Kirby Air Riders Launches on Switch 2 Amid Content Backlash

Nintendo's long-awaited racing sequel Kirby Air Riders launched exclusively on the Switch 2 on November 20, 2025, drawing praise for its inventive gameplay while sparking quick backlash over the company's removal of user-created content featuring suggestive designs of character Chef Kawasaki.

Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, the game builds on the 2003 GameCube title Kirby Air Ride, which gained a cult following despite limited commercial success. Players race on customizable glider boards across frantic tracks, battling opponents with items, drifts, and boosts. Unlike traditional kart racers, the title emphasizes automatic forward motion, allowing focus on strategy and combat. Modes vary widely: Air Ride offers standard races; City Trial lets users explore an open area called Skyah to collect power-ups before arena battles; Top Ride delivers quick top-down mini-races reminiscent of classic Micro Machines; and Road Trip serves as a progression-based campaign with challenges like time trials and oval courses.

The roster includes 21 playable characters, four available at the start: Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee. Others, such as Bandana...