Switch 2 Surprises: Elden Ring Delayed but AC Shadows and Kirby Air Riders Steal the Show

Switch 2 fanatics had a whirlwind of news to digest today, with multiple major game announcements and delays. Among the highlights, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition’s delay stood out, while other titles, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Kirby Air Riders, filled in the blanks with compelling releases.  

What do we have on the menu for starters, do you think? You're goddamn right if you thought it was the news of the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition being delayed into 2026. Elden Ring was one of the first third-party games to be shown off for the Switch 2 and was supposed to show what the Switch 2 can really do in terms of raw power, but alas, 2026 it is.  

Devs stressed that this decision was made with performance in mind, aiming to deliver the most polished version of Elden Ring possible on the Switch 2. This dedication to quality is praiseworthy, sure, but it does raise questions about why some other third-party titles are already performing exceptionally well on Switch 2, despite being newer than Elden Ring. 

Star Wars Outlaws, for example, has been a standout title on the Switch 2.  

Star Wars Outlaws continues to improve the experience, so they are sending a message across: "If we can do it, why can't you?" to the competition. For example, Elden Ring, which has existed for years, has not yet reached the level of performance expected for Switch 2. 2026 is when we have to wait till, with early speculation pointing toward the first half of the year and possibly around April, though no official date has been confirmed.  

Filling the gap left by Elden Ring’s delay is Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set to release on December 2. The timing allows Ubisoft to capture a major holiday window with Christmas and New Year being on the horizon and offer Switch 2 players a content-rich title. Although Ghost of Tsushima remains unavailable on the console, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers a massive open world and a wealth of gameplay features that can rival other major third-party releases. Reports of the game leaking through a French retailer, in the form of a physical game key card, have now been confirmed, so there you go. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings the franchise back to Nintendo platforms for the first time in years. The game’s scale is significant, and if the developers replicate the performance of Star Wars Outlaws, this could become one of the best Switch 2 ports out there. Nothing can beat Elden Ring hype, but AC Shadows is no small name either, so we'll let Ubisoft take care of business on that one.  

AC Shadows' release also falls between two major Nintendo first-party launches, Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4, which may affect how you make your holiday gaming purchases. Whether as a gift or a self-purchase, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised to round out the year with a great addition to the Switch 2 library. 

Ubisoft’s experience with Switch 2 optimization, as demonstrated with Star Wars Outlaws, suggests that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will run smoothly. The studio has had ample time to refine the port. You can obviously expect a polished experience, though the release is just weeks away now. 

Also in another turn of events, Kirby Air Riders is taking off. Director Sakurai recently hosted an hour-long Nintendo Direct.  

Fans were treated to an overview of numerous game modes, including a new single-player story mode called Road Trip, a range of new courses, and a roster of new characters. The Direct also revealed a team battle mode for City Trial and a top-down Top Ride mode, inspired by the original Kirby Air Ride. 

The game features new amiibo, although their $50 price tag has drawn mixed reactions. Fans are particularly excited to see the inclusion of Rick as a racer, a character deemed essential to the experience. If you couldn't tell already, Kirby Air Riders is not a minor release by any means; it is a full-priced, first-year title with a great deal of backing, because Nintendo won't hand out Directs to just about any game. 

One of the best things to come out of that Direct was the demo of Kirby Air Riders, which allows testing the game across various time zones over two weekends in November. This offers 18 hours of playtime across six-hour slots. The timing of the demo accommodates global audiences, though some sessions are scheduled for late-night hours to ensure worldwide accessibility. Early impressions during the demo weekends will be important before November 20, the official launch. 

The Direct also showcased impressive visuals and collectibles, including gummies rendered beautifully on the Switch 2. At the end of the broadcast, there was a tease that seemed to hint at a possible Smash Bros. connection. The art style and overall aesthetic are very similar to Nintendo’s flagship fighting franchise. Almost as if they were cousins to each other.  

Despite Kirby Air Riders’ appeal, Metroid Prime 4 is the most eagerly awaited Switch 2 title. Kirby is again no small name, but Metroid Prime 4 remains the benchmark for the console’s first-year excitement.  

Nintendo deserves credit for supporting ambitious projects like Kirby Air Riders during Switch 2’s first year.  

By allowing seasoned developers to revisit past lore, the company shows that they want to hit the strides for Switch 2, which is still basically like a newborn in the handheld space. Robo Dedede, a Kirby villain inspired by Five Nights at Freddy’s, returning is just one example of the risky shots being called at the Nintendo HQ. 

Overall, Switch 2’s early game lineup is promising. Elden Ring’s delay is a little sad. At the same time, titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Kirby Air Riders show the potential for high-quality experiences that can launch alongside Nintendo’s own first-party releases. 

Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a massive open world and a chance for players to enjoy the franchise in portable form for the first time in years (it's been 84 years), while Kirby Air Riders is a breath of fresh "air".  

In conclusion, Switch 2’s early-year releases present a mix of highs and lows for gamers.  

The combination of first-party titles and high-quality third-party ports sets the stage for a strong start to Switch 2’s life cycle. While some delays are unavoidable, the promise of polished, content-rich games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Kirby Air Riders gives us plenty of reasons to be excited about what’s to come.