage, it’s surprising that the game is releasing this year, so we hope to see gameplay of it atthe Nintendo Treehouse streams.
Nintendo Switch 2 FAQ: All Your Biggest Questions, Answered
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The original game received a mixed reception from critics for its simplicity, butit has received a cult-following ever since its release, andfans have been clamoring for a remasteror sequel for years. Maybe the game will have a similar simplified control scheme asKirby Air Ride, leaving room forMario Kart Worldto be the more “competitive” racing game for Nintendo in 2025.
Our Take: Sakurai Directing Could Be A Huge Deal
The Return Of The King
Sakurai is a Nintendo legend nowadays, as the director ofSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, which saw every single character from the entireSmash Bros.franchise, plus several new ones, entering the battle. While there is no mention of aSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatefollow-up quite yet, asequel seems almost inevitable at some point for the Switch 2. Until then, Sakurai taking a break fromSmash Bros.to focus onKirby Air Riderscould be a great thing.
Sakurai is known forhis extensive videos detailing his games, along with his YouTube channel on video game development, so expect to see him in front of the camera in the lead-up to his new title. How exactly Sakurai is approachingKirby Air Ridersremains to be seen, but it’s safe to assume this revival of a GameCube classic is in safe hands.
