Sakurai Says He's Not Thinking About A New Smash Bros. Game, But Won't Rule It Out

Well, job security at least.

Nintendo is a profit-driven publicly-traded company, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate is one of the most successful games the company has ever produced.

There will be another Smash Bros game whether Sakurai is involved or not.

(And given how work-focused Sakurai is, he will likely be involved, probably as the game director as he always has been.)

Make a Smash game. Give a speech about how it will be the last one ever. Hedge and say it might not be the last, but it's too soon to tell. Get talked into making another one. Repeat ad infinitum. Profit.

Lol I'd get so annoyed if I finished a game and immediately people were like "WANT MORE"

“I am not thinking of a sequel. I am not thinking of it every time."
Literally laughed at that

@FroZtedFlakerZz "leave them wanting more" is a very good way to go out. I don't think he minds. It's just indicative of the passion fans have for his work.

Just give us Subspace spin off, the way it slowly unlocked the characters and linked in their storylines it was brilliant.
But Ultimate means end, please dont ruin it with countless sequels which will slowly eat away at this, until everyone hates it like some TV shows.
Good TV shows stop when they are good and leave it at that, please leave it now

Give it the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe treatment on the Super Switch. 4K, HDR, less input lag/less aggressive buffering, better online, 5 or 6 new characters, a new mode or two, no DLC. That's more than enough to sustain the series another decade, as evidenced by Mario Kart.

I imagine that a follow up will happen, but likely as a reboot or re-imagining of the concept. The sad thing about Ultimate is that, given the sheer volume of content and effort put into making it the "ultimate" Smash game, to do anything less as a follow up would be perceived as a disappointment, whether justified or not.

I feel like I've seen this article before... was it 2002 or 2008?

@SpaceboyScreams Yeah I didn't really phrase that right, I just meant that I would want people to appreciate my work more, guess they are though with wanting more

Interesting. I'm interested where the Smash series will be headed after a couple of years from now.

@Browny
A subspace-style fanservice platformer single-player, custom moves, and Smash Run would do the trick for me, even with a smaller roster.

Smash in 3D, similar to Kid Icarus

I think as of right now, platform fighters will go on, with or without Smash, with competitive games like Rivals of Aether or Brawlhalla and casual games like Nick All-Star Brawl. There's a lot of good to great games that can scratch that Smash Bros. itch; platform fighters are in sort of a golden age right now.

I'm not expecting a new Smash title for years, at least not until the next Nintendo console (even then, my gut reaction is to think they'd port Ultimate with added content), and given how good Ultimate has been, and how many new platform fighters we've been getting recently, we really don't need a new Smash title.

Don't worry everyone! I came here to post about how he needs to start making a Kid Icarus: Uprising sequel, so you don't have to.

But freals, I'd even take a Switch port at this point.

The man needs a break, I would be fine if we don't get a Smash Bros game for a while.

I’d rather have a new take on Smash since we have Ultimate. Whether that’s a full blown Subspace Emissary sequel, a ‘proper’ fighting game or whatever.

Man is just thinking of a character bigger than Sora that will blow the minds of everyone on the planet that's all, give him time he'll pump out a new one with an even more impressive roster

Last or not, the Switch entry really feels Ultimate to me. As far as I'm concerned, they could just re-release it on future platforms with maybe a few more characters, stages and/or new story campaign per generation. Or, in the case of consistent backward compatibility, even just update it with similar "generational" DLCs.

Smash Ultimate with all the 89 fighters on cartridge day 1, with 4K graphics on the next Nintendo console will be more than enough.

Sakurai should personally oversee the Smash 64 emulation and added online mode so they don’t screw it up.

If the next Nintendo system is essentially a Switch 2, then I think the simple solution would be to just make a Deluxe version of Ultimate. Have Sakurai come back but not,
build anything drastically different from what is already there. Just add maybe 4 or 5 more fighters and add some new and/or missing modes and call out a day.

No lie, I'd pay another $60 for that game, assuming it's now in 4K and contains some of my most desired missing modes including a proper Boss Rush and especially Smash Run.

I'm glad Sakurai finally has a vacation. Just release Smash Ultimate Complete Edition for the next console.

I love all these comments that are coming across as if Sakurai, a member of a corporation, is like a close family friend XD Gets me every time!

I just hope that K. Rool, Banjo-Kazooie, and Sora (this one is very unlikely) to return to the next SSBU.

I feel as though any Smash game that comes out after Ultimate will be pretty underwhelming in the end, at least if they aren't going to bring all the characters back, which was kinda the selling point of Ultimate. I'd be perfectly happy if they just bring this game forward to their next console, and if they'd like to add more DLC later down the line, sounds good to me.

It's become one of Nintendo's premier franchises. Not sure why there's this narrative as if it won't continue. We know it will. We also know it'll habe to rebooted in terms of roster and that should be expected. The only question then is who should return and who shouldn't and what Nintendo (characters that haven't been used) should get the nod

It's going to be hard to top SSBU. The game really sets the bar way too high. They can just port the game to the next Nintendo system with minor tweaks and call it a day. Sakurai also earned that long rest though it's possible that he's already thinking of the future of Smash even if he doesn't outright say it. Provided that Nintendo does want to continue Smash, I think it's going to be a while before we see an announcement for the next Smash and as mentioned, they can just port SSBU on the next system without having to worry about a sequel.

I don't see a way for them to go from the roster they have now to a smaller roster without disappointing fans. And licensing would probably be harder since companies which licensed DLC fighters for profit share on DLC-purchases would probably be less inclined to build those characters into the base roster for a smaller profit. But hey, they got Sora in Smash so I can't put it past them. I'd be fine with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe treatment. Ultimate means Ultimate. Just give it an update for Switch 2 + Waluigi and call it.

Ultimate is complete. If he comes back I'd like to see a slightly new spin on smash bros
Always thought a Pokémon game with smash combat would be great, or another theme and bring back the single player mode.
Would never happen but a marvel/Disney/Star Wars or any combination would be so much fun

Oh lord, he's giving those nutjobs on Twitter something to cling to and obsess over

Deadass just add 3 more stages to the game to finish the stage select screen because that open block at the end bothers me so much. After that Sakurai, take as much of a break as you want

I see that as being a bit of a problem looking towards the future and is a clear indication as to why Sakurai has overworked himself in SSBU's development cycle.

@Yomogi
There's still a lot left to be desired from SSBU. Aside from the countless Fighter requests that haven't been filled in by DLC or even Mii costumes, SSBU seems to be missing some major features that make it something impossible to top off. The idea of adding new Assist Trophies and Echo Fighters was never even considered.

Most infamously would be a Subspace Emissary-styled adventure mode with a substantial number of cutscenes. Clearly, World of Light was unable to fill that gap despite having a lengthy playthrough.

Assuming Nintendo is able to maintain the same agreements for a theoretical next Smash game, there's a lot that can top off SSBU.

Ultimate really is the ultimate Smash game, don’t know what more you could do with the franchise as we know it. At the very least for the next console I’d be more than happy with an Ultimate port with a few new characters and maybe a substantial Story mode/a return of trophies on top. I know everyone likes to point out how it’d be a licensing nightmare to release Ultimate again but I’ve never understood that. They’ve already gone through that nightmare and made it happen. Nintendo are one of the biggest gaming companies in the world, if they want to port Ultimate they can make it happen again.

A proper new Smash game that cuts back on the content of Ultimate would be a huge regression IMO so it would have to be a big shakeup for the franchise to be worthwhile and if that means key gameplay changes, is that really what anyone wants from Smash? A lot of the appeal of Smash for me and I’m sure many others is that it’s always fundamentally played the same.

It’ll be hard to top this with a sequel that doesn’t have everyone returning.

NOOOOO I don't think Sakurai can keep this up

What an inflated sense of self-importance, just pump your own tires, eh?

As much as I don't like Ultimate, where could the series go without regressing?

Not to mention, the option of porting/remaking Ultimate might ultimately (pun not intended) not be possible. There's no guarantee that Disney will lend Sora again, Konami giving permission for Snake, the Belmonts or Bomberman or Square Enix with the FFVII duo and the DQ Hero.

Where do you go after Ultimate?

'Smash Bros Ultimate: Waluigi Edition'
With Waluigi as the only playable character.

@ModdedInkling I feel like Nintendo is satisfied with how Ultimate is and I can kinda see them just adding some of those in SSBU if they port the game to their next system, like new assist trophies and Mii costumes. Provided that they want to add new characters, I can only see them adding 1st party characters.

Assuming that they are thinking of making a bigger Smash game than Ultimate, I feel like it's going to be a lot harder to pull considering the 3rd party licensing. It's already a miracle that Sakurai was able to get Sora added. That Mickey emblem alone likely costed Nintendo a fortune. I guess if they do want to top up Ultimate then we won't be seeing it in a long while and not without Sakurai involved. Provided that Sakurai is willing to give the next Smash project to their younger devs, they'll have difficulties surpassing Ultimate's legacy.

Dude definitely needs a break from the series. I’m sure a lot of time and work was put in here. If there is a new Smash game that comes out who knows if it’s possible to get some of these guest characters to return.

How do you have a sequel to Ultimate if it's the Ultimate. That then makes it not the Ultimate, and then what is the sequel? Super Smash Bros. Ultimate-er? -=NEW=- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Super Smash Bros. Ultimate NEW PLAY CONTROL!?

“I currently don’t see a path where Smash can be produced without myself.”

“If the series were to continue, I have to talk with Nintendo and have a debate on whether it will succeed or not. I must think about this topic seriously.”

Wow, what an ego-maniac. This is what happens when people worship someone as a cult figure. Gotta love how he acts like there aren't at LEAST **200** people credited for their work on Smash Bros. Given how much praise and credit he gives to anyone but himself, you'd think he developed the game alone in his garage.

@NEStalgia Super Smash Bros. Ultimate + Bowsers Minions

@NEStalgia Smash Ultimate Deluxe

@Davzilla NGL, I'd love to have a Pokémon game in Smash style.

That's some confidence XD

“Honestly, we did actually try leaving it to someone else, but it didn’t go well.”

Well that’s massively intriguing…. Really wanna know who and why…

no need for another game , if a new switch comes out just make an free updated version like most developers are doing

@nessisonett When Ultimate was announced, Sakurai said he already envisioned a way of reinventing the series. So the next Smash game will definitely be a revamp of the series.

I'm surprised at how many people seem to feel the series should continue in it's current form or can't continue in any other form.

Personally, I think the series can continue and should evolve with a completely new entry. Not suggesting the wheel be completely reinvented. But you can softly reboot the franchise around it's core mechanics and spirit. Nintendo should treat ultimate like the franchises version of Avengers: Endgame and how it capped off Phase 3 and the Infinity Saga of the MCU. The culmination of it's first 20 years and then move the franchise forward to a new phase

He's becoming as annoying as Kojima now, with the whole, "this is my last one, oh woe is me!" shtick.

Nintendo should bring subspace 2 or something like that (cutscenes/story driven) as DLC it will have a massive sale, even if it costs something like €20 i would even but that lol.

How about this: An in-depth Subspace experience with only the original N64 fighters (plus maybe a handful more Nintendo only characters) and then call it a day. It’d be a nice spin-off.. because I DOUBT that they will be able to get all these companies that Ultimate partnered with to get into another sequel in the future. Like I’m sure Sora alone was hard to obtain for this one game…

It’s gotta be a spin-off otherwise it will only be a disappointment.

Well I'd like too see another Kid Icarus Uprising or a Sakurai take on another old Nintendo series. Smash is good but it'd be a shame if that's all Sakurai did until he retires.

I'd think handing off the next Smash Bros might be easier after Ultimate though because at this point the rosters so big and filled with a Web of 3rd party characters that getting them back would be a impossible.

It'll annoy players and likely could never be as big as Ultimate but surely only a reboot with a smaller cast is the only way to continue the series. Maybe Yabuki behind the newer Mario Karts and ARMS could be a good director.

@BirdBoy16 It better include Funky Mode!

I can't help but wonder what the next will be like, obviously the roaster will be much much smaller with most of the non Nintendo IP's not returning but at the same time i don't think they could get away with just giving us the usual formula with one or two new modes and call it a day after Ultimate.

Given that, by his own admissions, Sakurai is largely nothing more than a mascot and a PR person for Smash, I think that the series will do just fine in anyone else's hands. Perhaps better.

I'm ready for smash to be over. The spirits thing replacing the trophies is what bugged me the most.

@FNL directing every smash game can do that to you, but i dont doubt his ability to direct a good game. he's shown time and time again how ambitious and critically acclaimed his projects are. im sure smash will succeed without him, but new directors can ruin a game just as much as they can exceed it

Sakurai "i need have a talk with Nintendo, if it will succeed" (lol)
-

Nintendo: new smash announced!
Sakurai: they didnt contact me!?

Sakurai rushes into the office of Nintendo
"Mr president!!!!! We need to have a talk!"
"I do not agree! Cancel the project asap!"

Nintendo: "we hope you undertant"
Security grabs him and trows him out.

If there is anything i learned, is that in big companys, everyone is replacable.

“I currently don’t see a path where Smash can be produced without myself.”

I think this is probably a mistranslation as I don't think Sakurai is that egomaniacal. Being the game director is obviously a very important role, but there are hundreds if not thousands of other people that work on Smash Bros.

I'm sure there are at least a handful of people at Bandai Namco/Nintendo who could act as a suitable replacement for him if he ever decides to quit/retire.

@FNL If it's so easy then how come every attempt to clone Smash never works out? Surely another company would love to replicate their success, if only they knew how. Sakurai is an artist with an original vision that you can't simply copy, and there's nothing wrong with giving him credit where it's due.

Honestly I really wish he would continue more games…..maybe like a supervisor role or something to make sure things go how he likes. However I would love to see more games from him like a sequel to kid Icarus or go back to Kirby (some of which were the best under him) I just hope he takes his time and does it in a safe manner….we already lost Iwata I don’t think i (and other Nintendo fans) can handle losing sakurai too…..😭

@SpaceboyScreams

I mean, the Smash Bros formula has been firmly in place for over 20 years now. Of course no game seeking to emulate it will ever be as successful. Any time a new party brawler comes out, it's instantly compared to Smash Bros.

Smash Bros also has several hundred different people who have/had worked on the game over the past couple of decades. Do you know any of their names? Or do you only know the name of the guy who takes credit for everything, claiming the franchise will die without him, even though he has gone on record to state that he has very little hands-on development with the game.

It's pretty appalling how much credit his fanboys give him, while completely ignoring the hard-working developers, designers, artists, testers, engineers, etc who are actually putting in the work to bring the game to life. Even more appalling is that Sakurai himself doesn't give anyone else credit.

@FNL That's the way the world works man. Nobody cares about the people shoveling the coal, many see them as replaceable, it's the director that took all these people and made them do something good that people choose to idolize. How badly do you really want to go down a list and thank each tester individually? Obviously we're grateful for them but which of them couldn't have been replaced if they quit? Which artist or engineer is going to go solo and replicate the game's design perfectly, or even just well enough to stand on its own? If it were so easy as you claim I think it would happen more frequently, or at all, but it doesn't because there's only one Sakurai.

That's right, there's only one Sakurai. And I look forward to seeing what the next iteration of Smash is like when it's wrestled out of his over-bearing hands. Maybe we can get a developer diaries series of videos that shines a spotlight on the development process, or interviews with key members of the other teams on the development. I think we've heard enough whining about how hard it is to play with action figures, draw pictures and share in-game snapshots all day and how this allegedly puts you near-death and requiring an IV drip.

Weird how we've never heard any complaints from any development team members, whoever they are.

I think that extra transparency will be really cool and we'd learn a lot more about what it takes to bring a game like Smash to life. Maybe we'll get a more diverse roster too that isn't dedicated mostly to who Sakurai wants to have made into an Amiibo so he has more toys to play with.

@SamirMalik

I thought the exact same thing. If Sakurai wants to take Smash in a new direction I think 3D would be the best bet. It could be an arena fighter like Power Stone is.

I think Kirby was the last Nintendo franchise that held out on going 3D but Forgotten Land will change that.

If Smash goes the more traditional route I would prefer they trim the fat from the roster ie: remove characters that play the same or drastically alter there moveset.

We will see in the next 6 years.

If/when Sakurai is ready to jump back into his work, I’d personally love to see more Kid Icarus before more Smash. A continuation of Uprising in some fashion would be so stellar.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate has 89 characters after all the DLC.

That's 11 characters away from 100.

I think I know where the next Smash Bros game is heading...

@Bunkerneath that's not how a competitive game like Smash works. There has to be a sequel. I'm surprised that people think Ultimate is unbeatable, you could take SU with the same content and do a waaaaay better story mode.

I would do an open world adventure, you play as a fully customisable young warrior from a kingdom that's being attacked by powerful monsters that are trying to conquer the multiverse. You try to summon warriors from all the multiverse, but the monster boss uses his powers to possess them.

Similar to World of Light, you have to find Fighters in the overworld, then fight them in a classic smash stage to free them.
Traverse abilities should return. Platforming sequences and more unique boss battles like Brawl should make a big return here.

That would not be hard to do by any means, Nintendo just needs to put in the money they will be saving because the characters are gonna be mostly the same. It doesn't have to be nearly as big as BOTW or anything, it could way smaller, but way more dense, with NPCs to interact, dojos, mini-games and stuff.

Maybe you could make Smash a live-service game, the base game is either cheap or even free, and you pay for the story mode and Fighter passes.

@HenHiro Ok, your last paragraph just said you wanted a ***** free to play game with microtransactions for seperate fighters.
Dear God I think most people would loose their minds if Nintendo did such a cash grab (but not ruling it out, the way NSO is....)

No thanks. They already ruined it by diluting it with a bloated roster because every weeb wants every generic anime character thrown in when they have no place in the game.

They'll need to come up with some innovative ideas to build on smash ultimate. Pretty hard to top IMO. Of course that will be 6-7 years down the road.

Hmm, I wasn't aware that he had already tried and failed to hand the series off. I wouldn't mind that much if Ultimate were the last SSB game if the alternative was a mediocre mess as the next sequel.

@Bunkerneath no, it's just additional content exactly like Ultimate has now. Just that the base game would be free with no Sotry mode.
It's just an option.

Whatever happens with Super Smash Bros. after this game, I hope Sakurai and his crew at least get some time to relax. After everything they've done for us. They deserve it.

I just want the entirety of Smash Bros. Ultimate on a 32GB cart.

All characters, spirits, Mii costumes, and maybe even a higher bitrate soundtrack thanks to the additional real estate on the cartridge, but if such a release materialises, they should hold out until they know that they have no intention of ever updating the software again.

@Oddball83 Anime-style characters don't have a place in the game? Link has been there since Smash 64!

@NEStalgia Smash Bros Ultimate 2!

I only want them to bring the roster to 100. Seriously..were sooo close. 2ndly, if your going to make another smash game and cut content out. Just make it an entirely new smash with only new characters and new stages. If I want to play old characters, I'll jump back to the monster that is ultimate. We don't need a re hash. I'm not paying for just a rehash. I honestly think rehashing old content in "new" installments of a fighting game series to be dumb and off putting. Especially if your cutting content too. I will pay for NEW smash content, via a new game or dlc. Oh and an adventure mode please!

Let’s get something different with someone different leading it, like a 3d smash bros akin to pokken tournament

Please. Let the man breathe.

He could just make Kid Icarus Uprising multiplayer with Smash characters.

I happen to think there's a great deal of gaming territory yet to be covered by Smash, you only have to look at the suggestions for the final DLC character to know this.
Time moves on and new gaming properties rise to prominence, by the time it's time for a sequel who knows what amazing characters could be added to the game... drop some of the lesser relevant fighters from the roster and replace them with new ones, it's not a hard concept to grasp.
Imagine replacing WiiFit Trainer with one of the RingFit Adventure characters, or perhaps retiring some of the boring echo fighters to be replaced with more exciting additions. I would also expect to see some movesets being reworked (looking at you Link, Samus, & Zelda!) as there's been plenty of activity within several series which could form the basis of an updated moveset inspired by the new games. Think along the lines of Link's Breath of the Wild runes & his Age of Calamity moves to know the kind of inspiration I mean.
As others have said, Nintendo would be fools to retire the series completely as it sells too many millions for that; judging by Samurai's comments here I won't expect to see another Smash until the Switch's successor arrives, I just hope they change things up a bit to keep everything interesting.

Sakurai should be NIntendo CEO some day.

Yeah time to give Smash Bros. a break for a while, If they could slowly added some sort of new contents like an extra mode such as Smash Run or a new achievement mode to Ultimate would be appreciated too.

They shouldn't rush into another one any time soon but there are tons of improvements they could make in the next installment. Ultimate is by no means a perfect game and there is a lot of room for improvement. Just to toss some ideas around for the next installment: No clones or echo fighters, costumes and DLC costumes for the characters, no Mii fighters, updated kits for all returning fighters (Luigi with more moves involving his vacuum from LM3, Young link that revolves around using various masks from MM, even giving Mario slightly different moves to match his current games, etc.), a smaller but more balanced roster than Ultimate.

@drewber2635 why would they need to remove Mii fighters?

@BirdBoy16 I personally don't think they add a whole lot to the roster other than just a way for them to shoe in some other characters by technicality. Plus I would want a smaller roster so they would seem to be a good cut choice IMO

@mario-from-mario-64 im going to pretend i didnt read this

Smash Royale, now with EVERYTHING locked behind individual microtransactions that push the limits of what 'micro' means, and a 'real' money in-game lottery with a VIP membership subscription.

"Everything the market seems to want." - Nintendo of America's new CEO, Calamity Ganon.

@drewber2635 idk, I still like having my Mii characters as playable fighters, kinda doubt Nintendo would remove them but I see your point

@KirbysAdventure Nope. In promotional material etc he may be drawn in an anime style, the games are not anime art style. You're splitting hairs to justify them throwing in more generic "long white hair, mysterious" crap characters. People missed the point of the original a long time ago. Not going to argue about it. You're simply wrong.

I just don't know where the characters go from here. Do you simply just keep making the roster bigger or do you pare it down, and if so, who gets the boot? I see a lot of disappointment from fans when the inevitable next Smash Bros. does come one day.

@Oddball83 Zelda games are anime as hell, especially the newer instalments. You gotta be foolish to deny it. Just look at Zelda's new appearance in SSBU. She went from a medieval elf warrior princess to Sailor Moon

@Oddball83 I want to know what you consider to be the "generic anime characters" in the roster. And yes Link is pretty much the original pretty anime sword boy

@MeloMan If Nintendo is smart about it, they can simply capitalize on this one. Most will be happy with a basic 4k remaster of Ultimate for the future hardware.

@Threebcisum No he isn't. Zero Zelda games are done with that generic anime art style weebs blindly defend. Splitting hairs.

@KirbysAdventure Wrong. You're foolish for thinking thats anime.

@Oddball83 You didn't answer my question, what you consider to be the "generic anime characters" in the roster? Because to my eyes Link is the same pretty anime sword boy that the Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy characters are. Especially DQ, as DQ and Zelda have influenced each other.

Wouldn't Smash Ultimate still make money, if they just released another Fighters Pass, a "Missing Stages" pack, and a "Returning Modes" pack?
I know I would pick them up.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DX for the next Switch in 4K, including all content and DLC it has now, plus a bunch of new fighters with stages and music. Who wouldn't jump on that at full price again?
I know I would. They reached a point where there is so much content, the game is automatically worth it if they just add necessary content and features every generation.

Creating a sequel starting from scratch can only be as successful if it has all fighters returning once again. Ultimate set the precedent to be an infinite game.
Every character has its fans, a legacy, an amiibo, and if even the Wii Fit Trainer or Mii Fighters are missing in the next game, some hundred thousand fans would cry in pain. Locking out certain characters (and putting old fighters as DLC) was one of the reasons Smash 4 wasn't universally loved.