With only a few days left until the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, series creator Masahiro Sakurai has sought to clarify, in an interview with IGN, his reasoning for not including Mewtwo as payable downloadable content for the upcoming title.
Mewtwo, whose last series appearance was in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube, was recently announced by Nintendo as a returning brawler for the upcoming instalment. However, only those purchasing both Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will currently be eligible to obtain the legendary Pokémon for their roster when it arrives next year.
In similar fashion to the Mewtwo's infamous birth, Sakurai explained that the Psychic Legendary was included as an "experiment", intended to test out content distribution:
As for why Mewtwo isn't paid content from the start, releasing that character is an experiment meant to act as a foothold in content distribution; thus it's simply meant as part of the service we're providing to gamers.
With Mewtwo effectively being ruled out from as purchasable content, Sakurai went on to explain his current standpoint on the possibility of future paid DLC:
...What I can say now about paid DLC is that we aren't working on anything at the moment. We've put all our efforts into making the actual game. Creating DLC would involve large additional costs and require the involvement of a lot of people.
Sakurai also stressed that he hopes that fans don't get too bogged down over the prospect of DLC, and instead enjoy the title for its abundance of readily available content instead:
Creating a single fighter involves a huge investment, and we've already been giving it our all and investing a lot of work in the characters currently available in the game, and I think it's an incredible package in terms of the sheer amount of content in the game. But it might be that people may not understand and may think that I am not offering enough just by looking at DLC itself.
As is often the case with paid DLC, Sakurai expressed his concerns that he and his team may come under scrutiny for "adding things later that should have been there from the start." Whilst Sakurai doesn't outright deny the potential for future DLC, if it is to grace Super Smash Bros. in the future it seems that it could be some time away.
How do you feel about Sakurai's comments? Are there any characters you're still hoping to return as future DLC, or perhaps you're happy with the current roster as it is? Let us know in the comments below.
[source uk.ign.com]
Comments 116
PLEASE HAVE MORE DLC!
Seriously Please have more but make it free. Not trying to sound rude here people i just want DLC besides Mewtwo
I sure hope that you can get Mewtwo if you don't have both versions by paying though. In a household of two or more Smashers, there will be more 3DSes than Wii Us. How will it work so that we can get Mewtwo unlocked on every Smash-playing device?
@mariovslink62 I was with you until you said free. These people have jobs and deserve to be paid.
@EarthboundBenjy He will probably be free since paid DLC isn't on his mind.
My husband and I both have Smash for 3DS on each of our own handhelds, but as the primary Nintendo user in my household I'll be purchasing Smash for Wii U via my Nintendo Network ID. As it stands right now my husband's really disappointed as this means that I'll have access to Mewtwo on my 3DS and the Wii U, whereas he'll only be able to access Mewtwo on the Wii U. Not releasing the character as paid DLC clearly has some disadvantages to certain players, so I hope that Nintendo devises a workaround for these types of situations.
@TeeJay I thought it over and they should be paid, but don't make it expensive. I say Mario Kart 8 price.
The two games are already filthy rich in content, it certainly doesn't need to have DLC, unlike the vast majority of games these days. It didn't need to have Mewtwo at all, but we're getting it, as (As Sakarai putted it) if it's like an additional dessert like the clone characters to a full course meal, and for that, it's greatly appreciated.
We want DLC, we will buy DLC. Give us DLC.
Please make Mewtwo buyable later on. I don't wanna buy the 3DS version.
If smash bros was made by ubisoft or a similar AAA title maker, who likes to get as much money as possible Im sure the clone characters would have been paid DLC. They could have also made the classic stages paid DLC. But they didn't and I'm happy with that.
There is already SO MUCH CONTENT. Seriously 50 characters is plenty. And Sakurai doesn't want gamers to think the game isn't full of content, because it is.
It IS paid DLC. The DLC will cost $40, $240, or $360 depending on what system you have or don't have.
EDIT: But if you wanted to get both versions of the game, then I guess it's free for you.
Sakurai-"People may not understand" PLEASE UNDERSTAND
@mariovslink62 Perhaps you missed the part where he said making characters take a long time?
You do realize that making DLC will take a while and prevent Nintendo's dev teams from making more Wii U games?
I'm confused. I thought mewtwo is paid content if you only buy one version of smash 4.
@WaLzgi I did read that part and I understand but I don't want Mewtwo to be the only DLC. Probably they will make more in 2016 because it makes sense.
Smash Bros comes out once a console generation so adding DLC would convince players to comeback to the game more so they won't forget about it.
Sakurai seems upset with the Smash community and he absolutely should be. All the games have been fantastic but it's one of the worst fan bases I can think of.
Or they can make other games. Smash has enough content.
Don't be greedy
@Captain_Toad Nope, they said in the Direct that you only get Mewtwo by having both versions on the game. Never in the direct did they say you could pay for him if you had one version.
I think Mewtwo should stay both version exclusive. Its an extra bonus for buying both games. I wouldnt feel special if he was released as paid dlc later.
@Captain_Toad All they've announced is that you will get Mewtwo for free if you buy both 3DS & Wii U versions of the game. So far that is the only way to get him as they have not announced any other form of distribution for the character, and that includes its release as paid DLC.
Lol. People getting angry about DLC when they haven't even played the game yet. Yep, that's gamers nowadays for you. This kind of DLC begging will only make developers strip away content and hold it back. They're already giving you two games worth of content on one game disc. My goodness how much content do you need?
That's not to say I wouldn't be pleased to see Dixie Kong for sale, or Proto Man, etc, but it is what it is. If it comes it comes and if it doesn't it doesn't. I'm not even remotely thinking about DLC yet when I haven't even played the game
@Dipper723 Not if you already have our all. In that case, it is free
Is an all or nothing thing it seems. Ok thanks.
@Dipper723 Uh where did you get the comment that it's paid DLC. Pretty sure it's free and you get it EARLIER if you have both versions of the game. You're essentially paying to get the DLC early rather than waiting until later.
I'm pretty pumped about Mewtwo, as I intend to buy SSB wii u as well as the 3ds game. But I'd love to also see Isaac make an appearance as paid DLC.
For a game that is going to last a generation, this game needs dlc.
@Ernest_The_Crab I have no idea what you're saying, but it's paid DLC, because if you own the Wii U version and you want Mewtwo, you'd have to buy the 3DS version to get him, which is $40.
I used to want DLC, but now that I think about it, there is already so much in these Smash games that why bother? I'm just happy Mewtwo is back.
But if future DLC isn't a focus then why is there an in-game shop found in the 3ds game's code? I'm surprised that many consumers are asking for paid DLC yet they don't want that potential large sum of money from orders. Guess Sakurai has enough money set for life.
I'd actually prefer stage DLC more than fighter. I really miss some level from melee. Fountain of Dream, Mushroom kingdom 1 and 2 and many more
I want DLC yes, but I also want Sakurai to take a rest. If he works on it little by little he can release it eventually. Smash has to much to offer and DLC is not truly needed, not even for the 3DS version who its outshined by the U version.
If we get extra characters that will be awesome, but if we don't I don't mind, all the characters I wanted made it in with Mewtwo's announcement.
@Dipper723 yeah, it's $40 dlc with a free game thrown in, or $240/$360 dlc with a free console, not just a free gift for valuable customers who buy both games
Wow I wonder how sakura can handle all this whining. You guys are treating him like he some kind of grouchy bear or something.
@NintyMan He didn't hint about him being available otherwise either...
I could see a Mewtwo Amiibo as an alternative way to unlock him in the game in the future....
Yes, finally the internet can stop claiming that Mewtwo will be paid DLC if you don't have both versions.
I think there will be DLC, but I was also thinking... "Shizz, there are like 20 characters I havent even given a thought to trying out besides for unlocking stuff." So I am indifferent, and that is the best position to take, as I won't stressing and keep refreshing my browser all the time.
I was hoping for a Golden Sun character as DLC, but I guess not. Oh well I'll still be buying the WiiU version anyway
@TheKingOfTown Too bad. It is a great game, and only true smash fans would want MEWTWO so just get the 3DS version. Show some respect for the man who couldn't catch a break for three years.
No one listened when i tried to tell them this
To get Mewtwo, does your 3DS and Wii U need to be from the same region?
I want DLC as much as anyone, and will readily buy it, but i perfectly understand and respect his stance AND he did put tremendous work into these titles, lets appreciate what he's given us instead of begging / demanding for more.
Lazy Sakurai. Tsk tsk
Given that almost every character I didn't want in the game is in the roster, I would gladly pay to have anyone included in the game if given the option.
@Joruus_Cbaoth Indeed. Lazy Sakurai who worked for nearly 2-3 years on this game.
@Joruus_Cbaoth you call him lazy after spending the time with this game? Look at all the content for the games. Its never enough is it?
I would love some DLC, though considering the fact that making Mewtwo is going to take a long time to develop makes me think Smash shouldn't have DLC as they can easily use that development time for a new game.
All I really ask is for them to confirm that people who don't own both versions of Smash to be able to find a method to get Mewtwo. I want everyone to enjoy Mewtwo.
@Joruus_Cbaoth Can you see the game that you spent 2+ years making? Can we see the 51+ characters in your game? Can we see the 1080p resolution and 60fps? Can you see all the extras, you put into the game? Can we see the beautiful pre-rendered cutscenes?
What? You didn't create anything of the sort? Then stop being an ungrateful person.
@Nintendobro He definitely isn't lazy but I think him doing something else would be more enjoyable for me. (Kid Icarus : Uprising is my favourite kind of game - not a sequel really good unexpectedly). Very rare something like that happens - he is one of the few people who has done so recently.
Wow! What other developer of Sakurai's stature even says things like this? The man brings it back to the roots. He cares deeply for game crafting and obviously just as much for the consumer experience. A gem in the industry, Sakurai is.
@Dipper723 Can't you see he's just trolling.
@Axed84 @Dipper723 @Captain_Toad Perhaps IGN took that out of context, but his quote is "As for why Mewtwo isn't paid content from the start", which implies later it WILL be paid. And "foothold in content distribution" means there will be DLC coming (be it free or paid)...
Possibly, they're planing a DLC packs like MK8's and who bought both games get the first item of the pack earlier and for free, as a service.
Oh, and I seriously can't imagine there's someone who would pay $40 just for mewtwo and isn't a die hard fan who certainly bought both versions already.. So yeah, it IS a bonus.
Seeing as Smash games always are stuffed to the brim with content the absence of dlc is completely okay with me. I do however expect them to change their mind further down the road after the game is released.
My bet:
Own one smash, get MewTwo for Free for signing up for club Nintendo
The folks asking for DLC make me sick.... As soon as the poor guy was done with Kid Icarus: Uprising, he began the work on Smash Bros. for 3DS AND WiiU, with hard work hours... Give 'im a break!
@Dipper723 That's like saying a soda from a vending machine at a hotel costs over $100.
I have both versions, but I hope Mewtwo somehow becomes available to people who don't, since I do not look forward hearing them throw a fit about it. I'm okay with people expressing disappointment that they might not get to play as Mewtwo. The thing that gets me cheesed off is when people act like they're entitled to an outcome that conforms to assumptions they've made based entirely on wishful thinking. Such people will never be satisfied and should not be encouraged.
@jedisquidward wait they don't?
THOSE barstewards!!!
I understand Mr. Sakurai's reasoning to an extent. Yet I would prefer if Mewtwo was added in without the neccessity to buy both versions of the game. Only got a 3ds now, and I can't get a WiiU right now. What a shame.
Nintendo is at least losing out on at least a little bit of money from this. My family has three 3DSes, zero Wii Us and three copies of Smash Bros for 3DS. Characters add a lot to the game, even just one. If they let people purchase it, they would be getting three purchases of the DLC. We aren't in a place right now where we can buy a Wii U, and even if we could, only one of us would get Mewtwo on their 3DS. Therefore, we miss out on a character and Nintendo misses out on our money.
Not that I care that much. I mean, Mewtwo wasn't even that fun to play as in Melee and Pokémon isn't exactly in my top 10 favorite game franchises. He's a pretty iconic pokemon, so I understand why people want him in the game, but I'm not going to be crying myself to sleep.
As far as DLC goes, if I was Nintendo, I would just keep the option open for now. In a few years, it can be used to revitalize attention for the game. Brawl would have benefited from an expansion pack a few years down the road, in my opinion. A few years gives them plenty of time to flesh out some ideas that were there in development, but never finished. Looking at the sound test makes it pretty clear that there were a few 3DS stages they were planning to make, but never finished (my guess is at least a Light World/Dark World stage, a second Kid Icarus: Uprising stage, possibly the Space Pirate Ship, and a second Mega Man stage). Sakurai has already said that they were working on Mewtwo, but didn't have him finished in time or something like that. Take some of that stuff, flesh it out a bit and release it in 3 years with a small dev team. Until then, the games have way more then enough content.
I hope I can just borrow my friends copy of the 3DS version really quick so I can just connect it to my Wii U and give it back. If it requires some Club Nintendo bullcrap, Im gonna be mad
Eh, hopefully this means the Stage Builder will get additions at some point, really would love that to happen.
Im guessing Sakurai will listen to everyone who wants DLC and we'll get it in about a year, kind of like MK8
Its coming. They don't announce this kind of crap right after the game is released or right around its release because then it causes people to stall and wait before buying it.
I can guarantee you by this time next year we'll have some DLC for the game.
If Mewtwo is added as paid DLC, I hope we get a good long head start of a couple years, I want to feel I get a benefit from buying both. I mean, I'd be happy enough with one version, I really want Mewtwo though!
Still, I'm crossing my fingers for DLC. Not now, Sakurai deserves a vacation and I'll be happy for awhile, I want them to pull a MK8 and create some 6 months or so later to keep it fresh. And honestly, right now I want stages more than characters. I mean there's a few characters I would LOVE in this game, but I'll be more than happy with this roster for awhile, it'd be dream for me if I could get all the previous stages, even if I gotta shell out some money. And of course new ones would be nice. Ice Climbers would be great DLC for the Wii U though, since they can't do it for the 3DS... Idk, I don't wanna be greedy so TAKE A BREAK SAKURAI, YOU DESERVE IT YOU GIFT TO HUMANITY!
@Dipper723 There's a twitter message from Nintendo UK that seems to suggest that he'll be purchasable separately.
https://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/525415360242393088
There is a promotional period for getting him for "free" if you have both versions of the game (if you were going to buy both games anyways).
Ignore my first comment, I'm confusing myself with something a buddy was talking about. He told me that Nintendo would be giving out Mewtwo codes early to double dippers in November for some kind of beta test.
I'd be content with just Mewtwo being added. There's how many trophies to collect, 50+ characters counting Mewtwo and Miis to complete Classic, All-Star, and a bunch of other modes with. What we have is fine on its own in my opinion.
Um...DLC won't redo stuff in the game. That is entirely illogical
@Ernest_The_Crab That tweet can also suggest that Mewtwo can only be gotten in a limited time as a whole
I think Nintendo is cautious of DLC, and that's okay. They know it's a slippery slope and they can come under a lot of fire very quickly if they screw something up. The DLC offerings they've done thus so far have been quite generous and meaningful compared to what most of us are used to. The MK8 DLC is fantastic.
As far as DLC characters go.... meh. Nintendo games are often packed to the ceiling with content, anything else is just icing on the cake. I don't think I'll get Smash on 3DS, so I probably won't get Mewtwo. I hardly used him in Melee anyway. But if they were to do DLC characters..... they have to have Bayonetta!
Sakurai, my hero. Stand up to the needy masses! This is a big game. Looks like plenty of characters to me. Who needs more?
But if you do make DLC, I want Lucas, Flint, Protoman, Ridley, and Evil Jigglypuff. Thanks in advance. By the end of the year please.
@ryougi_shiki Have you ever listened to the Sonic fanbase...?
Actually he is DLC. He just costs $40.
@AVahne Don't be silly. He's really $60
@WaLzgi
As someone who doesn't care for the 3DS version, nope.
I'm fine with paid dlc. My wolf hope needs to stay alive
Well this sucks. I skipped the 3DS version seeing as the Wii U version is superior. Kinda bummed that I can't just outright buy Mewtwo. Though I could see this being a decent promo tool to sell more Wii U consoles which I am always happy to hear.
No need for DLC. If they do it, it will be a year from now around the holidays. They would not want to interfere with Mario Kart dlc in the spring.
I'm already happy with the game as is with its already packed contents and the 2 soundtrack CDs with the 2 versions. Any dlc is just sugar on candy.
Its about money. The end.
let us all be thankful for this game.... just look at Playstation Battle All-Stars!
What about those, like me, who have multiple copies of smash bros 3ds between the family, and will only be getting one copy of smash bros. U?!?
How will we get mewtwo?
Does anyone know yet if it is a 1-1, a 1-infinite, or a 1-limited relationships, how many 3SD copies can get Mewtwo, from one Wii U copy, and is it at all account tied, not enough info, if I can't get Mewtwo from my friends copy I will be upset...
I understand that Mewtwo is part of an experiment (in more ways than one), but if certain unique characters are going to be segregated depending on how much money you're spending across all Nintendo products, then it doesn't bode well for the mechanics balancing situation. Mechanical balance already went way downhill in Brawl, and if we're going to now have different available rosters for different peoples' economic thresholds, then that just further highlights Project M as the future premier competitive Smash title.
@BlackHearted1 It could be a chain connection, so you connect a 3DS and Wii U copy, then transfer Mewtwo one by one to other copies, as was done for other past game connection bonuses. They did state this was an economic experiment, though, so that implies it could be account bound. We will know the answer when the online service commences.
@WaLzgi The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition was DLC that revamped certain parts of the game and added new parts. All for a grand total cost of... nothing but owning the base game! I wouldn't rule out the possibility of what DLC will do these days...
So wait... say there are four versions of Super Smash Bros for 3DS... and only one WiiU version.
How will I get Mewtwo to all four 3DS games? Or can he only go to one?
I want to know because my brothers are gonna want Mewtwo too.
@Robfozz IIRC, the 50 must see things mention that you will be able to get Mewtwo by registering both games on club nintendo (in the bottom of the screen when the promotion was being described)
Whats the big deal wirh dlc anyway, there already seem to be enough characters and stages, you can even make more stages with the builder as well.
I think it worked for mario kart, i'm not convinced it would for smash
51 characters are way more than enough. I don't know why people carelessly ask Sakurai to make more characters, where they should ask him to take a long rest after creating 3 games for 4 years straight (Kid Icarus: Uprising, Super smash Bros. 3DS and Super Smash Bros. Wii U).
Ungrateful people will always be ungrateful.
I couldn't care one way or another about character DLC but as I've said before an adventure mode, even at £20 or so, would encourage me to pick up the game. If the dual-release and restrictions of the 3DS were one reason for not including a proper single-player mode this time around then surely Wii U-only DLC would get around that problem?
A Bayonetta costume for Samus would be cool tho
@LightSamus
Don't worry. This doesn't discredit DLC anyway, Nintendo is probably just being cautious. I have wanted Isaac since Brawl and I still think he has a chance. Him being totally absent is just totally off, while Dark Dawn got a track on Palutena's temple.
I will buy the game anyway. Who knows, maybe Isaac will be free DLC for promoting GS4? Or maybe a huge DLC pack later on like MK8 got. After all Sakurai did like Fallout 3's DLC scheme. They are probably just testing the waters.
And nothing of value was lost.
There is so much content on the Smash disc, you guys are unbelievable. Some people are never happy, let Sakurai have a well earned break!!!
Guys I don't have any problem with this idea nor its distribution, the only problem I have is that I want to know exactly how it distributes because if it's a one time connection then there us going to be a character that I have that my brother can't unless we drop 60$ for it. And in that situation, I think a paid unlock should be an option.
"no paid DLC in development", if I know Nintendo, this means we're getting paid DLC in the next months.
@JakeOfAllTrades What the hell dude, bying 2 games just for 1 character isn't worth it.
If the Mewtwo DLC already exists anyway, then I hope it's made purchasable before too long.
So for people who aren't interested in the 3DS version (very understandable if you haven't already bought it and have seen how the Wii U version has a TON more content), they would still need to buy it to play with Mewtwo. That's basically charging someone $40 for a character. I find it extremely hard to believe that if the character already exists, it would be that difficult to put him up as paid DLC on both systems. Again with the clearly short-sighted justification.
@PlywoodStick It's illogical because they would have changed Ganondorf in the main game if they were going to change him at all. It makes no sense to change him after the game and waste their time for some free update like that
I like what they did with MK8, gave us a full game and later produced some DLC. What these other companies do, holding back content or developing dlc of the bat, is trash. IMHO
@gsmaciel Don't count on it. They still need to finish the game's features first by December or January. I don't think we'll get any DLC until at least next summer...if we are getting any at all
I'm just glad I'll have Mewtwo. Why wouldn't one have both versions? Smash 3DS plays perfectly, and Mewtwo is my fav Pokemon. The Wii U version has plenty of content so no complaints there. Everything is exactly the way I want it for the franchise.
@RaphaBoss That's not the point behind it. It's a reward for those who got both games, nothing else. It is NOT an overpriced DLC, but an added bonus to those who really like the games.
This is good tbh. Why are some people so bummed out by this? before y'all hated dlc because it's a cash cow lol
@JakeOfAllTrades So yeah, I really like the games and I play Smash Bros since 1999. I don't have a 3DS, I bought a Wii U just for this game, this is just not fair, I would pay 7 bucks just for MewTwo. Seems like they don't want my money.
@xerneas They are hating it cause it seems like a console crossover exclusive only. You can't get it if you have only one console.
@NintyMan are you sure that's legit? "Mewetwo" Is a pretty bad typo.
Why are some people so disgusted with Sakurai? This is a bonus to those who purchase BOTH, just like the CD offer. If you disagree with the promotion don't buy it.
Here you are - arguments put to rest. Posted 8 minutes ago by Nintendo UK. "The character will be made available to purchase as add-on content in the future." http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Campaigns/Super-Smash-Bros-Club-Nintendo-Promotion/Super-Smash-Bros-Club-Nintendo-Promotion-937174.html
I am glad they focused on creating a game rather than a game and planing DLC.
However if they do DLC, I'd love Bayonetta to join the roster. Her crazy moves would fit right in with Smash Bros.
Also X and Zero would be kewl.
If I was not getting both versions, this would be a problem, I would probably pay for the DLC if I REALLY wanted it. But apparently you get it by download code so I'm sure people online will be giving it away xD
How fitting that MEWTWO was constructed as an EXPERIMENT. Sakurai confirmed to be Giovanni.
Please, Masahiro Sakurai, pick two or three of your best, most like-minded peers to take over your work on SSB and its inevitable DLC, take a long, well-deserved vacation... but please dream of ideas for a Kid Icarus on the Wii U while you're at it.
I do think they should do DLC, but they should keep it simple: a few extra characters or a couple of stages with each pack, similar to the Mario Kart 8 DLC. My character choices: Chrom, Midna, Groose, Bayonetta, and (I know this one is a long shot) Simon Belmont. Imagine attacking the other characters with a whip and throwing crosses at them!
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