The big pink puffball is due to make a return in 2021, as staff members at HAL Laboratory are saying that more Kirby games and merchandise are planned for next year.
Kirby has been a mainstay franchise for Nintendo over the past few consoles. There are three Kirby SNES games and one NES game on Nintendo Switch Online. The Switch also has three Kirby games of its own: the microtransaction-filled Super Kirby Clash, Kirby Star Allies, and Kirby Fighters 2. The Nintendo DS and 3DS also had a ton of Kirby games, including a number of older ones being available on the Virtual Console.
2021 is shaping up to be a big year for Kirby fans. Several staff members at HAL Laboratory were interviewed by 4Gamer (translated by Oni Dino at Siliconera) and they discussed their plans going forward. Kirby Fighters 2 and Super Kirby Clash Director Yumi Todo mentioned what was in store for Kirby in the future.
"We’ll keep working hard on our goal in 2021. That is, for as many people as possible to enjoy Kirby [games]. We have plans not only for games but also for merchandise, books, and a variety of events like with the Kirby Cafe. We hope you’ll continue to support both Kirby and HAL Laboratory in 2021!"
It's notable that Yumi Todo didn't specifically name the Switch. Nintendo is stepping back from the mobile market, but the Kirby franchise feels like it could work in that format. A port of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse would be a great fit for mobile games or at least a game that uses the same touchscreen method for its controls. It's commendable that HAL would want to run more Kirby Cafe-style live events, but with the current COVID situation currently spiraling out of control, it's likely that it won't start happening again until 2022.
The Switch's 2021 schedule is currently dry of first-party releases, as only Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury has a release date. A new Kirby game seems like a safe bet for next year, especially as Nintendo has been waiting until the last minute to announce games over the past year. The COVID situation has led to a lot of uncertainty regarding release dates, so it wouldn't be surprising if Nintendo dropped a new Kirby announcement during a future Direct.
Source: Siliconera, 4Gamer