India, Oct. 23 -- When Nintendo teased its latest Direct, fans anticipated a nostalgic Kirby cameo or a light addition to the franchise. Instead, Kirby Air Riders takes center stage as a major title for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

This isn't a spin-off or an expansion. It's a self-contained, full-scale game with no planned updates, DLC, or live-service roadmap.

In 2025, that's both unusual and bold.

In August, game director Masahiro Sakurai, best known forSuper Smash Bros., shared a 45-minute video discussing the new version of City Trial, a fan-favorite mode from Kirby Air Ride (2003). This is not a remake; it's a complete rebuild.

The control scheme now includes a second button, which might sound minor, but introduces a surprisi...