Riders Republic is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on December 9, 2026, and Offline Play arrives on every platform the same day, Ubisoft announced on October 20 during the game’s fifth anniversary livestream and in a Ubisoft News recap. Ubisoft says the extreme sports game has passed 17 million players in five years.
The Details
Switch 2. Ubisoft’s announcement trailer gives only the date. It has not announced a price, pre-orders, cross-play or cross-progression for the Switch 2 version.
Offline Play, or Nomad mode. Built with Switch 2 and Steam Deck in mind, it lets you play most of the game solo offline: free exploration, career progress, landmarks, beauty spots, balloons and character customization. Progress made offline merges into your online save when you reconnect. The shop, season progression, sponsors, multiplayer and user-created events still need an internet connection.
Free weekend and sale. Riders Republic is free to play from October 22 to 26, and progress carries over if you buy it. The Ubisoft Store has it at up to 90% off through October 26, and PlayStation and Xbox at up to 80% off through November 4.
Henri PFR concert. From October 22, the Belgian DJ’s in-game concert plays twice a day for two weeks on a big screen in the Ridge, with his new single “Make Love,” “Sola” and “Riders Things,” a remix of the game’s theme. Watching earns a reward, and the three tracks join the in-game radio from Season 21.
Anniversary events. A developer-made 5th Anniversary event runs October 21 to November 4 in two parts, rewarding 5th Anniversary Skis in week one and a 5th Anniversary BMX in week two. Crossover cosmetics include an Edward Kenway-inspired Assassin’s Creed outfit and a Just Dance panda outfit. The Ridge Full Send event runs November 25 to December 9.
What This Means for Players
If you have never tried Riders Republic, this weekend is a free test, and the sale makes keeping it cheap. Switch 2 owners get one of the bigger open-world sports games, and Offline Play makes it a real handheld game on Switch 2 and Steam Deck rather than one that needs Wi-Fi.
In the livestream, the developers also previewed sports in early development for Year 6, including inline roller skating, a snow bike and supermoto, with no dates yet.
For more on the console, see our best Switch 2 games of 2026 and best Switch 2 co-op games. Fans of the crossover outfits can find our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced guides and the new Just Dance: Decades of Hits.
When and Where
- Free weekend: October 22 to 26.
- Henri PFR concert: from October 22, twice daily for two weeks.
- Switch 2 launch and Offline Play: December 9, 2026.
- Platforms now: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Ubisoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store), plus Ubisoft+.
Source: Ubisoft, “Riders Republic: 5th Anniversary Livestream,” YouTube, October 20, 2026, and “Riders Republic Coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Hosts Free Weekend, Premieres Henri PFR In-Game Concert, and More,” Ubisoft News, October 20, 2026.