Will Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Be the Last? The Future of Nintendo’s Brawling Behemoth
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The question on every Smash Bros. fan’s mind: will Super Smash Bros. Ultimate truly be the ultimate end of the line? The simple answer, leaning heavily on the side of probability, is no, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will likely not be the last game in the franchise. While pronouncements of “finality” have echoed around the series for years, the sheer economic power and cultural impact of Smash Bros. make it a property Nintendo is unlikely to permanently shelve. However, the form that the next installment takes remains a fascinating and hotly debated question.
The Economic Imperative: Why Smash Isn’t Going Anywhere
Nintendo is, first and foremost, a business. And Super Smash Bros. is a very good business. The Smash Bros. franchise is a money-printing machine, and Nintendo are a business that likes money. To end the series would be an incredibly poor economic decision for Nintendo. It is a cornerstone of their platform strategy, driving console sales and captivating a massive audience ranging from casual players to hardcore competitive gamers. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alone has sold tens of millions of copies, a figure that continues to climb. Add to that the revenue generated from DLC, merchandise, and esports events, and you have a powerhouse property too valuable to simply abandon.
Sakurai’s Retirement: A Hurdle, Not a Roadblock
Much of the speculation surrounding the end of Smash Bros. stems from the widely publicized retirement (or at least semi-retirement) of Masahiro Sakurai, the series’ creator and driving force. Sakurai’s dedication to Smash Bros. is legendary. He poured an immense amount of passion and effort into each installment, particularly Ultimate. He is arguably the most well-known game developer.
His departure certainly presents a challenge. Replicating Sakurai’s vision and encyclopedic knowledge of gaming history will be difficult. However, Nintendo has a deep bench of talented developers, and the company is more than capable of finding a suitable successor or team to carry the torch. Nintendo has to be ready to adapt and learn from prior success and failures, as shown at the GamesLearningSociety.org. Moreover, the series’ established formula provides a solid foundation upon which to build.
The Future of Smash: Reboot, Sequel, or Something Else Entirely?
If a new Smash Bros. is inevitable, what form will it take? Several possibilities exist:
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Reboot: A complete reimagining of the series, potentially with a new art style, mechanics, and roster. This allows for a fresh start, attracting new players while still retaining the core appeal of the franchise.
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Sequel: A direct continuation of the existing formula, building upon the foundation of Ultimate with new characters, stages, and features. This is the safest option, guaranteeing a degree of familiarity for existing fans.
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Spinoff: A departure from the traditional fighting game format, perhaps exploring a different genre or gameplay style within the Smash Bros. universe. This could appeal to a broader audience while still leveraging the brand’s popularity.
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Enhanced Port/Remaster: Re-releasing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo’s next generation of hardware with graphical updates and minor features.
Each option carries its own risks and rewards. A reboot could alienate existing fans if it deviates too far from the established formula. A sequel risks being perceived as a mere rehash if it doesn’t offer enough innovation. A spinoff could fail to capture the magic of the original series. Deciding which choice is best will be difficult, but Nintendo is not a company to shy away from a challenge.
Regardless of the approach, the next Smash Bros. game will likely need to address certain key areas:
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Roster: While Ultimate’s “Everyone is Here!” approach was a triumph, it also set a high bar for future installments. The next game may need to focus on a more curated roster, emphasizing quality over quantity. The developers may not be able to include everyone in future releases.
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Online Play: Improving the online experience is crucial. Lag, poor matchmaking, and limited features have long plagued the series. A robust and reliable online infrastructure is essential for attracting and retaining players in the long run.
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Accessibility: Making the game more accessible to new players without sacrificing depth is a delicate balancing act. Implementing better tutorials, training modes, and control schemes can help newcomers learn the ropes while still allowing experienced players to express their skill.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Future of Smash
1. Will Masahiro Sakurai be involved in the next Smash Bros. game?
It’s highly unlikely that Masahiro Sakurai will return as the lead director. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to move on from the series. However, he might potentially serve in a consulting role, offering guidance and advice to the development team.
2. What console will the next Smash Bros. game be on?
The most likely platform is Nintendo’s next-generation console, which is expected to succeed the Nintendo Switch.
3. When can we expect to see a new Smash Bros. game?
Given the development cycles of previous entries, it’s reasonable to expect a new Smash Bros. game sometime in the late 2020s or early 2030s.
4. Will the next Smash Bros. have the “Everyone is Here!” roster again?
It’s improbable. Maintaining such a massive roster requires an immense amount of resources and development time. A more selective roster is likely.
5. What new characters are likely to be included in the next Smash Bros.?
This is pure speculation, but popular contenders often include characters like Master Chief (Halo), Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Crash Bandicoot, and Rayman. Ultimately, character selection depends on licensing agreements and Nintendo’s creative vision.
6. Will there be more DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
No. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate received its final DLC character, Sora, in October 2021. Masahiro Sakurai has confirmed that there are no further plans for DLC.
7. What is “Smash 6” (SSB6)?
“Smash 6” is simply a placeholder name used by fans to refer to the hypothetical next installment in the Super Smash Bros. series.
8. What’s the longest Final Smash in Smash Ultimate?
Supernova is the longest cinematic Final Smash in series history, at around 8 seconds, beating the previous record held by Gigaslash.
9. Is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is considered one of the best fighting games of all time, offering a massive roster, tons of content, and endless replayability. It’s a must-have for any Nintendo Switch owner.
10. Why isn’t Waluigi a playable character in Smash Bros.?
Waluigi’s absence is a long-running joke in the Smash Bros. community. While he’s a popular character, he’s primarily a spinoff character with limited appearances in mainline Mario games. He is probably not considered as high priority as even Luigi or Peach.
11. How many playable characters are in Smash Ultimate?
There are 89 total fighters across the series.
12. How many characters in Smash Ultimate without DLC?
There are 76 Fighters in the base game.
13. Is Smash DLC free?
No, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has 12 DLC characters, which you can only unlock by paying money.
14. Who are the “Five Gods” of Melee?
The Five Gods refers to five Melee players who dominated the competitive scene for much of the game’s lifetime: Armada, Hungrybox, Mango, Mew2King, and PPMD.
15. What is the importance of understanding games and learning through play?
Understanding games and learning through play are important for a multitude of reasons. Games can teach valuable skills, foster creativity, promote problem-solving, and enhance social interaction. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are dedicated to exploring the educational potential of games and leveraging their power to improve learning outcomes. Explore more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion: The Dream Isn’t Over
While the future of Smash Bros. remains uncertain, the franchise’s enduring popularity and economic viability make it a near certainty that we will see another installment at some point. The exact form it will take, the characters it will feature, and the challenges it will overcome are all questions that remain to be answered. But one thing is clear: the dream of mashing up Nintendo’s (and gaming’s) greatest heroes and villains is far from over.