With Kirby Air Riders releasing tomorrow on the Nintendo Switch 2, players are already planning their schedules around the return of the classic series. Early reviews have been strong, and anticipation has only grown with fans eager to jump back into Air-Ride-style racing with modern enhancements. But with global release times now varying from game to game, many players are asking the same two questions: when exactly does Kirby Air Riders unlock, and can you use the New Zealand trick to jump in early?
Below, we break down everything you need to know about tomorrow’s rollout, including the confirmed unlock times and whether switching your console region actually gives you a head start.
At What Time Does Kirby Air Riders Release?
Kirby Air Riders officially releases on November 20, and Nintendo has confirmed a midnight Eastern launch for the United States. That means players on the East Coast can jump in at 12:00 am ET, while players on the West Coast can get in even earlier relative to their local time. For those in Pacific time, the game becomes playable at 9:00 pm PT on November 19.
This follows the now-common pattern of Nintendo’s global digital launches, where major titles unlock at midnight Eastern regardless of region. It removes confusion for players while creating a single predictable moment where the game goes live across North America.
Internationally, most regions will also receive the game at midnight local time on November 20. That includes Europe, Australia, and many Asian territories, though local eShop clock differences can create small variations in specific countries. Still, the general rule applies: if it is midnight in your region on November 20, Kirby Air Riders should be accessible.
Does The New Zealand Trick Work?
Because many Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 titles use staggered regional unlock times, players often try what is commonly known as the New Zealand trick. By setting their console’s region to New Zealand, players can often access digital titles hours before they unlock in the United States.
For Kirby Air Riders, the New Zealand trick unfortunately doesn’t seem to work. Several regional listings show the New Zealand release time as 4:00 AM NZDT on November 21 rather than a standard midnight release. That shifts the early access window and eliminates the usual advantage of jumping in up to a day earlier. While some sources still list a midnight release in New Zealand, most up-to-date regional schedules point to this later 4 AM unlock.
In other words, you can still change your region to New Zealand, but it will not provide a meaningful early play window. The earliest practical way to play Kirby Air Riders remains the United States 12 AM ET launch.
