Kirby Air Riders is said to have been validated in exchange for Sakurai making a new Smash Bros.
, by Thibaut
Among all the surprises we got at the Switch 2 presentation, Kirby Air Riders was undoubtedly the most unexpected. This entry will be directed by Masahiro Sakurai, to whom we also owe the Super Smash Bros franchise.
Sakurai had warned that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would be the last entry under his direction... But Nintendo obviously didn't want to give up. In a message on X, Reece Kiwi Talkz Reilly explains that, in reality, Kirby Air Riders would have been used as a bargaining chip.
Sakurai presumably wanted to make a new Kirby Air, and Nintendo would have agreed to his request only if the Japanese creator agreed to make a new Smash Bros.
Of course, this is all speculation at the moment, and does not mean that there's a new Super Smash Bros. already in development.