The Riders Republic Switch 2 version arrives on December 9, 2026, Ubisoft announced on October 20 during the game’s fifth-anniversary livestream. The same day, a new Offline Play mode arrives on every platform, so you can keep progressing through most of the open world without an internet connection.
That second part matters more than it sounds. Riders Republic has needed a connection since it launched in 2021, which made it an awkward fit for a handheld. According to Ubisoft’s announcement, the offline mode was built with the Switch 2 version and Steam Deck in mind.
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Riders Republic Switch 2: release date and what we know
- Release date: December 9, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Developer and publisher: Ubisoft Annecy and Ubisoft.
- Offline Play: launches December 9 on all current platforms, Switch 2 included.
- Price and pre-orders: not announced yet. There was no Riders Republic listing on the US Nintendo eShop when we checked on October 20 at 23:30 UTC.
- Player count so far: Ubisoft says more than 17 million people have played the game in its first five years.
Ubisoft has not shared Switch 2 performance targets, a file size, or whether there will be a physical edition. The original Switch never got the game, so there is no upgrade path to worry about: this is a new version. Here’s Ubisoft’s Switch 2 announcement trailer:
How Riders Republic offline mode works
Ubisoft calls the offline mode “Nomad mode.” In single-player you can explore the map freely, work through your career progression, unlock landmarks, find beauty spots and collect the balloons hidden around the world. You can also keep customizing your rider.
Solo exploration and career events like this Bryce Canyon run are what Offline Play covers from December 9. Image: Ubisoft
When you reconnect, the game merges everything you did offline into your online save. Ubisoft’s wording is that “nothing is lost.” It also helps on every platform during server maintenance or a dropped connection.
What still needs an internet connection
Riders Republic remains a live game, so some features stay online-only:
- the in-game shop
- season progression
- sponsors
- multiplayer modes, including the big mass races
- user-created events
Free weekend, sale and 5th anniversary events
You don’t have to wait for December to try it. Ubisoft is running a free weekend from October 22 to 26, and progress carries over if you buy the game afterward. The anniversary sale offers up to 90% off on the Ubisoft Store through October 26, and up to 80% off on PlayStation and Xbox through November 4. Steam still listed the standard edition at its usual $39.99 when we checked on October 20.
| Event | Dates (2026) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free weekend | Oct 22-26 | Progress carries over if you buy |
| Anniversary sale | Until Oct 26 (Ubisoft Store), Nov 4 (PS, Xbox) | Up to 90% / 80% off |
| 5th Anniversary developer events | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | Week 1: anniversary skis; week 2: anniversary BMX |
| Henri PFR in-game concert | From Oct 22, for two weeks | Plays twice a day in the Ridge; watching earns a reward |
| Ridge Full Send event | Nov 25 – Dec 9 | Every Toy released in the past year |
| Switch 2 launch + Offline Play | Dec 9 | Offline mode on all platforms |
The Henri PFR concert plays in the Ridge from October 22 to November 4. Image: Ubisoft
The anniversary also adds Ubisoft crossover gear: an Edward Kenway-inspired outfit from Assassin’s Creed, a Rayman BMX and Globox outfit, a Just Dance panda coach outfit, and snowboards themed on The Crew Motorfest, For Honor, Skull and Bones and Brawlhalla. Twitch drops add a Red Bull snowboard (30 minutes watched) and a Cube Litening C68X bike (60 minutes).
Who the Switch 2 version is for
Riders Republic is worth a look if you liked the idea of a huge outdoor playground with bikes, skis, snowboards and wingsuits but wanted to play it in short sessions away from a TV. Offline career progress makes it a much better travel game than it would have been at launch. If you mostly want the chaotic online mass races, keep in mind they will still need a connection. To see what else is arriving on the console, check new Switch 2 games this week with prices and file sizes. Other recent ports include Cult of the Lamb on Switch 2 with its free upgrade and Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 with its DLSS and SMAA modes, plus the latest fixes in our Witcher 3 Switch 2 patch 5.01 notes.
What’s next
The next things to watch for are the Switch 2 price and the eShop pre-order page. Ubisoft also previewed Year 6 content in the anniversary stream but hasn’t detailed it in writing yet. We’ll update this post when the eShop listing goes live.
Sources: Ubisoft News, Gematsu, Steam store page and the US Nintendo eShop (both checked October 20, 2026, 23:30 UTC).
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Featured image: Ubisoft
