Nintendo has just announced a special Kirby Air Riders Direct set for tomorrow, August 19, 2025, at 9 AM ET. This 45-minute livestream, hosted by none other than the legendary Masahiro Sakurai promises an in-depth look at the upcoming Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch 2. As the spiritual successor to the 2003 GameCube title Kirby Air Ride, this Direct comes with high expectations. Given Sakurai’s evolved expertise since he last directed a Kirby game, Air Riders has potential to be much bigger than most expect it to be. Here are a few announcements and details I would like or expect to see at this Direct.
A Revamped City Trial Mode
One of the most anticipated features is an enhanced version of the beloved City Trial mode from the original game. The chaotic, open-world battle arena, where players fought enemies and collected powerups for a limited time before they pitted those resources against each other in a final race was a fan favorite despite the game’s mixed reception.
With over two decades of technological advancement, fans are hopeful for a more dynamic City Trial, featuring improved AI, more robust random events and more players. The addition of online play could also transform this mode completely. It has the potential to be something like a Battle Royale for the game.
A Full Single-Player Adventure?
Another big addition would be a robust single-player campaign, potentially mirroring another of Sakurai’s masterpieces, Kid Icarus: Uprising. Unlike the original Kirby Air Ride, which focused primarily on racing and minimal story elements, a single-player adventure could see Kirby navigating a sprawling world, absorbing new copy abilities to unlock unique vehicles or powers. This could blend racing with platforming and combat, offering a fresh take on the pink puffball’s adventures, complete with cinematic cutscenes on the level of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Enhanced Racing Gameplay and More Racers
I expect the core racing mechanics to receive a significant overhaul. With simplified controls being a point of criticism for the original, Kirby Air Riders might introduce a more robust racing experience with tighter, expanded controls, strategic boosting systems, and environmental interactions.
Increasing the amount of racers to 8 or even 16 would add some fun chaos to the mix. The roster of racers is another focal point. Beyond Kirby, Meta Knight, and King Dedede, fans are eager to see new characters added from the many Kirby games that have followed Air Ride. The more the merrier
Final Thoughts
Sakurai’s presentation style, reminiscent of his detailed Smash Ultimate reveals, should provide insightful commentary on the game’s features and modes. We should also see an official release date which could be much closer than we expected. While Mario Kart World already exists on the Nintendo Switch 2, this will likely prove to be a completely unique racing experience. For a franchise that began with humble origins, Kirby Air Riders has the potential to soar to new heights.
