The visionary behind the iconic Super Smash Bros. series, Masahiro Sakurai, recently released a video offering insights into the development of the franchise’s latest triumph, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In a candid moment, Sakurai acknowledged the daunting prospect of creating another game that could surpass the monumental success achieved by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate made its debut on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, marking a groundbreaking entry in the series. Notably, it featured every fighter from the franchise’s storied history, including iconic characters like Snake from the Metal Gear Solid games and the Ice Climbers from the classic NES title Ice Climber. The game also introduced several new characters, such as Ridley from the Metroid series, further expanding its already diverse roster. The addition of paid downloadable content (DLC) brought fan-favorite third-party characters into the fray, including Sora from Kingdom Hearts, Joker from Persona 5, and Steve from Minecraft.
Given the remarkable scope of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, coupled with its intricate single-player campaign, it’s understandable that Sakurai and the development team would grapple with the idea of surpassing this pinnacle. Sakurai shared his thoughts, stating, “As for what comes next for the Smash Bros. series, even I’m not sure. I feel like we truly succeeded in making people happy with this game, but now that Smash Bros. has grown to be monstrous in size, I’d say it’s difficult to imagine an increase of this magnitude happening again.”
Sakurai, who has been known for pushing the boundaries of what is possible with each iteration of the franchise, emphasized the challenge of exceeding the heights reached by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He added, “Every time, we managed to make a game I had previously thought impossible, so I can’t say for certain that there won’t be another, but I do think it would be difficult to push it any further than we have.”
As of now, no public plans have been announced for a new Super Smash Bros. game. Sakurai’s candid remarks in his latest video suggest that the development of a new entry in the series faces significant uncertainties. Fans will have to remain patient and stay tuned for future developments in the beloved franchise.
