Nintendo announced Kirby and the World Beyond, a new 3D Kirby adventure, as the closing reveal of its September 9 Nintendo Direct. The game is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in spring 2027.
Polygon reported that Nintendo executive Yoshiaki Koizumi introduced the announcement as the presentation's customary final surprise, after roughly 45 minutes of other reveals. The trailer that followed showed Kirby smashing through a crack in the sky to reach a large world beyond his own, and, according to IGN, included early gameplay of Kirby using his Copy Abilities against enemies.
A new 3D adventure is on the horizon for Kirby! Freely explore an expansive world and put Kirby's Copy Abilities to creative use as you uncover what awaits in Kirby and the World Beyond.
Both Polygon and IGN read the footage as the series' most open adventure to date, with Polygon describing it as appearing to be Kirby's biggest open-world outing yet. Nintendo's own announcement, quoted by IGN, describes an expansive world that players can freely explore.
Video Games Chronicle noted that Kirby and the World Beyond is the second full 3D Kirby platformer, following Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which was released for the original Switch in 2022. The series has had spinoffs and remakes since then, including Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe in 2023 and the racing game Kirby Air Riders in 2025.
The spring 2027 release window coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Kirby series. IGN reported that Koizumi said more details about the anniversary would be shared in the future, and Nintendo did not give a more specific release date during the Direct.