This became known thanks to the intellectual property section in the demo version, where the engine is mentioned directly.
Earlier in 2025, game designer Masahiro Sakurai confirmed that Bandai Namco Studios is developing Kirby Air Riders, as was the case with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Now it has become clear that the project is one of the first to use the company's new engine.
The SOL-AVES trademark was registered by Bandai Namco in December 2022 and approved in September 2024. The studio is now actively expanding the team working on the technology. In the job descriptions, the engine is described as "internal", providing "the highest level of visual expressiveness" and "in-depth gaming experience."
It was previously reported that the studio is developing its own engine for large-scale projects, including open-world games. The initiative started in 2022, and, judging by the coincidence of the dates, it is precisely about SOL-AVES.
So far, it has only been confirmed that Kirby Air Riders was created on the new engine, but Bandai Namco states that SOL-AVES will become the basis for various games.