Nintendo confirmed a new 3D Kirby title, Kirby and the World Beyond, during its September 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct.
The game, developed by longtime series partner HAL Laboratory, is slated to launch in Spring 2027 to coincide with Kirby’s 35th anniversary.
The announcement marks the franchise’s next major move into fully 3D gameplay since Kirby and the Forgotten Land (released March 25, 2022 on Nintendo Switch).
In the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo presented Kirby and the World Beyond as a fresh 3D installment developed by HAL Laboratory.
Nintendo said the game will arrive in Spring 2027, timed to celebrate three-and-a-half decades of the Kirby franchise that began with Kirby’s Dream Land in 1992.
HAL Laboratory, the studio behind the series since its inception, returns as developer; the company has produced numerous Kirby titles and remains Nintendo’s primary partner on the franchise.
Fans and observers reacted quickly online after the Direct.
Social responses ranged from stunned excitement to nostalgia: many highlighted Kirby and the Forgotten Land as a high-water mark for the series’ transition to three-dimensional design, while others expressed optimism about HAL Laboratory’s capacity to deliver polished first-party releases.
Some viewers also raised questions about potential shifts in tone or gameplay direction, asking whether the new entry would explore different mechanics than past Kirby titles.
Context and background: Kirby and the Forgotten Land represented the series’ first full 3D platforming adventure and helped re-establish Kirby as a headline Nintendo IP on the Switch.
The franchise itself dates back to 1992, created by Masahiro Sakurai and developed by HAL Laboratory, and has since remained a consistent part of Nintendo’s first-party lineup.
Nintendo traditionally distributes its first-party titles on its digital storefront, the Nintendo eShop, alongside physical retail releases.
Nintendo has promised more details to follow; HAL Laboratory and Nintendo typically reveal gameplay, modes, and release-window specifics in subsequent showcases or Nintendo Direct presentations.
For industry watchers, Kirby and the World Beyond will be one of the earliest marquee first-party releases tied to the Nintendo Switch 2 platform and a central title in Nintendo’s 2027 release calendar.
The game, developed by longtime series partner HAL Laboratory, is slated to launch in Spring 2027 to coincide with Kirby’s 35th anniversary.
The announcement marks the franchise’s next major move into fully 3D gameplay since Kirby and the Forgotten Land (released March 25, 2022 on Nintendo Switch).
In the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo presented Kirby and the World Beyond as a fresh 3D installment developed by HAL Laboratory.
Nintendo said the game will arrive in Spring 2027, timed to celebrate three-and-a-half decades of the Kirby franchise that began with Kirby’s Dream Land in 1992.
HAL Laboratory, the studio behind the series since its inception, returns as developer; the company has produced numerous Kirby titles and remains Nintendo’s primary partner on the franchise.
Fans and observers reacted quickly online after the Direct.
Social responses ranged from stunned excitement to nostalgia: many highlighted Kirby and the Forgotten Land as a high-water mark for the series’ transition to three-dimensional design, while others expressed optimism about HAL Laboratory’s capacity to deliver polished first-party releases.
Some viewers also raised questions about potential shifts in tone or gameplay direction, asking whether the new entry would explore different mechanics than past Kirby titles.
Context and background: Kirby and the Forgotten Land represented the series’ first full 3D platforming adventure and helped re-establish Kirby as a headline Nintendo IP on the Switch.
The franchise itself dates back to 1992, created by Masahiro Sakurai and developed by HAL Laboratory, and has since remained a consistent part of Nintendo’s first-party lineup.
Nintendo traditionally distributes its first-party titles on its digital storefront, the Nintendo eShop, alongside physical retail releases.
Nintendo has promised more details to follow; HAL Laboratory and Nintendo typically reveal gameplay, modes, and release-window specifics in subsequent showcases or Nintendo Direct presentations.
For industry watchers, Kirby and the World Beyond will be one of the earliest marquee first-party releases tied to the Nintendo Switch 2 platform and a central title in Nintendo’s 2027 release calendar.
