To celebrate High On Life 2 coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Squanch Games and Dexerto swapped gameplay reveals for something far stranger, transforming professional skateboarder Willis Kimbel into one of the game’s aliens before unleashing him at one of the world’s most iconic skateparks.
The live-action activation brought the bizarre world of High On Life 2 into the real world, with Kimbel spending hours inside a custom prosthetic before skating Portland’s legendary Burnside Skatepark alongside locals who had no idea what was about to roll in.
The result was a stunt that captured the chaotic humor and strange world that define High On Life 2, replacing a traditional gameplay trailer with something unexpected.
High on Life 2 developers set up an alien marketing stunt at Burnside Skatepark to promote their release on the Nintendo Switch 2 pic.twitter.com/1Opns2ALcJ
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 29, 2026
High On Life 2 meets Burnside
The production began with extensive prosthetic testing, before Kimbel spent more than five hours in the makeup chair on shoot day as artists completed the alien transformation.
Rain threatened to derail filming, but Burnside’s location beneath the Burnside Bridge meant production could continue despite the weather. Once the park cleared, cameras rolled as Kimbel dropped into the bowls wearing the full alien suit.
Dexerto
“We had Willis start with his better-known, easier tricks and work his way up to the big ones so we didn’t wreck the makeup right out the gate,” said Dexerto’s Jesse Foster.
“Even in full prosthetics he made it look effortless, carving through the bowls like the gear wasn’t there, and it got obvious pretty quick why people call him a legend.”
High on Life 2 developers set up an alien marketing stunt at Burnside Skatepark to promote their release on the Nintendo Switch 2 pic.twitter.com/1Opns2ALcJ
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 29, 2026
Another legend was the location itself: Burnside. It’s a skate park made famous partly through its appearance in multiple Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games.
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Burnside’s regulars quickly became part of the shoot. Squanch Games handed out High On Life-themed skateboard decks, while several of Kimbel’s friends suited up in additional alien masks for photos around the park.
The atmosphere reflected the close-knit community surrounding both Kimbel and Burnside.
“A handful of locals were skating, and just about all of them knew Willis. The guy’s a legend down there.”
Following the skatepark shoot, production moved to Kimbel’s skate shop, Rips Co., where the crew captured additional footage in a more relaxed setting surrounded by friends and local skaters.
“The whole thing felt like one big family. It was wholesome honestly,” Foster said.
The activation marks the latest collaboration between Dexerto and Squanch Games following the live-action Humanzapro trailer, continuing the studio’s approach of promoting High On Life 2 through real-world storytelling rather than traditional gameplay showcases.
After February’s release on Xbox (Game Pass included), PlayStation, and PC, High On Life 2 is officially out now on Nintendo Switch 2 as well, giving Nintendo players the chance to experience Squanch Games’ sci-fi shooter on the platform for the first time.
