Kirby's Racing Spin-Off Conquers Japan While UK Gamers Look Elsewhere
The latest Nintendo release, Kirby Air Riders, has demonstrated a remarkable sales divide between Eastern and Western markets, with Japanese gamers embracing the controversial title while British consumers largely ignored it during its launch week.
Japanese Market Embraces Pink Puffball Racer
According to sales data from Famitsu for the week ending November 23, 2025, the Kirby racing spin-off achieved an impressive debut, selling 195,594 physical copies in its first week. This performance secured the top position in the Japanese charts, significantly outperforming the second-place title, Mario Kart World, which managed 67,068 sales during the same period.
While these figures don't include digital sales, as Nintendo traditionally doesn't report them, the physical sales alone demonstrate strong consumer interest in Japan. The game's performance is particularly noteworthy given its status as a Switch 2 exclusive, potentially limiting its audience to early adopters of Nintendo's newest console.
UK Retail Response Proves Lukewarm
The British gaming market told a completely different story. Data from Gfk for the week ending November 22, 2025, revealed that Kirby Air Riders could only manage a number 12 position in the UK retail chart, failing to break into the top 10.
The game found itself behind titles that have been available for over a year, including Astro Bot, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Hogwarts Legacy. EA Sports FC 26 claimed the top spot in the UK, highlighting the different gaming preferences between the two nations.
Historical Context Explains the Divide
This sales disparity reflects longstanding trends in Nintendo's international performance. The Kirby franchise has historically been more popular in Japan than in Western markets, while the delayed release of the NES in Europe contributed to Nintendo establishing a weaker presence in the UK compared to other regions.
Similar patterns exist with other Nintendo properties. The Splatoon series enjoys tremendous popularity in Japan, justifying multiple sequels and spin-offs, while Western sales consistently trail behind major franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Animal Crossing.
Despite the strong Japanese performance, director Masahiro Sakurai has explicitly ruled out future content for Kirby Air Riders. During a recent Nintendo Direct presentation, Sakurai stated: 'Just so you know, we're not planning any DLC. Everything is here. Also, I'm not planning on making this an ongoing series.'
The director emphasized that he had thrown everything into the game from the start, encouraging players not to miss the opportunity to experience it in its current form.
