The game will be released on November 20, 2025, and the developers have revealed almost all their cards. Masahiro Sakurai shared information about the gameplay and content at release.
Nintendo Switch 2 owners who love racing games with their favorite characters were able to familiarize themselves with an extensive presentation, as it is the successor to a 20-year-old project.
Special attention is paid to the game modes that will return from the original Kirby Air Ride from 2003. At the start, players will be able to complete:
- Top Ride: classic top-down racing, tracks from Air Ride mode, character and vehicle selection, Quick Spins, Boost Charges, Copy Abilities, exclusive items (Kaboomb, Drift Flames, Drill Driver). The game is possible online for up to 8 players or offline with 3 players on one console and 4 CPUs.
- Road Trip: routes with tasks, including Air Ride, City Trial, and Top Ride, collecting vehicles and items, a story with Kirby, King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Starman, and others.
- Paddock: a lobby for selecting a mode, interacting with friends, setting up music, emojis, poses, and matches.
- Swap Relay: a new type of race, changing vehicles after each lap, a local relay race with other players.
- Transform Star: a new transforming vehicle, switching between star and bicycle modes.
- Checklist: a goal system with 5 tabs (Air Ride, Top Ride, City Trial, Road Trip, Online), unlocking content and characters.
The game will offer 9 original tracks, now increased to 18, a new Mega Cannon amplifier, a stadium mode, battles with bosses like Robo Dedede, and support for local and online play.
Global Win Power will show the color classification of online ranks, License customization is available, and Team Battles will allow up to 16 people to play with a division into teams. There is also Time Attack, Free Run, and personalization of music, garages and cars, commentators in different languages, and a customizable menu.
