Nintendo has announced an exciting follow-up to the initial Kirby Air Riders presentation, set for later this week, featuring a full hour of content. Earlier this year, during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, the revelation of a sequel to the beloved GameCube racing game took many by surprise. What added to the intrigue was the involvement of Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Smash Bros., who was surprisingly approached by Nintendo to work on this title. Many, including former marketing executives at Nintendo, believed it was a strategic move to allow Sakurai the freedom to explore a passion project prior to the next Smash Bros. installation.
Despite the expectations surrounding the project, Sakurai has shown remarkable enthusiasm, sharing over 45 minutes of insights during the game’s initial Nintendo Direct. Just when fans thought there might be little more to unveil, Sakurai confirmed the upcoming presentation, set to dive even deeper into details.
Upcoming Direct Details
The second Nintendo Direct for Kirby Air Riders is confirmed for Thursday, October 23, at 2 PM BST / 9 AM ET / 6 AM PT. If you thought 45 minutes was already substantial, prepare for an even more substantial experience with this new Direct clocking in at a refreshing 60 minutes—roughly the same length as the Direct that introduced the Switch 2 and showcased numerous titles.
Masahiro Sakurai will host this session again. Previously, his game-centric presentations have highlighted small yet intriguing animations, such as Olimar’s helmet cracking in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, while also revealing extensive gameplay footage. Given that the last Kirby Air Riders Direct concluded with a teaser for a potential story mode, it’s reasonable to expect that a significant portion of this upcoming session will focus on that aspect.
After dominating platforms like YouTube, Masahiro Sakurai is also set to release a 160-page manga reflecting on his life and artistry.