Kirby Air Riders: No DLC, No Roadmap – Sakurai Explains Why

Development on Kirby Air Riders is winding down. Following the release of update 1.2.0, Director Masahiro Sakurai dropped a bombshell.

The team is disbanding, and the game is effectively “complete.” If you were waiting for endless seasons of content, you might want to adjust your expectations.

Kirby Air Riders: The End of Updates?

Just a few days ago, Nintendo rolled out update 1.2.0 for Kirby Air Riders. This patch tweaked the balance for several vehicles and pilots.

While fans usually speculate about what’s coming next, Sakurai took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation.

According to the legendary director, the dedicated development team will be dissolved soon. This means no new content, no DLC expansions, and likely no further balance changes.

He hinted that there might be room for one final patch to iron out any remaining kinks. But for all intents and purposes, the game is finished.

エアライダーダイレクト2でお話した通り、『カービィのエアライダー』はDLCなどの制作体制を持ちません。
近いうち、チームも解散になります。

よって、短い期間で手を打てるうちに､何年後でも問題なく遊べるバランスを目指しています。…

— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) December 12, 2025

Not a Live Service: Sakurai’s Philosophy

In an era dominated by live-service models—looking at you, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds—Sakurai’s approach feels almost rebellious.

He reiterated that Kirby Air Riders was never designed to be a drip-feed experience.

Sakurai reminded fans of his statement during the second “Air Rider Direct.” He emphasized heavily that “the game is complete as is.”

The few updates we’ve received were strictly to ensure a stable competitive environment. The goal is a game that can stand on its own for years without developer intervention.

“As mentioned in Air Rider Direct 2, there are no plans for DLC or similar content for Kirby Air Riders. The team will be disbanded soon. We aim for a balance that allows for problem-free play even years from now.” — Masahiro Sakurai

In Conclusion: A Complete Game in 2025?

In a market where games often feel like unfinished beta tests asking for more money, this stands out.If you’ve been on the fence, now is actually the perfect time to jump in. You don’t have to worry about the “meta” shifting every two weeks. You won’t miss out on a Battle Pass.

Do you prefer Sakurai’s “finished product” approach, or do you wish the game had a Live Service roadmap? Let us know in the comments!

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