Nintendo has announced that Kirby Air Riders will release on November 20, 2025. Fans can already pre-order the game on the Nintendo eShop, where it is listed for $70. This price makes it cheaper than Mario Kart World, which launched for $80, but more expensive than another upcoming racer, Drag x Drive, which will cost $20.
The announcement came during Nintendo’s latest Direct event, which lasted 45 minutes. In the showcase, Nintendo gave a detailed look at Kirby’s new racing game. The game will feature regular track-based races as well as a special sandbox mode that lets players explore more freely. At the end of the presentation, Nintendo revealed the release date, confirming that Kirby Air Riders will be the second big racing game for the Switch 2 within just five months.
Fans paid close attention to the price, as Nintendo had earlier mentioned that games on the Switch 2 would not all have the same cost. Some would be more expensive, while others could be priced lower depending on the type of game. With Kirby Air Riders set at $70, it sits between Nintendo’s other big racing releases.
This game is also important because it is a sequel to Kirby Air Ride, which came out on the GameCube back in 2003. Fans have been waiting for a follow-up for over twenty years. The project also stands out because Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros., is linked to it. While Sakurai is not making a new Smash game right now, this project shows his work outside that famous series.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 release schedule for late 2025 is now very busy. On August 28, the company will launch Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. On October 16, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Switch 2 Edition will arrive. After those games, Kirby Air Riders will launch on November 20.
The one big question left for Nintendo fans is when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will finally release. The game has faced many delays and still only has a general “2025” window. Until then, fans can look forward to enjoying Kirby’s return to racing this November.