Official Newcomer/DLC Speculation Discussion

[DanganZilla5]

I posted my predictions in RTC a couple weeks ago and it still stands.

This **** is hard to predict but that's the fun of it.

Before I get into my top 4 characters, I will say that I do have a hunch we'll get an even amount of first and third party characters (3 first party and 3 third parties). I don't got much to back this up, but the fact that the pass started with a first party then a third party says something when the first pass started with 2 third party characters then it ended up getting mostly filled with third party characters. So I will make this list based on this assumption.

Rex - He is the most likely character in my eyes. He is the only character I give a 80% chance score to. If I had to bet my life on one character, it would be Rex. He is in the best spot you could be in: First party, Nintendo is still advertising Xenoblade 2, the game is a popular and noteworthy game for the Switch, Rex is highly requested, and Sakurai himself acknowledged him and made a big deal out of his Mii costume (Which doesn't deconfirm him as it's not a separate purchase). And don't forget Sakurai explicitly mentioned ARMS and Xenoblade 2 as the two games that got screwed over due to poor timing, so it's a big deal that the former now has a fighter. While he is still not a lock by any means, I would be shocked if he doesn't make it in.

Crash - I feel this is a safe prediction. He is iconic, a platforming mascot, popular in both the west and Japan, has Nintendo history, is in the middle of a successful revival, and fits right in with Smash. I think it's safe to say we might get another western character and another big third party character. If that's true, then I think Crash has a solid chance. Some people point out that Crash 4 didn't come to Switch on day one, but I don't think it's that big of a deal. Persona 5 still isn't on Switch and King of Fighters 14 isn't on Switch. So I'm fully on the Crash boat.

Arle Nadja - I was really thinking about other characters like Phoenix, Monster Hunter, and Ryu Hayabusa. But following my own predictions, I think we will get a smaller, yet still notable third party character. I think we will get another Terry, someone who will blindside people. I just have this feeling that Puyo Puyo will get a character. It's suspicious to me that one of the Japanese Puyo Puyo games was released on the Switch online service instead of Kirby's Avalanche or Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, two games that are much more familiar to western audiences. Not to mention Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is coming out later this year and overall the series seems to be getting more traction. Nintendo and especially Sega seems to be really pushing this series and if my previous predictions come true, we could see a character that is more catered toward the Japanese audiences more. If you ask me who could be the left field pick of this pass, I think it could be Arle.

Impa or BOTW 2 Zelda - Call it pessimism but considering how Smash 4's DLC and the first fighters pass ended, I am confident we will end Ultimate's DLC on an underwhelming character. For the longest time, I was calling that a 8th gen Pokemon would be the Byleth of this pass, but considering how close we are to the Crown Tundra and we just got a Smash character reveal that wasn't Pokemon, I am kind of skeptical that we will get a Pokemon now. Of course Byleth was revealed months after his game came out, so it's possible we could still get a gen 8 Pokemon.

But now, I am passing my pessimism onto the Zelda series. Honestly, it feels like the series is almost guaranteed not to get a character outside of the main trio. And what is a big game that is probably coming out next year that could get shilled? BOTW 2. Doesn't anyone find it suspicious that Sakurai randomly brought up Zelda two times during these DLC presentations (One time during Byleth then Min Min)? It sounds like to me that maybe he is trying to get us prepared for a disappointing finale. I know I'm sounding very negative, but I can't get over how the DLC and even base roster selections have repeatedly ended on a whimper and despite this being an ambitious game, I don't think the ending will be quite different. I would love to put someone like Geno on here and say that Ultimate will end on a high note, but I can't confidently do that. As for Impa, she is a possibility since it seems like she will be a big part of Hyrule Warriors 2 and to my knowledge she is one of the few reoccurring characters throughout the series. Maybe Sakurai will choose her instead of Zelda which would definitely help with the reception as she is someone who isn't one of the triforce trio. But either way, any way, I think Nintendo is gonna push a shill pick on us.

 

[SKX31]

There was a problem fetching the tweet

In short; Gabe Newell said back in March 2019 that he's sure they'd say yes.

That is very interesting, although it begs the question of whether Valve has anything planned. Of course, Valve's as silent as Nintendo on their projects, so we won't know until they announce anything (see Half Life Alyx).

Won't count out Valve, even if they're unlikely - 2K deciding to port games to the Switch was also announced rather suddenly.

Call of Duty has several named characters that they could potentially put in Smash. But I feel that series deals with content that’s too mature for Smash. It doesn’t cover up with goofy 4th wall breaks or Sci-fi stuff like MGS either.

Yeah - there's a major reason why I've brought up the real weaponry that CoD (alongside Battlefield and CS:GO) use and consider it an issue. Precisely because Nintendo really's not the kind of company who would ever want the AK-47 in.

Luckily for CoD it has a lot of fictional weapons too, but it's still an issue since it limits the moveset quite a lot.

 

[RileyXY1]

And now Gordon Freeman is deconfirmed.

 

[Aerospherology]

And now Gordon Freeman is deconfirmed.

2019, not 2020.

 

[Eldrake]

And now Gordon Freeman is deconfirmed.

No? The email was in March 2019, not 2020.

Do you seriously post before even reading?

 

[RileyXY1]

No? The email was in March 2019, not 2020.

Do you seriously post before even reading?

The Pass could have been decided then.

 

[Hydreigonfan01]

The Pass could have been decided then.

From what we know, the pass was decided around E3 2019.

 

[Rie Sonomura]

There was a problem fetching the tweet

This is probably due to the Steve stage glitch

 

[Will]

The Pass could have been decided then.

The First Pass didn't even release DLC in March 2019, you're thinking too early.

 

[RileyXY1]

Besides, an FPS rep is unlikely anyways.

 

[cashregister9]

Didn't Sakurai say that the pass was finalized in November-December 2019 during the Byleth Presentation?

 

[Will]

Besides, an FPS rep is unlikely anyways.

So was the generic, no personality, hard-to-animate Minecraft Steve apparently. Don't underestimate people based on genres, it'll come back to bite you.

 

[RileyXY1]

So was the generic, no personality, hard-to-animate Minecraft Steve apparently. Don't underestimate people based on genres, it'll come back to bite you.

They're just not very popular in Japan, and it would require Microsoft to double dip in the pass because now the only FPS character who has any chance is Master Chief.

 

[Arcadenik]

It wasn't the usual pick for Smash.

I am sorry but do you play Smash? The same Smash that has plumbers, gorillas, dinosaurs, elves, princesses, angels, psychic kids, race car drivers, exercise instructors, NES peripherals, silhouettes, eskimos, ninjas, boxers, puffballs, space furries, electric mice... but a hunting dog would have been unusual?

 

[Will]

They're just not very popular in Japan, and it would require Microsoft to double dip in the pass because now the only FPS character who has any chance is Master Chief.

Save for DOOM or COD or Crossfire or TF2 or Overwatch and... nah that's about all I can think of.

 

[Arcadenik]

So was the generic, no personality, hard-to-animate Minecraft Steve apparently. Don't underestimate people based on genres, it'll come back to bite you.

Just imagine the Tetris blocks as a playable fighter... now that would be something.

 

[7NATOR]

If you guys want to know more about the TimeStop Watch Picture Theory, here's Great Video from Papagenos

Besides, an FPS rep is unlikely anyways.

-Doom, Overwatch seemed to be soft Deconfirmed

-Because of how Banjo and Steve are tied to Rare and Mojiang, Chief could count as the Straight up Microsoft Rep (even if Microsoft is right now in the Licensing listing), but it's hard to say

-Anything Valve related is Possible, but might be unlikely

-Anything Ubisoft probably not happening, otherwise i Expect the Mii costumes to be saved perhaps

-Apex Legends is Possible, EA has been porting more games to Switch, including Apex itself, Plus Sakurai commented on Enjoying Apex so he's at least familair

-Fortnite is Possible, It had that big spot in that one Nintendo Direct, with Regie taking the Battlebus. Though Technically Fortnite is 3rd person, Like Splatoon

-Call of Duty is the Game ever, and Shokio will probably have another Rage attack knowing the Miiverse post back then was on to Something. Activision also has Worked with Nintendo, but problem with Realism and such

 

[RileyXY1]

Save for DOOM or COD or Crossfire or TF2 or Overwatch and... nah that's about all I can think of.

All of them are unlikely or deconfirmed.

 

[Dinoman96]

Call of Duty and Grant Theft Auto are like, the two mega popular and successful gaming franchises that I just can't ever imagine being in Smash Bros. in any shape or form.

 

[latsmash]

No "FPS rep" is competing to get into the pass, they're still unlikely though. What is there to pick? Master Chief would require Microsoft to have two characters in one pass, TF2 isn't getting in for so many reasons, Tracer has to compete with Crash, and Doom got deconfirmed. The only FPS rep I could see happening is maybe Gordon Freeman, and he's still super unlikely.

 

[SKX31]

There was a problem fetching the tweet

This is probably due to the Steve stage glitch

I was wondering why that was disabled. Ah well.

Save for DOOM or COD or Crossfire or TF2 or Overwatch and... nah that's about all I can think of.

All of them are unlikely or deconfirmed.

Ehum.

Alerts Evil Trapezium

Time to Split!

 

[Will]

There was a problem fetching the tweet

IT’S TIME TO STOP!

You jest but you know people are actually going to start thinking this. Send it out there, I guarantee someone will be on board.

All of them are unlikely or deconfirmed.

Says you. If you really wanna downplay characters, that's your L to hold.

 

[SharkLord]

I highly doubt we'll be getting another Zelda rep this pass. Besides the fact that the bonus Mii of the pass is a Guardian, the character who's gonna get pushed in the promotions is Link... Who we already have. After Byleth and Min Min, we've been digging too deeply into "le shill pick."

 

[Will]

-Apex Legends is Possible, EA has been porting more games to Switch, including Apex itself, Plus Sakurai commented on Enjoying Apex so he's at least familair

I honestly forgot about Apex but that's also a totally valid option. Who would they pick though, Mirage? He seems to be the poster boy.

 

[7NATOR]

I highly doubt we'll be getting another Zelda rep this pass. Besides the fact that the bonus Mii of the pass is a Guardian, the character who's gonna get pushed in the promotions is Link... Who we already have. After Byleth and Min Min, we've been digging too deeply into "le shill pick."

They could go with Zelda...

Who we also Have already

But yeah I agree. Impa can get in Next game though

I honestly forgot about Apex but that's also a totally valid option. Who would they pick though, Mirage? He seems to be the poster boy.

Mirage is very possible. He has Clones so that would be cool for Moveset and he's up in center in Advertisment ( I know he was at the Game awards last year)

Wraith is also very possible, and likely the option most people would say too. She has Portals and Phase Shifting Abilities, which would be cool. If they can't get Chell, they could get Wraith. She also Pushed in Ads i believe and is the most popular character for Tryhards

I also hear alot about Pathfinder. He's a Robot and he has a Grappling Hook thing. He seems loved too.

 

[Michael the Spikester]

This is my guess, in no particular order.

I'm guessing that Steve and CP8 were intended for an E3 reveal, and if the past two E3s were any indication, it seems like they'd end it off with some long-awaited fan favourite. The two big ones that are left seem to be Geno and Isaac (not sure when Waluigi became a popular pick, but I don't think it was as early as those two), and I don't think we'll be getting assist trophy promotions in this DLC. Plus, the timing would match up for the Mario tournament was was announced for "sometime in November or December" (you'd think they could give a specific month, or even have it that weekend) and the Nintendo online open tournament that ends on November 1st. (the last time we had one, Min Min was announced the next day - that one and the upcoming one are the only online open tournaments that we've had, so I'm not sure how reliable that information is, but I wouldn't be surprised if we got an announcement within the first week of November) Smash Ultimate seems to be going out of its way to fulfill as many fan demands as possible (every veteran and most stages returning; hazardless and Battlefield versions of every stage; detailed patch notes; Ridley, K. Rool, and Banjo...), and Geno seems like he'd fit that mindset.

I don't think that the remaining Fighters Pass 2 characters are going to be entirely third party. I feel like Bandanna Dee stands a good chance, given that he's fairly popular in a variety of regions, but Zelda's 35th anniversary is next year, and with Zelda not having a new unique character in Smash for twenty years by that point, I could see them saving one for the end. Impa seems like a "safe" reveal rather than an exciting or unexpected one, but Nintendo rarely seems to end with the biggest announcements. (Brawl ending with Wolf; Smash 4's base game ending with Duck Hunt; Ultimate's base game ending with Ken/Incineroar; Fighters Pass 1 ending with Byleth...)

With Dante, I feel like it could go either way between him or Monster Hunter, but both series are pretty popular at the moment, and some comments by Hideaki Itsuno and Hideki Kamiya have me feeling optimistic about Dante.

Devil May Cry 5 director open to Dante in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, says Capcom needs to bring the series to Nintendo platform first

Hideki Kamiya is asking fans which of his characters they'd most want in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate including Dante and Viewtiful Joe

Hideki Kamiya's comments on which of his characters he wants in Super Smash Bros. points to one of them perhaps already being part of Fighters Pass 2

While I think that we should get another Namco-Bandai character by this point, they seem really reluctant to bring in any of their own characters for some reason. (maybe it's because they don't want to seem biased? Though having two of the many third party character being from their company doesn't seem like it would come across that way) Meanwhile, Capcom seems to have no problem with including any of their series in Smash. (plus, it would mean that we'd get Dante vs. Bayonetta, and Kamiya regretted not being able to make that happen in Project X Zone 2)

Then there's Ryu Hayabusa, but he seems like a no-brainer. Koei-Tecmo's got a long history (they seem like the last big Japanese third party company that doesn't have a playable character in Smash), Ninja Gaiden's got history stretching back to the NES days and two wildly different styles of games, and Koei-Tecmo's close enough to Nintendo that they can work on a main Fire Emblem game and a Zelda spin-off that's the official backstory for Breath of the Wild. I'm a little surprised that he didn't make it into the base game, and I'll be confused if he's not in the DLC at all.

I'm not 100% sure about the order, though after Bayonetta, I think they'll realize that action characters will take a lot of time to balance if they're going to emulate the gameplay from their home series, so I don't think they'll save Dante or Ryu Hayabusa for the end. I do think that Geno will come out (or at least will get announced) this year if he does get added, and if we get a Zelda character, I think they won't be out until next year, due to their series' respective 35th anniversaries.

I'm feeling were only getting either Ryu Hayabusa or Dante and I'm betting more the former given stronger backing from Vergeben and whole 5 years of negotiations for Steve.

Dante I feel is being overrated in chances especially since people are bandwagoning from those tweets a few years back which likely mean nothing regarding Smash being nothing more but a coincidence. Plus that part of me feeling people assumes due to Bayonetta being in the game.

 

[Arcadenik]

I highly doubt we'll be getting another Zelda rep this pass. Besides the fact that the bonus Mii of the pass is a Guardian, the character who's gonna get pushed in the promotions is Link... Who we already have. After Byleth and Min Min, we've been digging too deeply into "le shill pick."

I hope there are still Nintendo characters left who are not shill picks. I'd hate to see future Nintendo newcomers to be seen as shill picks.

 

[SharkLord]

I hope there are still Nintendo characters left who are not shill picks. I'd hate to see future Nintendo newcomers to be seen as shill picks.

Honestly, every character is a shill to some degree. Every character so far has had something to promote; Even the long-dead Banjo had Rare Replay advertised in his trailer... Despite RR being on Xbox and Smash being a Nintendo game. If anything, it proves that you don't need an upcoming release to advertise something.

 

[Will]

Call of Duty and Grant Theft Auto are like, the two mega popular and successful gaming franchises that I just can't ever imagine being in Smash Bros. in any shape or form.

I honestly think the only thing holding them back is that their games just simply aren't on their consoles anymore. They used to, but times have changed. There are obviously characters like Joker or, previously, Cloud, who haven't really graced their own games onto Nintendo platforms, so I believe there is some levity to it. It's just dependent on Nintendo and if they think adding such characters will be the move.

I support Scorpion so I honestly can't see the pessimism or character wars everyone else has here.

I hope there are still Nintendo characters left who are not shill picks. I'd hate to see future Nintendo newcomers to be seen as shill picks.

There's Bandana Dee, one of the Kongs, Waluigi or any of the other lesser ATs, a random retro pick, not much to shift through.

 

[Scoliosis Jones]

I'm feeling were only getting either Ryu Hayabusa or Dante and I'm betting more the former given stronger backing from Vergeben and whole 5 years of negotiations for Steve.

Dante I feel is being overrated in chances especially since people are bandwagoning from those tweets a few years back which likely mean nothing regarding Smash being nothing more but a coincidence. Plus that part of me feeling people assumes due to Bayonetta being in the game.

While it's entirely your opinion, I must point out that you've recently been on the Monster Hunter bandwagon yourself. So to say that Dante isn't going to get in because he's a "bandwagon" pick makes the claim that "Monster Hunter is getting in because of a new game" rather suspect because it's essentially the same reason people are thinking Monster Hunter is going to happen.

You can't have it both ways, to be frank.

 

[cashregister9]

Smashboards: "Most Characters have a very poor chance to get in if they don't have something to promote"

Also Smashboards: "All first-parties or third-parties with recent games are Shill picks"

 

[Will]

Smashboards: "Most Characters have a very poor chance to get in if they don't have something to promote"

Also Smashboards: "All first-parties or third-parties with recent games are Shill picks"

game theory: is now an ad pick because his new grab was from LM3, which came out the year after Ultimate

 

[JCKirbs]

I highly doubt we'll be getting another Zelda rep this pass. Besides the fact that the bonus Mii of the pass is a Guardian, the character who's gonna get pushed in the promotions is Link... Who we already have. After Byleth and Min Min, we've been digging too deeply into "le shill pick."

Characters like Impa probably wouldn't have been brought up as frequently if Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity didn't exist, and even then I can't even fathom the odds of Nintendo wanting to promote a prequel spinoff title instead of a core, mainline Zelda game. Not to mention that, unless they want to pull an ARMS and say that "everyone is the main character" I would assume that the major focus of the game would obviously be on Link (who is clearly in Smash already).

There's Bandana Dee, one of the Kongs, Waluigi or any of the other lesser ATs, a random retro pick, not much to shift through.

Majority, if not all of which would be more suited for the base game for the next Smash Bros. entry, as hard of a pill as that may be to swallow.
Seriously, I'm in the process of gulping it down myself...

The best we could get is probably a Gen 8 Pokemon if Nintendo feels the need to promote a franchise which doesn't need any promotion at all (again, for what I would assume to be the 2nd or 3rd time thus far).

 

[7NATOR]

ARMS was Considered "suited for Base Game" and yet here we are

Of course being a New Franchise, it had Leeway, which Bandana Dee, Dixie Kong, Any Xenoblade Character, and Waluigi don't have, even worse in Waluigi's case since there's already 9 Whole Mario Characters, 2 of which is New. Donkey Kong also got a Newcomer this game as well. Bandana Dee and Xenoblade might have it easier, especially since Xenoblade only has 1 Character

 

[Evil Trapezium]

Ehum.

Alerts Evil Trapezium

Time to Split!

Awww... you should have used the other one, then it would have been a cool little thing. Oh well!

Never the less, I feel it his Time... TO SPLIT!

 

[Wigglerman]

I feel like Impa has been suggested since even Smash 4. Her talk amplified more after we saw how she was handled in Hyrule Warriors 1. Which I was surprised didn't help usher her in for Ultimate. Seems like one of the more requested Zelda reps that would make for a solid fighter without having to succumb to echo or semi clone status with Shiek. Enough to make her entirely unique. But I'm also the same guy who wants HW Ganon in Smash so...maybe that's my own bias.

 

[Will]

Impa always felt like such a weird character to choose despite the fact that she never really did much prior to Hyrule Warriors making her a qualified badass and then getting downgraded to canon ninja. RIP Impa's giant ****ing sword.

I am in Tingle Gang when it comes to new Zelda characters so I guess I'll never understand the hype around her.

 

[Megadoomer]

Call of Duty has several named characters that they could potentially put in Smash. But I feel that series deals with content that’s too mature for Smash. It doesn’t cover up with goofy 4th wall breaks or Sci-fi stuff like MGS either.



Lots of good points here & I generally feel the same way, predictions wise. Impa would be a good pick since she’d be a promotional pick AND a long running fan request, plus she’s just cool. But I sort of feel that if we get a Zelda character, it’ll be someone uniquely BOTW related.

Would you mind posting the updated template with Steve & Alex?

I just used a blank template and put Min Min and Steve and Alex in there using Photoshop, but I can post them (the blank template and the template with the known characters) when I get the chance.

 

[Wigglerman]

Impa always felt like such a weird character to choose despite the fact that she never really did much prior to Hyrule Warriors making her a qualified badass and then getting downgraded to canon ninja. RIP Impa's giant ****ing sword.

I am in Tingle Gang when it comes to new Zelda characters so I guess I'll never understand the hype around her.

In fairness, Shiek herself did nothing at all but they made a moveset for her anyway XD But yeah, Hyrule Warriors made her a badass and would have loved to see something along those lines for her.


I'm legit surprised none of the Champions from BotW didn't make the cut.

 

[MarioRaccoon]

I hope Gordon Freeman gets at least as a mii costume. Half-Life is a great IP and need more recognition.