Another Lap: Nintendo Announces a Shockingly Long Second Kirby Air Riders Direct
Just when you thought you knew everything about the upcoming Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has thrown a massive curveball. The company just announced a second, dedicated Direct presentation for the game, happening this Thursday, October 23. And it’s not a short one. The livestream will be hosted once again by the game’s director, the legendary Masahiro Sakurai, and is scheduled to run for a full 60 minutes.
This news has sent the Nintendo community into a whirlwind of speculation. The first Direct back in August was already a comprehensive, 45-minute deep dive that covered the game’s November 20 release date, core mechanics, the return of the beloved City Trial mode, and a look at the character roster. So the big question on everyone’s mind is: what could possibly be left to talk about for an entire hour?
The Community’s Top Theory: A Full-Blown Story Mode
With so much already revealed, fans are latching onto one major theory: the Direct will be used to unveil a brand-new, unannounced game mode, most likely a full single-player campaign. This theory isn’t just wishful thinking. Eagle-eyed viewers of the first Direct will remember a very brief, cryptic cutscene at the end that teased a mysterious, shadowy antagonist. This was a classic Sakurai move, leaving a breadcrumb that hinted at something more to come.
A story mode would make perfect sense. It would differentiate the game even further from the Mario Kart series and provide a substantial single-player experience to complement the racing and battle-royale-style City Trial. Fans are hoping for something in the vein of the classic adventure mode from Diddy Kong Racing, which used an overworld to connect its various races and challenges. The idea of using the City Trial map as a central hub for this kind of campaign has also been a popular suggestion.
Don’t Underestimate the “Sakurai Factor”
While a new mode is the most exciting possibility, fans also know not to underestimate Masahiro Sakurai’s ability to talk at length about the smallest details of his games. As the creator of Super Smash Bros., he’s famous for his incredibly long and in-depth presentations that break down every single mechanic, character move, and design choice with painstaking detail. It is entirely possible that Sakurai could spend the full hour diving even deeper into the game’s physics, the nuances of every Air Ride machine, or the strategic possibilities of the Tarot card power-up system.
This is the man who once spent minutes of a presentation demonstrating how to count in binary. As one fan put it, “Sakurai is the kind of person who can effortlessly engage in a conversation for an hour without resorting to filler content.” Whether he’s revealing a new mode or just nerding out about his own game design, it’s guaranteed to be a captivating watch.
Conclusion
Nintendo has successfully built a huge amount of hype with this surprise announcement. The stage is set for what could be the final, major reveal for Kirby Air Riders before its launch next month. Will we get the story mode fans are dreaming of, or will we get a masterclass in game design from one of the industry’s greatest minds? Either way, the Kirby Air Riders Direct on October 23 is now a can’t-miss event for Nintendo fans everywhere. We’ll be tuning in to bring you all the news as it happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the second Kirby Air Riders Direct?
The second Kirby Air Riders Direct will air on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET.
2. How long will the presentation be?
Nintendo has announced that the Direct will be approximately 60 minutes long.
3. Who is hosting the Direct?
Just like the first one, the presentation will be hosted by the game’s director and creator of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series, Masahiro Sakurai.
4. Why is a second, long Direct so surprising?
The first Direct in August was already 45 minutes long and covered many key features, including the release date, City Trial mode, characters, and core gameplay mechanics, leaving many to wonder what else is left to reveal.
5. What are fans speculating will be announced?
The leading fan theory is that Nintendo will announce a brand-new game mode, most likely a single-player story or campaign mode, which was hinted at with a teaser at the end of the first Direct.
6. When does Kirby Air Riders release?
Kirby Air Riders is scheduled to launch exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20, 2025.