Official DLC Speculation Discussion Volume II

[WeirdChillFever]

You do know Sakurai doesn’t like memes, right?

He doesn’t like being used in a meme. I don’t think that’s exactly the same as Sakurai fuming at the mouth when he sees a rage comic.

 

[Freduardo]

You do know Sakurai doesn’t like memes, right?

I mean, the guy doesn’t even like water… which is a meme that uses him now (which is actually what he dislikes apparently)… uh oh…

 

[GilTheGreat19]

Uhh... no, I actually have never heard of this factoid. Could you elaborate?

He talked about this in a recent interview with Tekken’s Director Harada.
He dislikes being used for a meme whether it’s about him or not.

Edit: I got ninja’d so hard bro

 

[SNEKeater]

Part 2 of the Sakurai & Harada interview will start in 13 minutes, for anyone interested

 

[Theguy123]

We’re officially 11 days away till September where speculation and preparation will begin for the main menu.

I’m gonna do an official countdown every day lol till we hit 1st September

 

[Diem]

The distinction of Sakurai's feelings about himself and memes is a bit nuanced.

He also expressed that he has a clear sense of humor and is self-aware about his recognition online, with his comment about how the X-Files theme should play for him in certain situations. That's the kind of joke someone on the internet would make, but he made it himself. Sakurai's always been very self-aware like that, but the nuance here is that he doesn't like when memes give the wrong impression of him or his attitudes.

The "never ask me for anything again" meme conveys that Sakurai has a distaste for the Smash audience, or that he doesn't like fulfilling their requests, which is far from the truth. Ultimate is all about fulfilling Smash players' wants and hopes, which Sakurai takes pride in. The meme there misconstrues his attitude like he's exhausted or that he hates how people make requests for Smash and he'd rather not listen to them. It just spreads misinformation, if unintentionally.

There are millions of people who have the wrong impression of Sakurai because they only know him from the Directs/broadcasts and the memes that accompany them. Very few people actually read or watch interviews with him to go beyond that and understand his whole perspective and approach.

 

[chocolatejr9]

We’re officially 11 days away till September where speculation and preparation will begin for the main menu.

I’m gonna do an official countdown every day lol till we hit 1st September

Though I saw somebody bring up a potential talking point: what exactly would Nintendo show in the September Direct? Normally, I wouldn't think too hard on that, but they kinda revealed a bunch of stuff back at E3.

I'm talking about new announcements, btw. Of course we'll get updates on already announced stuff.

 

[CannonStreak]

We’re officially 11 days away till September where speculation and preparation will begin for the main menu.

I’m gonna do an official countdown every day lol till we hit 1st September

Don't forget to do the "Dawn of the (numbered) day" memes from Zelda in the last three days of September!

 

[The Rhythm Theif]

The "never ask me for anything again" meme conveys that Sakurai has a distaste for the Smash audience, or that he doesn't like fulfilling their requests, which is far from the truth. Ultimate is all about fulfilling Smash players' wants and hopes, which Sakurai takes pride in. The meme there misconstrues his attitude like he's exhausted or that he hates how people make requests for Smash and he'd rather not listen to them. It just spreads misinformation, if unintentionally.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

 

[Theguy123]

Though I saw somebody bring up a potential talking point: what exactly would Nintendo show in the September Direct? Normally, I wouldn't think too hard on that, but they kinda revealed a bunch of stuff back at E3.

I'm talking about new announcements, btw. Of course we'll get updates on already announced stuff.

nothing too big. 1 big game at the most probably. A smash announcement as well most likely, few indie games, maybe a reminder or trailer or something for warioware. Maybe a new small trailer for PDSP. That’s about as much as I could think off. They never show off huge stuff. Maybe a big look into splattoon 3.

 

[Rie Sonomura]

I still say they won’t reveal CP11 at a September Direct, probably just keep suspense by announcing a Smash 4-style Final Presentation date and saying to tune in then

since it’s the last presentation for this game and they wouldn’t want to spoil it, plus adding a retrospective like they did at the end of 4’s DLC

MAYBE one last guessing game but idk. Hopefully if there is it’ll be less frustrating than with the ARMS one

 

[Theguy123]

I’m super confident the direct is gonna open up and we’re gonna hear luke say “professorrrrrrrrrrr……. Where are we going” and then Layton will say “Luke my boy, don’t you see, we’ve been invited to the legendary smash bros”

I’m ready to die on that path. I’m confident. Super confident. Obviously no guarantees but I’m confident.

Reckon it’ll be a teaser like terry. Trailer for the character and then maybe show off a move or 2 and then say this character needs a bit longer to be developed

 

[Verde Coeden Scalesworth]

I still say they won’t reveal CP11 at a September Direct, probably just keep suspense by announcing a Smash 4-style Final Presentation date and saying to tune in then

since it’s the last presentation for this game and they wouldn’t want to spoil it, plus adding a retrospective like they did at the end of 4’s DLC

MAYBE one last guessing game but idk. Hopefully if there is it’ll be less frustrating than with the ARMS one

ARMS wasn't helped by them giving a huge amount of characters, including one AT. Though the fact an AT was one there already shows that in-game roles like that clearly aren't as important as we make them out to be. Nintendo is the one advertising ARMS itself for the demo, after all. I've already went over the idea that the guessing game couldn't have been planned a year in advance. Meaning that it was later they took advantage of it. ARMS itself having a character just to allow them to breathe life to the game, sure. But the guessing game only could've existed due to how long Min Min required after Byleth. That was a super long wait, meaning it makes a massive amount of sense to give us something Smash-wise. Besides that, they couldn't take too long in any kind of reveal for Pass 2. They needed something for us to chew on. Not saying it was a good idea, cause the guessing game was pretty hell, but they did at least get the Demo going. Who knows if sales were good.

Even with Gen VIII, it'd still be better, because we know Spirits aren't the be-end all as confirmed. It doesn't mean it'd necessarily be a Spirit from the event either that would be the one chosen. It just means that they're more easy to believe to be playable. That, and we know the "big names" as well. So it wouldn't be a huge list either. That said, it would still be hell, but just less worse on its own. That said, it might be more hell cause of the fact it's Pokemon. At least for the hardcore speculation scene.

 

[Þe 1 → Way]

I’m guessing at October but if we do get something this month I’m guessing we get an announcement of a final broadcast like with 4 and Byleth (though patterns keep getting broken so idk).

I just want someone cool, even if they aren’t Phoenix or Porky or another fighter on my big list of wants.

 

[Momotsuki]

I still say they won’t reveal CP11 at a September Direct, probably just keep suspense by announcing a Smash 4-style Final Presentation date and saying to tune in then

I think this really depends on how much housekeeping they've done with the game to wrap things up - outside of the final DLC. If they're ending things with the usual DLC release, which seems most likely, a dedicated Smash direct seems implausible. Also plausible is a one-off Sakurai Presents, however...

 

[Wunderwaft]

Well, we're getting closer to September and inevitably the end of Smash speculation. It's a safe bet that we'll get an early September Nintendo direct just like all past years. My prediction is that it will be before the 10th since they wanna drop one last mention about WarioWare Get it Together before it releases.

I have no idea who it's gonna be and I've given up in attempting to accurately predict who it will be, for all we know it could be a franchise we thought was dead before like Resident Evil. In any case, I can't wait for this ride to reach it's final destination.

 

[Shroob]

My issue with a "Final Smash Direct" is it's literally just a Sakurai Presents under another name.

With Smash 4, we had 2 whole characters to reveal, but with Ultimate, it's just 1, and I can't see Nintendo passing up milking Smash news for Direct views.

 

[SKX31]

Part 2 of the Sakurai & Harada interview will start in 13 minutes, for anyone interested

Huh, his thoughts re: retirement are very interesting - it's naturally a difficult balancing act, and Sakurai's worries regarding "cutting his life short" are valid given how strenous game development can be (especially combined with the infamous Japanese working culture and his past health scares). That said, it does look like he's found something of a rhythm, and he'll know when and where to tackle that next project - whatever that is. He's also kinda-sorta open to working past 60, so I'm getting the impression he might stick around for Smash 6 at least.

(Still think he should consider appointing a younger developer as his "heir" of sorts now that he's past 50 - and I'm going to assume that said next project comes out around 2025/2026 at the very ealiest. So said younger developer is ready to take over Smash when he retires with experience under his / her belt).

And a third episode? Damn. looking forward to it.

I think this really depends on how much housekeeping they've done with the game to wrap things up - outside of the final DLC. If they're ending things with the usual DLC release, which seems most likely, a dedicated Smash direct seems implausible. Also plausible is a one-off Sakurai Presents, however...

That's a very interesting question, since unlike Smash 4 they won't instantly go to developing the next Smash (presumably) and the Switch still has a couple years left to go until the successor arrives. Honestly, it's going to come down to how much post-CP11 support they're willing to give: how many more balance patches can we expect (I'm hoping at least three)? Are one of those balance patches going to shake up the entire cast akin to the big patch FighterZ recently got? Do they plan to effectively give Ultimate the Mario Kart 8 DX treatment* or otherwise support it?

* While I'm not convinced that an Ultimate DX is going to be a thing I don't wanna discount that possibility; since an Ultimate DX could hypotheoretically be feasible on the Switch's successor and thus extend Ultimate's "life" without as much effort as a Smash 6.

Also, since this has been talked about in this thread previously:

Sony Interactive Entertainment investing in external Japanese development https://t.co/MOmWJldij9 pic.twitter.com/Z1056zH8o5

— Gematsu (@gematsu) August 21, 2021

The article does sound like Sony's retooling its Japanese dev teams towards working with FromSoft, Kojima Productions etc.

 

[MooMew64]

IMO this is ending in September. There is no reason to wait: They're not gonna give up their biggest Direct bait for what is usually the final Direct of the year just to make Geoff happy.

Not to mention, characters have been on a consistent reveal schedule during this entire DLC cycle, even through the pandemic. I don't think there's any risks of delays either when Sakurai and co. seem like they adjusted to at home work awhile ago. Characters are also worked on alongside each other, meaning 11 most likely had a decent amount of work done by the time Kazuya came out and is probably already in the final stages of development.

As for a final Smash Direct: I don't understand what this would accomplish. It would just be a normal Sakurai Presents, which CP11 is gonna most likely get anyways, so why would you specifically wait until that presentation to announce the fighter? They've never specifically waited or done anything special for anniversaries anyways (look at Zelda, it's anniversary was almost completely ignored), so I wouldn't read too much into that, either.

 

[Momotsuki]

I don't think anyone saying December actually believes it, for what it's worth.

 

[BlondeLombax]

When we’ve got most everybody anticipating this final fighter, I can’t help but feel like “Mr. Sakurai Presents The Final Challenger” is an inevitability. I doubt that we’ll be eeing the big reveal in something as simple as a standard Direct for the last stretch of something that’s been this long awaited.

 

[Þe 1 → Way]

They've never specifically waited or done anything special for anniversaries anyways (look at Zelda, it's anniversary was almost completely ignored), so I wouldn't read too much into that, either.

I know this isn’t your main point but Nintendo has absolutely done special events for anniversaries.

Mario got 3D Allstars, Bowsers Fury, a new Game and Watch, and Super Mario 35.

Zelda got Skyward Sword HD and a Game and Watch.I wouldn’t say thats a candidate for almost completely ignored.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

ある日、引退について訊かれました。 https://t.co/OAZ7mZGyJd

— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) August 21, 2021

One day, I was asked about my retirement.

 

[Dinoman96]

I don't think anyone saying December actually believes it, for what it's worth.

Nah, some do.

Some people think it's because

A. because it'd be at TGA, it'd be a super big third party like Master Chief or something
B. they think the last fighter is going to be the SMT5 protagonist, as that would be a month after that game's release which would give people time to grow accustomed to him
C. they're taking Sakurai's "it's gonna take awhile" comment super seriously

 

[MooMew64]

I know this isn’t your main point but Nintendo has absolutely done special events for anniversaries.

Mario got 3D Allstars, Bowsers Fury, a new Game and Watch, and Super Mario 35.

Zelda got Skyward Sword HD and a Game and Watch.I wouldn’t say thats a candidate for almost completely ignored.

Skyward Sword wasn't made for the anniversary, it was pretty much just a happy coincidence in timing. The Game & Watch was their specific Zelda anniversary product, which is why I said "almost ignored", because granted, they did do one thing.

My main point wasn't so much they don't celebrate ever, more that they don't hold things off for them, nor do they do it consistently.

Especially Smash, they never do anything for Smash, at least, not that I can remember, lol.

 

[Þe 1 → Way]

Skyward Sword wasn't made for the anniversary, it was pretty much just a happy coincidence in timing. The Game & Watch was their specific Zelda anniversary product, which is why I said "almost ignored", because granted, they did do one thing.

My main point wasn't so much they don't celebrate ever, more that they don't hold things off for them, nor do they do it consistently.

Especially Smash, they never do anything for Smash, at least, not that I can remember, lol.

Ah, my bad. It is weird how little Smash gets celebrated.

I think the only rerelease has been the OG on the Wii. Though I guess the general public doesn’t care much about old Smash games when Ultimate is right there.

 

[N3ON]

My issue with a "Final Smash Direct" is it's literally just a Sakurai Presents under another name.

With Smash 4, we had 2 whole characters to reveal, but with Ultimate, it's just 1, and I can't see Nintendo passing up milking Smash news for Direct views.

Also the reason we got Sakurai Presents in the first place was budgetary, and I can't imagine that three years after release, Nintendo wants to spend the money on a full Smash Direct for one character.

 

[Dinoman96]

Yeah, Smash 64 was only ever re-released through the Wii's Virtual Console. It didn't get on Wii U even though that also had N64 games as well. Interestingly, Smash 64 was supposed to be a Masterpiece in Smash Wii U but it got scrapped for reasons unknown.

The big main thing keeping Melee, as well as most other GCN games from seeing the light of day again, is the simple fact that Nintendo doesn't and probably won't ever sell them through a Virtual Console styled service, or alternatively put them on NSO. That's pretty much the only way a game like Melee would ever be re-released as Nintendo clearly isn't going to do a "Melee HD" release for $59.99 when they want people to instead buy the all-new Smash games.

 

[CommanderZaktan]

So. The GDC with Paul Yan Came out and this image was flashed for a brief moment before it was skipped.

I freeze framed, isolated it, through it my AI image enhancing program and this is the final result.

So. One question. If wumpa league is dead, why PUT THIS in the GDC talk? pic.twitter.com/cd9widx0UV

— Canadian Guy Eh (@Canadianguyehh) August 21, 2021

Wumpa League is still a thing

 

[Momotsuki]

I think it's funny that I've vastly preferred the Sakurai Presents airings over the more dedicated directs/presentations we got in both Smash for and base-game Ultimate. I dunno, it's just cozy, and I'm gonna miss 'em!

 

[Willbuysmash4mw]

Considering that Metroid Dread is getting a trailer at the end of this month and SMT V is getting a trailer at the end of September I doubt a Nintendo Direct is coming in September.

 

[Theguy123]

Considering that Metroid Dread is getting a trailer at the end of this month and SMT V is getting a trailer at the end of September I doubt a Nintendo Direct is coming in September.

Metroid doesn’t have to show up in the direct you know. Same for SMT V. SMT V itself is an Atlus game. They’ll show it wherever they want or need to.

 

[Þe 1 → Way]

I am curious as to what they’d show in a direct this month. They kinda dumped everything at E3.
Splatoon 3 I’m guessing will show up if we do get a Direct.

 

[Theguy123]

I am curious as to what they’d show in a direct this month. They kinda dumped everything at E3.
Splatoon 3 I’m guessing will show up if we do get a Direct.

I’d assume an in-depth look at splattoon 3, indie reveals, a Pokémon trailer or 2, a big game announcement and then some lesser known stuff. Possibly a smash reveal but I’m not 100% placing bets on that. Does Nintendo usually say if they’re doing a smash character at their directs or do they just do it without letting people know

 

[Shroob]

Considering that Metroid Dread is getting a trailer at the end of this month and SMT V is getting a trailer at the end of September I doubt a Nintendo Direct is coming in September.

A lot of stuff's getting a trailer in September, that means nothing lol.

 

[Dinoman96]

I just can't see Nintendo going back to their old ways of having a Q1 Direct and an E3 Direct in the summer but then suddenly deciding to forgo their usual September/Fall Direct.

 

[Theguy123]

If the Nintendo gods hear me. Let this be reality. Okay maybe not the descole part though. That’s too much

 

[Willbuysmash4mw]

Metroid doesn’t have to show up in the direct you know. Same for SMT V. SMT V itself is an Atlus game. They’ll show it wherever they want or need to.

Those two games were the ones most featured in Nintendo’s E3 presentation in terms of 2021 games. October is the release for Metroid and this upcoming trailer is probably the last one(unless they show dlc for it at the direct), but it is obvious that Atlus is saving the reveal of the dub for SMT V for the Nintendo direct and the dub is entire reason why SMT V isn’t out yet.

Unless we are getting new trailers for 2022 games and nothing for 2021 and the reveal of something big like Xenoblade, Fire Emblem, Kirby, Donkey Kong etc then we are not getting a September direct, and considering Legends Arceus is coming out in January and we still don’t know that much about the game the Nintendo direct basically has to be early winter to advertise that game when it comes out too early to be shown off again in an early 2022 Nintendo direct or a Pokémon Presents.

 

[Shroob]

Those two games were the ones most featured in Nintendo’s E3 presentation in terms of 2021 games. October is the release for Metroid and this upcoming trailer is probably the last one(unless they show dlc for it at the direct), but it is obvious that Atlus is saving the reveal of the dub for SMT V for the Nintendo direct and the dub is entire reason why SMT V isn’t out yet.

Unless we are getting new trailers for 2022 games and nothing for 2021 and the reveal of something big like Xenoblade, Fire Emblem, Kirby, Donkey Kong etc then we are not getting a September direct, and considering Legends Arceus is coming out in January and we still don’t know that much about the game the Nintendo direct basically has to be early winter to advertise that game when it comes out too early to be shown off again in an early 2022 Nintendo direct or a Pokémon Presents.

Wanna place a bet on that?


I'd consider the last 5-6 years of consistent September directs, even in 2020, is enough of a boost of confidence that this won't be any different of a year.

 

[Þe 1 → Way]

Those two games were the ones most featured in Nintendo’s E3 presentation in terms of 2021 games. October is the release for Metroid and this upcoming trailer is probably the last one(unless they show dlc for it at the direct), but it is obvious that Atlus is saving the reveal of the dub for SMT V for the Nintendo direct and the dub is entire reason why SMT V isn’t out yet.

Unless we are getting new trailers for 2022 games and nothing for 2021 and the reveal of something big like Xenoblade, Fire Emblem, Kirby, Donkey Kong etc then we are not getting a September direct, and considering Legends Arceus is coming out in January and we still don’t know that much about the game the Nintendo direct basically has to be early winter to advertise that game when it comes out too early to be shown off again in an early 2022 Nintendo direct or a Pokémon Presents.

Is it that farfetched to see 2022 games? After all September is 3 months out to 2022 itself.

Making a direct focused on the new year and maybe having some small 2021 games and mentions of upcoming releases mixed in with games for the new year sounds about right to me.