The Super Smash Bros. series has been at the center of the speculation whenever Nintendo fans discuss what’s next for Masahiro Sakurai. With Smash Ultimate wrapping up an ambitious content cycle in 2021, questions about Sakurai’s future involvement in another installment have only gone louder.
Adding fuel to the fire, occasional insider claims have circulated online, pointing to behind-the-scenes negotiations and potential new projects. One such rumor gained particular traction about two months ago when KiwiTalkz shared information from a trusted source.
The claim suggested that Nintendo has enticed Sakurai with the opportunity to direct Kirby Air Riders—or another project of his choosing—in exchange of his agreement to return as director for Smash 6. While intriguing, the alleged deal came with a catch, Smash 6 itself hasn’t entered pre-production.
KiwiTalkz has now publicly apologized after his earlier claims about the Smash 6 Kirby Air Riders rumor were contradicted by Nintendo’s latest announcements. While he admitted fault and deleted his original posts, his source has doubled down on the story, insisting that Sakurai withheld key details.
Importance: The fallout from the Smash 6 Kirby Air Riders rumor underscores the risks of gaming leaks and secrecy surrounding major franchises. It reminds fans and industry watchers to take early rumors with caution, while highlighting how negotiations can shape even the most anticipated games.

Nintendo’s Kirby Air Riders Direct Sparks Insider Reactions
Following Nintendo’s recent Kirby Air Riders Direct, insider and YouTuber KiwiTalkz addressed the fallout from his previous claims regarding the Smash 6 Kirby Air Riders rumor.
Around two months ago, he reported that Nintendo had persuaded Masahiro Sakurai to return as director for Smash 6 by offering him the chance to direct Kirby Air Riders or another passion project of his choice. The leak gained credibility at the time due to current shared information on other titles.
Insider Source Doubles Down Despite Contradictions
Rool and the Kremlings in Bananza, as well as Retro Studios’ cancelled music RPG. However, the Direct appeared to contradict those earlier reports, prompting KiwiTalkz to issue a public apology, delete his original post, and admit that he had trusted his source too much.

Despite this, the source behind the rumor doubled down, claiming that Sakurai intentionally did not reveal the full story during the Direct. KiwiTalkz himself has expressed skepticism, stressing that he no longer considered the source reliable and will not be using them for future reports.
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