Video: Will Super Smash Bros. Switch Be a Port or a Brand New Game?

It'll be Version 4.5. No way are they going to let all that Wii U/3DS content fall by the wayside without trying to tap it up again for maximum profit. Just look at all their other Wii U ports and this is arguably the biggest. They'll add in a few new characters, a few new stages, make a few alterations, add some new modes, slap some Switch paint on it and roll it off the conveyor belt. Plus the game already runs at 60fps and 1080p from Wii U.

I've said it before but when you ask big questions like this, you really should add in a poll to see what people think.

Sad to see that Arekkz isn’t actually Alex’s evil alter ego.

I think it will almost certainly be a port with a few little additions. I'm fine with that for now, as I am/was with Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Breath of the Wild, and a few other games just being ports from Wii U, but hopefully the Switch also sees brand new games in these franchises too at some point down the line.

I'm more interested if Doomguy will be in. After all DOOM is already on the platform and Nintendo isn't shy about showing Bowser's huge guts (in Bowser's Inside Story).

I want it to be a new game. Get rid of a bunch of old characters and bring in new ones.

New developer. Will be a new game. Also it won't come out in 2018, Smash games always get delayed.

It's a game. Let's enjoy it.

Next.

It is more than fine being a port, with some fine tuning, new additions and maybe a new menu and single player.
Dismissing all of the existing assets of a superb game in favor of a totally new one for the sake of it, would be a shame and a waste of resources.
Also, bring on Shovel Knight!

@jswhitfield8 Splatoon 2 is more a Remix.

Can we port over the 300 comments from the previous article where we dissected this 8 ways to Sunday?

My initial thinking was port, but now I'm thinking "new" game. New is in air quotes b/c even if it is a port, unless Nintendo says it's a port or remake or remaster, then it's a new game. So if they name it "Super Smash Bros for Switch" it's technically a new game b/c there was no previous game called "Super Smash Bros for Switch". They'd have to call it "Super Smash Bros for Wii U Deluxe" for it to be a port. And they won't call it that.

But whatever they call it, and however much of it is recycled, there will be so much new content and so much old content removed, that it will be enough of a new game.

The lines between port, enhanced port and sequels are being blurred these days, so I don’t think it’s right to point a finger to any.

It’s all subjective anyway, but I think Smash Switch will use the same engine and mechanics, but with new game modes and graphics.

I totally agree with @SLIGEACH_EIRE : it will be version 4.5.

The same game with :

A few new stages (maybe just Splatoon)
A few new characters (maybe just Splatoon again !)
Maybe one or two new modes (local multiplayer at least)
Maybe one or two new options

And that's it.

They usually take one year to tease a new Smash Bros, character after character. If this one is released in September, well, you know it won't be Smash Bros 5.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Curious what you mean by 4.5? Do you think it will get the Splatoon 2 treatment, or less than that? It's clear Splatoon 2 leverages a ton of previous assets, but at the same time, new stages, modes, weapons, etc...

That's my personal guess for this. I think it will be a completely "new" (At least, from a marketing perspective) Smash game, that utilizes the Smash Wii U engine and many of the old assets. Of course, the engine/assets would likely be updated. Going into the last direct, I would have guess enhanced port. Now, because of the teaser and the fact that they did not show any gameplay footage, Sakurai is involved, and nothing was mentioned of it being a port, I think it will be a "new" game. Otherwise, I think building up suspense/withholding details would backfire. Will be interesting to find out for sure though.

EDIT: I see that exact point was already brought up. I think the difference is, I tend to side with you that Splatoon 2 was basically a remix, and could have been released as an expansion/DLC, but Nintendo's marketing determined it was a new game. I think that's what will happen here. Honestly, Smash 4 was so good, that's all I really want anyway. Some new characters, stages, game modes, and hopefully better online netcode, and I'll be set for life.

It's definitely going to be a new game. If it was a port, they would've announced it with the first trailer. It would be pretty damaging for Nintendo if they would hype fans up for a Smash game, and then tell them that it is some form of a port later.

Does using old assets make it less of a game? Is majora's mask awful because of it?

It’s a new game. They’ve already shown characters that weren’t in the Wii U, so it’s not a game that currently exists, and hence not merely ported.

Otherwise you may as well join the great philosophical arguement about how many ship planks can you replace and still call it the same ship

@rjejr I'm with you for the most part. Although, I think it'll be more "new" than people give Nintendo credit for because the gap between the last 3 Smash games was longer since 2 (Wii U/3DS) launched within a few months of each other. That probably took the teams a while to put together, and contributed to the longer development cycle. I could be wrong, but I think this is more ground up than people expect.

@roadrunner343 I can see Nintendo calling this 5 because they don't want to acknowledge the Wii U. But more than that, by calling it a new game, they can justify charging full price. Then there's the DLC which I've previously spoken about. There's a fair whack of it, which Nintendo would like to charge for rather than letting everyone have it for free. Again, I've also said that it's not just Nintendo that makes money from the DLC, Sega, Capcom, Namco Bandai, Square Enix and many more take a slice of it. By having the characters as separate DLC they can get a bigger profit margin than being included in the main game.

@Bondi_Surfer That argument doesn't apply. Otherwise, everytime Nintendo added DLC to Smash Wii U with new stages/characters it became a "new" game again. If that's all they did for this entry (A new stage or two) I doubt anyone would be calling it a brand new game. It would be like MK8DX, an enhanced port with all the previous DLC.

Though, I do agree with you - my belief is it will be a brand new game - at the very least, from a marketing perspective. I would expect to see several new or reworked characters, stages, game modes, etc... even if much of the assets are reused.

Why would Nintendo make a CG trailer for a port?

@Phin68 Hype and promotion. Plus things will have changed from the original, e.g. Link and Zelda's character models, new characters, the DLC characters from the Wii U/3DS version weren't in the original trailer, etc.

People also talk about the "new" logo. I believe it's only partially showing its load-up screen.

Blatantly going to be a port, but i just hope it has a single player story mode like the Wii version's Subspace emissary. Where you slowly have to unlock the characters, not just have a massive roster from outset

Schrödinger's Smash: it's a port and not a port at the same time until observed.

I'm genuinely awestruck that people are such stalwart proponents of one side or the other. I've never seen such a heated debate since the over/under toilet paper debate.

Inkling Girl looks on horrified, at the thought of yet another click-bait NLife video. We feel your pain, Inkling Girl.

I am unashamed to say I did NOT watch the video. Esp its neither confirmed nor unconfirmed this is a port.

@Bondi_Surfer That's a terrible argument. So every time a new character is added to a game, it technically becomes a new game again?

@SLIGEACH_EIRE But is version 4.5 a port or a new game, or are you trying to sidestep the issue? 😉

New game, updste or port has an interesting history in video games. Dragons Dogma kinda sucked, but Dark Arisen reviewed well even though it's the same game.

https://kotaku.com/dragons-dogma-dark-arisen-is-a-definite-improvement-480713138

Monster Hunter puts out a "new" version of almost every one of their games, not MHW or Stories but the other ones, and I've never heard much debate on whether XX is a port or sequel to X.

http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Game_List

Pokémon does it to, Ultra S&M seemed like the same game to me but they were sold as new. Andvof vourse all the previous "third" combined games. Animal Crossing New Leaf Welcome amiibo got a new box with that title on it but I think it was more of an update not a new game as you could get the update for free.

I do think this game moving across generations does bring in the "port" word whereas most if not all of those previous games were on the same console, so "port" isn't an option as the game isn't being ported anywhere. That makes life much simpler doesn't it. 😊 I mean Super Mario Galaxy 2 was never called a "port" but really it's very similar to the original game. To this day I refer to Jak & Daxter 3 as "J&D 2.5" b/c it's just a continuation of 2, which was very different from 1. But it was 3.

So here's how I'll look at it to decide. If it were on Wii U what would they call it? SSB4 Deluxe or SSB5. (I know it's already 5, 3Ds was 4, but my life is complicated enough.) Sure, it's easy to call it a port on a new console, but if it's changed enough, like SMG and SMG2, then it's a new game. How much do all of those sports and FPS games change year to year? How much did Smash change from Melee to Brawl to U? If it changes as much as those other Smash games have, then it's a new game.

@jswhitfield8 Majora's Mask is absolutely not a remix of OOT. I see what you're getting at, but no, that's very different.

@WreckItRyan it's going to be new enough to add paid for DLC for another console generation. Also, people who put the toilet paper rolling under are just jerks who hate the convenience of top rolling toilet paper.

I don't think it'll be a straight port, but I don't think it'll be a big, crazy sequel either. It'll probably be basically Smash 4.5.

@rjejr I have a suspicion Nintendo might call it new but we'll all know what it really is.

@rjejr Let's not forget Capcom and 500 different iterations of Street Fighter 2 or Arc System Works and the GGXrd Sign/Revelator/Rev2.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE "But more than that, by calling it a new game, they can justify charging full price."

What ports haven't they charged full price for? MK8D, CT:TT, Pokken, and DKCTF is actually $10 more than the original.

Nintendo has never needed a justification for charging full price, they just do. That's a really strange argument to make.

Note - prices above are US, Reggie loves MSRP, as much of it as possible.

Well, it will be a new game for me, regardless of what anyone else says! I suspect it will be rather like Splatoon 2, which is a new game based on an older engine. Keep all the physics of Smash 4, but with new levels, characters, etc. Not every sequel makes a massive leap from the previous game, but that doesn't mean it's not a sequel. See the Galaxy games.

@rjejr That's true. They'll charge full price regardless.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Ooh, nice pic, you've been saving that one haven't you.

Well you probably know my history with Nintendo, all they do is lie, so if they say it's a new game then it's a port. 😉

I don't think they'll ever say one way or another. When asked at E3 Reggie will say "We're not calling it a new game or a port, we're calling it Super Smash Bros." Reggie talks a lot but says very little, he's the perfect corporate mouthpiece. 😛

They're going to port the engine first, then change it up enough to justify it being a new game. And if you haven't read my 80 previous posts elsewhere I'm hanging my hat on the amiibo. The first game was all about the amiibo. The ones you couldn't play as, even after buying them - I own Cloud and Bayonetta, can't play as them, so stupid. I think they'll drop amiibo support from this game almost entirely. Maybe unlock trophies, but not playable. To me that would make it a new game. If they are in there as before, then it's a port. I gave myself that hard line so I can stop thinking about it.

Considering the failure it was the WiiU I would go for a port all the way, it would be the wisest option.

However, speaking about Nintendo, it is probably a brand new game featuring cardboard-made action figures

It's a 4.5. Some new content. Same engine. Pretty much a mash up of the Wii U and 3DS versions. You'll have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

@SmaggTheSmug I have no idea what that 2nd section of seemingly random characters was but yeah, Capcom does it up right. Not just with SF, but Okami and RE4 have both been on almost every system ever made.

Bottom of this page breaks out all of the title versions of SF2 and SF4.
http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Best_selling_Capcom_games

It will be both the Wii U and 3ds together with a few more characters and maybe even some exclusive stages. But as for a new game, it’s not needed yet. Smash 4 is awesome and really what else can they do for 5 that warrants forgetting about 4 already?

Russian News on Switch told it's totally new game:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYSCaZSVQAArBz4.jpg
"Новая часть в серии Super Smash Bros. выйдет на Nintendo Switch в 2018 году."
"The new part in the Super Smash Bros. series will be released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018."

@IronMan28 "but I think this is more ground up than people expect."

I don't think some people realize it's been 4 years since the Wii U and 3DS versions. If EA or Activion were making this it would be SSB 7 or 8 by now. So there has been plenty of time to make a new game from scratch.

OTOH, Sakurai isn't dead yet, so he personally probably hasn't been making one from the ground up. So that leaves let someone else do it, or port it. And Nintendo has shown their willingness to port. Just Mario Maker should cover it since we got Odyssey to cover Mario. Though we will still get more ports, I'm waiting on Skyward Sword, possibly the only Zelda game to only be on 1 system. And I've been waiting on Sunshine HD since the Game pad was shown.

So I can see the arguments for a new game or a port. Some of my favorites are the weirdly not so obvious ones, like, Would Nintendo make a CGI trailer for a port? (Said in Charleston Heston voice asking Dr. Zaius if apes would make a human doll that talks.) Or simply, why not port it?

I'd like to think we'll all just agree on 4.5 at some point, maybe 4.6, but it's hard to say from 1 60 second CGi trailer.

In the old days I would have gone back to search Reddit for discussions on "is SSBM SSB 1.5 or is SSBB SSBM 2.5" but I'm less inclined these days. But I have to think these arguments aren't new.

Even if it is a version 4.5, what's so bad about this? I mean if you go by the logic that splatoon 2 is just splatoon 1.5, wouldn't that mean that every new entry or a new franchise which doesn't change up the gameplay mechanics is a .5 version? Why stop there? isn't melee just an enhanced port of smash 64? new maps, new characters, new modes, new visuals. Isn't that exactly the same with splatoon 2 apart from that the leap in visuals isn't as big?
I really don't get where people are drawing the line here. If the new smash has new characters, new stages, new modes and better visuals it's a new game. And if you don't think so well then all of the entries after smash 64 are ports too

At the bottom of the screen at the end of the video, where it says coming 2018. It says 2018. Not 2014-2018. Also says Original game. As well as Hal Labs. Not Team Sora. It's a new game folks!

To be honest, this is a silly question that will only ever be answered as "port" by some. Using the same game engine doesn't make the game a port, the game looking similar doesn't make the game a port. Splatoon 2 is not a port (enhanced or otherwise) of Splatoon but many seem to push that.

The fact that the Switch isn't a huge graphical leap over the Wii U will always allow people to claim that it's a Wii U port or was originally in development for Wii U.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Because a sequel with 12 new maps, 14 new guns, an entirely new gamemode (salmon run), a brand new campaign, a new ranked mode, and hundreds of new gear is a remix right?

It’s not a remake. It’s being developed by the new studio. Also because it’s just been announced, it doesn’t mean that it has had short development time. In worst case scenario they could use the same engine.

I see this as Smash 5. Yes the Wii U didn't sell well but Smash Bros was one of the highest selling games on the Wii U and don't forget that the 3DS was selling like hot cakes so I don't get the whole "this is a port so more people can get a chance to play it" argument, loads of people did buy it.
And the regular argument of pending title, made by Nintendo and Hal and not Sora or Brandi Namco, so they have had a few years of development. And if it is an enhanced port, they will most definately would have to copyright it out.
I'm on the new game boat, until proven wrong, which I will gladly say I was wrong.
I just hope Lucina (as a Marth alt of she ain't her own character), wii fit trainer, cloud, bayonnetta, duck hunt dog, and the Miis return

@Jingo_Unchained We can do both.

I'm pretty sure the new Yoshi game is a port of Labo.

Like previous releases and most fighting games before it, it's likely a port with a few added features.

It will be a remix kinda - it’ll reuse loads of stuff from Wii U but add a fair chunk too.

I don’t mind ports from Wii U - I never owned one but know it had so many good games - just never pulled the trigger on buying one.

I think it'll probably be using the same engine as the wii u version, but Nintendo does know what they're doing regarding smash. I don't think they'd give us this sort of trailer, let us hype each other up this much, and then give us virtually the same game. I do think they will carry over a lot of the content, but there will also probably be a lot more new stuff than some people are saying.

How often does a port get a teaser trailer? New game I say.

If it was a port we would have seen game footage already and would likely have a solid release date.

[removed] Arrekz he’s a stain on every site he gets involved with.

Depends on how much they add to a game. If they add enough, then people will consider it a new game, if not, a port then.

Like Splatoon 2 at launch had significant changes that changed entirely how Splatoon was played competitively, but the immediately notable changes weren't substantial enough for many to consider it a 'true' sequel. It wasn't helped that the developers locked content from the previous game, making it a complete slog at first.

Now after 2.0 and approaching the 3.0 version/DLC, people seem more open to acknowledging it as a sequel. The amount of new content is key as to what people consider a sequel.

Can’t watch the video atm(work), but I think the reason I wasn’t so hyped about the teaser trailer was because I didn’t know if it was a Deluxe version or a sequel.

On one hand Nintendo and other publishers is on the tread of bringing improved versions of Wii U (and other platform) games on the Switch. On the other hand, why make a teaser trailer for an enhanced port when all the others got a flat out trailer.

Also I was thinking at first 2018 was too soon for a smash sequel (with the 2 years of dlc support) and with the Switch in its first year. Then I remembered SSB Melee came out 2 years after the 1st as a launch title for the GameCube, so I guess it’s possible.

I’m happy either way, it’s just a difference between and

It's a new game. It's listed as a working title on the Switch news section and they'd have said up front if it was a port like they did with literally all of their other ports.

The only reason @SLIGEACH_EIRE is so insistent on it being a port is so that he can complain about more ports.

Tell me, is Fire Emblem a port? Is Planet Robobot the same game as Triple Deluxe because it reuses assets?

@geox30 Shovel Knight is my number one wish! He'd be soooo awesome!
And please, don't remove Bayonetta >.< my number one fear if it's a new game is if some of the new characters getting removed like Snake was.

A port with all the 3DS and Wii U stages together. Perhaps new modes.

Personally, I think it's particularly interesting to compare how they revealed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze versus Super Smash Brothers. The latter was done in a very deliberate and very purposeful way to maximise hype for the game, while the other two were much more matter of fact.

That's the strongest evidence of this being a new game. It will surely rely on the wealth of Wii U assets to a high degree, but I fully expect a "Splatoon 2" style of new game.

Brand new ... It's Smash 5! ... Don't port it from WiiU I won't buy it if it is, too many shitty full priced ports, Luigi's mansion should of been a double pack remade for Switch not the lame 3ds

It may be a pseudo sequel, it may have content from Smash 4 but also new stuff like a story mode and characters.

It'll be a new game but similar to Splatoon 2 heavily based on the previous title.

Its a new game. If it was a port, it would have already launched on Switch by now. People have been asking for Smash since the Switch launched last year, I think it would have launched sometime last year if it was a port.

Hope a new game but Im torn if Im optimist or not.

@Balladeer
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Gary and Dark Gary

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Gary and Dark Gary

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Smash Bros on Switch is obviously a new game. All signs are pointing to such.

The only reason people think this game is port is because of A) rumors from incorrect leaders such as Laura Kate Dale or B) they want the game to be a port so they can complain.

My two cents:

The video pretty much reflects my thoughts: it's gonna be a half-sequel.

We have a Splatoon 2 on our hands here. There's gonna be a base game that's similar to the Wii U/3DS with similar content and all that jazz, but with enough new content to warrant calling it a sequel. There's also probably gonna be substantial paid/free DLC, to help differentiate it from the previous two games.

This is all me speculating, but I think this'll be the case. Vote Spring Man for Smash 6!

@westman98 The latter.

As long as there is a single player story mode similar to Subspace Emissary, count me in.

I just realized really need smash on my Switch. I feel slightly bad about it, because I’m concerned about the fact that Sakurai is working on it. He is a genius, I love his games, I just don’t want him to overdo it.

@smashboy2000 You have a pretty small sample size, and one of those games (Melee) was revealed and launched the same year. The fact that Mario Odyssey was revealed and launched in the same year suggests they're not afraid to do things a little differently.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I think they will use the same engine/skeleton that they used for WiiU but I think there will be way more changes than what you listed. New roster too.

Like everyone else, I really don't know if it will be a port or new game. My guess is that it's going to be an enhanced port of the Wii U game. However, the argument of not being in development long enough for it to be a new game is not a solid argument. For all we know, a new Smash game could have been in development for 2 years. As far as roster reveal goes, instead of the last two games having character reveals spread out of a year, Nintendo might be doing a special character reveal during E3. Think about it, they could reveal 1 new character in between other game trailers and it would go down as one of Nintendo's best E3s.

I'm hoping it's new, but betting on it being a port.

I think that it's going to be a whole new game with an adventure mode of great magnitude!