Nintendo has launched an intense promotional campaign for its upcoming exclusive, Kirby Air Riders, which will be released on November 20. This title, directed by Masahiro Sakurai, known for his work on Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has received special treatment with not one, but two Nintendo Direct presentations dedicated to delving into its unique features and mechanics. Eager to dive into Kirby Air Riders, the first Direct, which aired in August, already provided a comprehensive look at what players can expect from the game. However, the company’s confidence in the […]
Nintendo has launched an intense promotional campaign for its upcoming exclusive, Kirby Air Riders, which will be released on November 20. This title, directed by Masahiro Sakurai, known for his work on Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has received special treatment with not one, but two Nintendo Direct presentations dedicated to delving into its unique features and mechanics.
Eager to delve into Kirby Air Riders
The first Direct, which aired in August, already provided a comprehensive look at what players can expect from the game. However, the company’s confidence in the project is further evidenced by the upcoming broadcast, scheduled for October 23 at 3:00 PM. This second Direct will last approximately 60 minutes, an unusually long time that highlights Nintendo’s commitment to Kirby Air Riders and its intention to differentiate itself from the popular Mario Kart franchise.
Through this Direct, Nintendo aims to show how the game mechanics and the special abilities of the characters, such as Kirby’s iconic ability to copy powers, will change the racing experience. Sakurai has made it clear that the true appeal of the game does not lie in the racing, suggesting a broader focus on gameplay and narrative.
The total duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes, combining both Directs, also sets a new record for the company, which in past presentations dedicated less time to other titles like Donkey Kong: Bananza and Mario Kart: World, which received 45 and 48 minutes, respectively. With still several weeks until the launch, Nintendo has the opportunity to continue fueling interest in this exciting new title.
Although currently Mario Kart is Nintendo’s iconic racing game, it is not the only one. It hasn’t even always been the most popular and relevant. There was a time when the company’s premium racing game was F-Zero and the one that received favored treatment was this one. But those are no longer our times and unfortunately, we have to settle for things like F-Zero 99. Fortunately, creators like Masahiro Sakurai can do whatever they want within Nintendo, including a kart game that is not Mario Kart, and thus Kirby Air Ride was born. Kirby […]
Although Mario Kart is currently Nintendo’s iconic racing game, it is not the only one. It hasn’t even always been the most popular and relevant. There was a time when the company’s premium racing game was F-Zero and, the one that received favored treatment, was this one. But those are no longer our times and unfortunately, we have to settle for things like F-Zero 99. Fortunately, creators like Masahiro Sakurai can do what they want within Nintendo, including a kart game that is not Mario Kart, and thus Kirby Air Ride was born.
Kirby Air Ride is a racing game released in 2003 for the Nintendo Game Cube. Although it was a critical failure and never achieved the sales of other titles from the company, perhaps because it was released almost at the same time as two of the most notable driving games in Nintendo’s history —F-Zero GX and Mario Kart: Double Dash, for many, the two best games in their respective franchises—, it managed to sell over a million copies worldwide. Creating a cult following for the game.
This has allowed for the announcement of a sequel: Kirby Air Riders, in anticipation of Nintendo Switch 2. To tell us everything, they have made a 45-minute Direct to clarify all the relevant details about the game. And we have come to explain it to you in detail.
What’s new
One of the peculiarities of the original game is that it had a single pilot: Kirby. Although it had different colors, what made the difference were the different ships, which defined different ways to play. Sometimes, in an absolutely radical way. These were not just differences in maneuverability or acceleration, but some could be controlled in completely different ways. But in this sequel, they have decided to add a new feature: pilots.
Now, in addition to Kirby, we can choose other iconic characters from the franchise such as King DeDeDe, Bandana Waddle Dee, or Meta Knight, among many others. Each with their own specials that will give them unique characteristics when playing.
Because another addition to the game is that it is now controlled not only with the joystick and one button, but with the joystick and two buttons. We need a second button to activate the special button, which is associated with the character we have chosen. It can involve charging with great acceleration, making particularly intense attacks, or throwing super spicy curry plates to incapacitate the other racers around.
What’s old about it
As in the original game, we will not have a button to accelerate or need to press forward to advance. Our pilot will move forward without us having to tell them to do so. The available button that is not for executing our special is the brake, which will allow us to drift and charge our ship’s acceleration, forcing us to know when to use it not only to avoid losing speed but also to gain acceleration at critical moments. As any veteran player of Kirby Air Ride will know.
In addition, it has been confirmed that the Air Ride modes and urban trials will return. The former are races of up to six people in lavish settings where mastering the characteristics of our pilots and ships will be essential. The latter are a kind of arenas for up to 16 people where we will have to face other pilots while collecting bonuses for our pilot to reach a final arena, where the winner will be the one who achieves the best result in the final trial.
When is it released and what is its price
With a release date set for November 20 and a price of 70 euros, both in physical and digital formats, it is significantly cheaper than Super Mario Kart World. Although with 25 gigabytes confirmed, it is also quite a bit heavier than that one.
What is all that extra space used for? We don’t know, because as Sakurai explained in the presentation, many things have been left unsaid. Extra modes present in the original game have not been shown, the character selection UI seems suspiciously empty, and there is still more than enough time to share even more details about the game. But what is clear is that anyone looking for a kart game that is less of a party game and more of a technical racing game that favors learning and technique above all else, Kirby Air Riders is the title you shouldn’t miss this year.
Nintendo has scheduled a Nintendo Direct for tomorrow, the third in a month, focused exclusively on the game Kirby Air Riders. This event, which will be streamed on Nintendo’s official YouTube channel, will start at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST and will last approximately 45 minutes, making it one of the most extensive presentations lately. The game’s director, Masahiro Sakurai, known for his work on the Super Smash Bros. series, will be leading this presentation, which promises to provide a detailed insight into the anticipated […]
Nintendo has scheduled a Nintendo Direct for tomorrow, the third in a month, focused exclusively on the game Kirby Air Riders. This event, which will be streamed on Nintendo’s official YouTube channel, will start at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST and will last approximately 45 minutes, making it one of the most extensive presentations lately. The game’s director, Masahiro Sakurai, known for his work on the Super Smash Bros. series, will lead this presentation, which promises to provide a detailed insight into the highly anticipated title.
Wishing to see the magic and cuteness of Kirby again
Kirby Air Riders was previously announced in April during a Nintendo Direct that revealed several games for the Nintendo Switch 2, although at that time only a pre-rendered trailer was shown. This Direct will mark the first title of Kirby directed by Sakurai since the release of Air Rider for GameCube, raising the expectations of fans who have followed the series since its beginnings.
Since the full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has not held a traditional Direct; instead, it has opted for formats like the Partner Showcase and the Indie World Showcase in the previous months. Although these presentations have offered some interesting announcements, such as a new Monster Hunter title and a glimpse at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, platforming game fans have been waiting for a specific Direct that addresses their questions and speculations.
With a exclusive focus on Kirby Air Riders, the upcoming Direct will provide more information about the gameplay and features of the title. Fans can expect exciting announcements as Nintendo seeks to revitalize interest in its iconic pink character.
The anticipation for the successor console to the Nintendo Switch, now officially known as Nintendo Switch 2, grows with each announcement revealing the expected release catalog for 2025. This new system promises to offer a mix of nostalgia and innovation, welcoming iconic franchises, with Kirby being one of the main protagonists of this new era. A console that will arrive filled with the best of life: Kirby One of the standout titles is Kirby Air Riders, a new racing game developed by Masahiro Sakurai, famous for his work on Kirby and Super Smash Bros. This game will be […]
The anticipation for the successor console to the Nintendo Switch, now officially known as Nintendo Switch 2, grows with each announcement revealing the lineup of expected releases for 2025. This new system promises to offer a mix of nostalgia and innovation, welcoming iconic franchises, with Kirby being one of the major protagonists of this new era.
A console that will arrive filled with the best of life: Kirby
One of the most notable titles is Kirby Air Riders, a new racing game developed by Masahiro Sakurai, famous for his work on Kirby and Super Smash Bros. This game will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 and is inspired by the classic Kirby Air Ride released for the GameCube over 20 years ago. Although the release date has not yet been confirmed, the game is expected to reach players in 2025. The trailer shown by Nintendo featured Kirby bursting onto a racing circuit, promising exciting competitions and unique mechanics in this new game format.
In addition to Kirby Air Riders, fans of the saga will be able to enjoy an expansion for the acclaimed Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This new addition, titled The Astral World, will include additional content and new abilities for players to explore. The upgrade package for Switch 2 will not only incorporate this expansion but also promises to enhance the game’s performance, gearing up for its release on August 28.
The combination of these releases and the return of such an iconic figure as Masahiro Sakurai to development generates great excitement in the gaming community, although some details about other titles remain up in the air. The Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be a system ready to conquer with a catalog full of surprises that hopes to thrill players of all ages in 2025.
Nintendo has just presented its console, the Nintendo Switch 2. It has been a peculiar presentation, with many ups and downs and certainly not what we expected. Although it is also true that it has been complemented with information that was given after the presentation. That’s why we are going to gather everything you need to know here. So you don’t have to bounce between different Nintendo pages, in addition to the Direct itself, to find out everything. Release date, price, and all the controversy The console will be released on June 5th. It will cost 469.99 euros, the console […]
Nintendo has just presented its console, the Nintendo Switch 2. It has been a peculiar presentation, with many ups and downs and certainly not what we expected. Although it is also true that it has been complemented with information that has been provided after the presentation. That’s why we are going to gather everything you need to know here. So you don’t have to bounce between different Nintendo pages, in addition to the Direct itself, to be able to find out everything.
Release date, price, and all the controversy
The console will be released on June 5th. It will cost 469.99 euros for the console alone, or 509.99 euros for the console with the new Mario Kart in digital format. The prices of the games that have already been announced range between 80 and 90 euros. Similarly, microSD cards start at 60 euros and the new pro controller will cost 90 euros. Prices that are not very popular and well above what people expected.
The features of the console
The most interesting thing and what we all wanted to know: what the console is like. With a 7.9-inch screen and the same thickness, it is much larger, but with an equivalent weight. With a 1080p LCD screen with HDR capabilities, magnetic controllers, SL and SR buttons, and larger joysticks, it is a much larger and better console. In addition, they have confirmed things we already knew, such as the mouse mode of the joycons.
They have also commented that it has three-dimensional sound, clearer speakers, and microphones with built-in noise cancellation. Additionally, it has a stand with multiple angles, two USB-C ports, one on top and one underneath the console. With 256GB of space, with faster write and read speeds, 4K support, and a fan in the dock, they have also confirmed that it will be fully backward compatible. Except for those games that, for one reason or another, do not work.
Something that has been confirmed is that, in addition to the backward compatibility of games, there are Switch games that will have versions for Nintendo Switch 2. These games can be updated for an extra fee, but they can be updated for free if you are a subscriber to Nintendo Switch Online. The confirmed games so far are Mario Party Jamboree, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
These improvements could be addressed both on a technical level and in the inclusion of new content, both in terms of story and new features. Although for now they are limited to Nintendo games, the door is open for other companies to do the same in the future.
The famous C button
In the end, the famous C button is not useful for anything we thought. It serves to connect to Game Share, a new free feature at launch, but which will become paid, that will allow us to connect with our friends to chat with them. Being able to connect via webcam and also share screens, it is a way to integrate social functions into the console.
Launch Games
Although it is a new console, the truth is that it doesn’t have many launch games. It seems that Nintendo is relying on the Nintendo Switch catalog and its improvements to sustain the first months of the console, given the relatively weak nature of its initial launch. What are its launch games?
Mario Kart World, the new installment of Mario Kart, will be the launch game for the console. With a changing atmosphere that will alter the scenarios, it will feature, in addition to the Grand Prix, two new modes: Survival Mode and Free Mode, where we will have to race until only one remains and run around the world without limitations respectively. Emphasizing the open world and racing everywhere, it is a shift towards a new kind of gameplay within Mario Kart, more similar to Double Dash than the previous installments.
They have also announced that the third and fourth chapters of Deltarune will be released. Being the major launch of the console, even if it is not exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
The other launch games are basically third-party games that can already be played on other consoles. That’s why we will list them below without particularly focusing on any of them:
Street Fighter 6
Split Fiction
Hoghwarts Legacy
Hitman World of Assassination
Brave Default Flying Fairy
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
Civilization VII
Survival Kids
Cyberpunk 2027 Definitive Edition
Kunitsu Gami
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Nobunaga Ambition
Ridge Racer 2
Nintendo GameCube arrives at launch on Nintendo Switch Online
Another big surprise is that Nintendo GameCube will be coming to Nintendo Switch Online. Exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, it will launch exclusively with three games, but three of its most beloved games: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II, and F-Zero GX. They have announced that many more games will be released in the future and that the controls can be customized, in addition to having quality and graphical resolution improvements. To celebrate this, they will also release a GameCube controller edition compatible with the console.
The games coming from now until the end of the year and later
Nintendo has also announced three major games for the console by the end of the year. The first is The Duskbloods, a game from From Software that will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 and is set to release in 2026, which seems to follow the path of Elden Ring: Nightrein. They have also announced a sequel to Kirby Air Rider called Kirby Air Riders, directed by Sakurai, for this year. And although it won’t be available at launch, Donkey Kong Bonanza is a new 3D Donkey Kong game in the style of Super Mario Odyssey or Kirby and the Forgotten Land called Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17.
They have also announced a new IP called Drag X Drive. A wheelchair basketball game that favors and rewards the use of beautiful gameplay and acrobatics. With 3v3 matches and played entirely with both joycons as mice, it is a very unique game that could stand out when it releases next summer.
We will now present all the other announced titles from third parties in list form. There are many, and some are very interesting, although we missed more original games. Except for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, the third part of Hyrule Warriors, which will narrate the events that occurred before Tears of the Kingdom from Zelda’s point of view.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
Hades
Demon x Machine Titanic Scion
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 Remastered
Project 007
Borderlands 4
Enter the Gungeon 2
StarSeeker
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Silksong
When can I reserve the console?
You will be able to reserve the console starting April 9th. That said, to do so at the Nintendo store, you will need to receive an email from Nintendo itself in order to proceed. In other stores, you should have no problem doing it without that.
