Nintendo’s August 19, 2025 Kirby Air Riders Direct, presented by game director Masahiro Sakurai, revealed how the Nintendo Switch 2 vehicle action game handles, fights, and races. Its main focus was the Boost-and-drift controls, rider and machine choices, returning City Trial mode, and Air Ride races. The game was announced for release on November 20, 2025; it is now available for Nintendo Switch 2.
What the August 19 Direct announced
Nintendo described Kirby Air Riders as a vehicle action game that builds on Kirby Air Ride, the GameCube game released in 2003. Riders with different traits can pair with different machines, and the action spans land, sea, and air. Nintendo named Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Studios, Inc. as developers in its recap. Nintendo’s August 19 Direct recap covered the core riding system, City Trial, and Air Ride.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Kirby Air Riders - Nintendo Switch 2 | $48.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Kirby Air Riders Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412VOa-X12L._SL160_.jpg)
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Kirby Air Riders Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code] | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Kirby Star Allies - Nintendo Switch | $52.89 | Buy on Amazon |
How riding and combat work
Automatic movement, Boosts, and drifting
Machines usually move forward automatically while hovering. The left stick steers; holding B makes the machine touch down, brake, and charge a Boost. Releasing B triggers a Boost Dash. Keep steering through a corner while charging to drift, then release for a burst of speed.
Wiggling the control stick performs a Quick Spin. Ramps let machines glide, and landing well rewards speed. Nintendo also showed rail grinds and other maneuvers, so the machine’s movement is not limited to steering on the ground.
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- Ready, set, battle! Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in Kirby Air Riders, a fast-paced vehicle action featuring Kirby and crew – only on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Riders at the ready! Pick your rider, pick your machine, and mount up for competition! Take on your rivals in frantic arena battles or fast-paced races on the ground and in the air. Use the Boost Charge button to brake and control your turns as your machine automatically fights for top speed. Fill your Boost Charge gauge as you drift around the bend and release it to trigger an explosive dash!
- Ready, set, battle! Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in Kirby Air Riders, a fast-paced vehicle action featuring Kirby and crew – only on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Roam around Skyah to find machines, collect power-ups, and survive through unpredictable Field Events ranging from falling meteors to powerful boss battles. After five minutes of powering up, you and your rivals will compete in one of a whole host of different Stadium contests, each with its own objective. These include drag races, battle arenas, skydiving for points and more, so it helps to be ready for anything!
- Race to the finish in Air Ride If straightforward racing is more your speed, check out Air Ride: a frantic dash where you can race against five other riders, or compete online or via local wireless. Attack opposing riders, or trail close behind their wake, to gather up stars – and use the speed boost they provide to beat your rivals to the finish line!
Riders, machines, and attacks
Riders and machines can be mixed and matched. Rider traits can affect machine performance, including weight, durability, Special moves, and close-range attacks; machines also differ in damage tolerance and aerial handling. That makes a pairing more than a cosmetic choice: it can shape how a player handles obstacles and engages opponents.
Attacks fill the Special Gauge. Once it is full, press Y to use the rider’s Special. Kirby has four Specials, corresponding to the available Kirby colors, while most other characters have one. Riders can also inhale or capture enemies to temporarily use Copy Abilities for attacks or extra speed.
City Trial: build a machine, then pick a challenge
City Trial returns on Skyah, a huge floating island. Players start on small, weak machines and roam the island to collect power-ups, attack rivals and enemies, and damage or steal opponents’ machines. The goal of this phase is to improve a ride before choosing a Stadium challenge.
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- Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in this vehicle action game featuring Kirby and crew
- Use the Boost Charge button to brake and control your turns as your machine fights for top speed
- Fill up your Boost Charge Gauge and then release to trigger an explosive dash
- Choose from a variety of riders like Kirby and Meta Knight, each with their own stats and Specials
- Zip around Skyah in City Trial: a free-for-all battle for 16 players online or 8 players via local wireless
Collected power-ups and machine stats help determine which Stadium challenge suits a player; the game can recommend one based on those stats. The first Direct recap described City Trial as supporting up to eight players through local wireless and up to 16 online.
Air Ride: race with attacks and drafting
Air Ride is a race to the finish for up to six riders. Attacking opponents earns small stars that increase speed, so combat is part of the racing strategy. Players can also follow another rider and collect the trail of stars they leave behind, a technique called Star Slide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which details came from the later Direct?
Nintendo held a second Kirby Air Riders Direct on October 23, 2025. Its announcements should not be confused with the August presentation: the later Direct introduced Road Trip as a story-driven mode that combines challenges from Air Ride, City Trial, and Top Ride, and discussed Top Ride’s top-down races.
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- Use friend hearts to charm enemies and they'll fight alongside you! drop-in/drop-out co-op: up to three other players can take control of Kirby's new friends
- Play through the entire game with up to four players or with CPU friends Kirby and his friends have fresh moves thanks to new and expanded Copy abilities
- Combine abilities with elements such as wind and water to create new friend abilities some bosses and enemies are weak to certain elemental attacks, so remember to Strategize
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Cartoon violence
The October presentation also confirmed 18 Air Ride courses in total, including all nine from the original game, and covered amiibo and customization. Those are later reveals, not announcements from the August 19 Direct. Nintendo’s October 23 Direct recap has those details.
Release date, platform, and availability
Nintendo announced Kirby Air Riders for Nintendo Switch 2 with a November 20, 2025 release date. The game has since launched and is available only for Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo’s current Canadian game page lists a physical edition as well as current availability. Online features require a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership; availability and terms vary by region. Check Nintendo of Canada’s game page for current regional product information and Play Nintendo’s release-day article for the Switch 2 release overview.
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