Nintendo on Tuesday livestreamed a 45-minute Nintendo Direct dedicated entirely to Kirby Air Riders, the first non-Smash Bros. title directed by Masahiro Sakurai in more than half a decade. The broadcast, which began at 6 a.m. Pacific, offered an extensive look at the Nintendo Switch 2 racer and confirmed its long-anticipated launch date. Kirby Air Riders will arrive exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on 20 November 2025, positioning the game as the company’s marquee holiday release. Developed by Sakurai’s Sora Ltd. in collaboration with Bandai Namco, the sequel to 2003’s Kirby Air Ride introduces two-button controls—one for boosting, the other for special abilities—and allows every character to copy powers, a first for the series. Nintendo also detailed a significantly expanded feature set. Up to 16 players can compete online in the open-area City Trial mode set on the new floating-island map Skyah, while local wireless play supports eight racers. The playable roster now includes Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, Chef Kawasaki and Bandana Waddle Dee, with additional riders promised at launch.