I'm going to be honest and say that I feel Geno's chances are now 50/50 with this Direct. We now have another premium costume with a song, and it looks fantastic. It also states that Cuphead got an invitation properly, meaning Sans did, as well. It looks like the extra special consolation prizes are being heralded much like actual fighters in a lot of ways from the team, which both makes me happy and worried for Geno. If he gets his costume back with an upgrade, he'll essentially, canonically 'be a fighter'. If he gets his costume without this upgrade, he's SOL. If he becomes a fighter, well... y'know.
Six more characters. Don't give up hope.
And now, let's touch stone on the hilariously bad topic of fan rules, because I cannot believe people are still trying to forge them because they so DESPERATELY don't want to see different characters make it in. Byleth just annihilated multiple fan rules in one go:
1) Smash DLC being all from new worlds. Fire Emblem sure ain't that.
2) Smash DLC being all from new franchises. I guess Marth and Roy never debuted in Melee, eh? All the FE content we have has been a figment of our imagination all along.
3) No first parties.
That's three,
three fan rules destroyed this morning. They weren't even fan rules with no basis either. They had reasons for people believing in them beyond pessimism and hunches. This also applies to spirits, something that we have a basis on for disconfirmations, but something that could easily be squashed like the prior three fan rules that people keep spewing.
How's about we just enjoy the ride, not call anything into certainty, and chill out? Oh wait, that's impossible. The Smash fandom is incapable of behaving with any level of maturity.
My mistake! That said, it's very, very nice to see the people who specifically harass, dox, and send death threats whining about Byleth. Don't get me wrong, people have plenty of right to be disappointed in their inclusion, but
particularly the ones who are so keen on gatekeeping fans of certain characters like our beloved star boy and his fans just because ~*~I don't like him, this one fan annoyed me, boo hoo~*~ got what they deserve if they're bemoaning Byleth. The salt I've been seeing from the worst sides of the fan base in particular have been incredible, and drinking their tears all morning has been so satisfying. ♡
Anyway, back into my cave I go, but I mostly just want to say: good luck, fellow Genopals. I doubt Geno's costume will be straight ported from 4. It'll either be upgraded or he will be a fighter. I'm very certain of at least one of these outcomes, and I'd be happy with both. Either way, I'm extremely certain in Geno getting his invitation, separate fighter or no, and that makes me happy. No way to BTFO this particularly pleased and optimistic Geno fan now, so to those who attacked me personally as a human being for daring to, gasp, like a character you don't:
I'm very happy that I now get to have the last laugh. Enjoy Byleth.