Official Next Smash - Speculation & Discussion Thread

[Gorgonzales]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

We're definitely getting a new 3D Mario and a new Mario Kart. Either could be a launch title but I'm leaning more toward 3D Mario.

As for what else could show up, ehhh.... a new IP, probably? Idk what other franchises could get a new entry this soon, other than Pokemon I guess.

I think we'll definitely have news on Switch 2 before April. When it releases, I don't know... maybe late summer.

 

[Noipoi]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

I think (hope) we’ll see a new 3D Mario. It’s been so long since Odyssey and I’m ready for the next Mario adventure.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

Mario Kart, a 3D Mario, maaaaybe Fire Emblem? Maybe a new IP or a sequel to ARMS or something. I feel like there's probably gonna be a bunch more even on the first party side that we aren't expecting because I feel like they'd know not to have a long launch drought? I also feel like there's gonna be like at least one revival of a dormant series (though that might because of recent rumors I've seen affecting my judgement, or maybe my copium for a new Rhythm Heaven lol)

I think we'll get the initial announcement of the Switch 2 sometime this month or early next, since it has to be by the end of March/the fiscal year and I'm anticipating it happening before Pokemon Day.

As for release of the system itself, the Switch had a window of trailer to release of October to March? So assuming it'd be something similar I'd say sometime in July maybe, and if it is around then, maybe with one more trailer or a more in-depth look at the system itself during the summer Direct? I don't know anything about the market/industry though, so I have no clue if that's a good time to do it or not lmao

 

[chocolatejr9]

So, uh...

Would anyone here like to see Anton from ANTONBLAST in Smash Bros.?

View attachment 397457

The children must bare witness to the greatness that is Happy Hour.

(AKA yes, I'd want this).

 

[cashregister9]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

I'm not quite sure on which, but I imagine that the Switch 2 will have a big exclusive first party multiplayer/online game very close to, if not at launch.

Probably not Mario Party or Splatoon, Splatoon 3 is still getting updates (albeit very small ones) and Mario Party literally just got a game a few months ago

Mario Kart is a wild card, I can go either way, I feel like it all depends on how long the Booster Course Pass took to make.

Smash Bros. could be a wild swing at launch, but it all depends on what that Sakurai proposal was.

Animal Crossing could really help sell consoles, but it depends on the development team.

I could maybe see them trying to do a new Nintendo Switch Sports as well.

Solid chance that game is just whatever the NSO playtest was

 

[Ivander]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

1. Mario Kart and 3D Mario are definite. I'm also confident that a new Fire Emblem will be revealed and released this year and that we will get a game that showcases and uses the new console's features. We may also get some cross-platform titles with Metroid Prime 4 and possibly Pokemon Legends Z-A and Xenoblade X. That said, I'm really curious on what will be revealed overall.
2. I'm hoping soon for Switch 2 news. Might be a bit longer away, but hopefully not too far away.
3. I wouldn't be surprised if it was around close to Summer or during Summer.
4. Definitely Mario and Mario Kart. Metroid and Fire Emblem are pretty likely.

At the least, I'm hoping we get a Nintendo Direct for this month that showcases remaining Switch games and a date for a Direct for the full Switch 2 reveal.

 

[Louie G.]

Idk what other franchises could get a new entry this soon, other than Pokemon I guess.

I actually wouldn’t be too surprised if they’re gearing up to release a new Animal Crossing in the next couple years. Might be a good idea to get it out of the way early and just continue to update it through the system’s lifecycle.

I feel like the series has become a quintessential “once a generation” fixture much like Marko Kart, and after New Horizons they’ll be gunning for that more casual audience to scoop up a console more than ever.

Safe stuff like 3D Mario / Mario Kart may be enough to carry the first year, but I anticipate some word on the future of Animal Crossing sooner than later.

 

[NintenRob]

I could see Animal Crossing happening much earlier in the system life span than the Switch 1 with New Horizon. I could see it being pushed as a year 1 title for Switch

 

[fogbadge]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

well for the switch 2 I definitely agree that Mario kart will be sooner rather than later as it is free money for Nintendo

I can certainly believe there’s a good chance of a 3D Mario game

it’s been a couple years since the last Kirby so I don’t think it’ll be to long before we see him again

Splatoon 4 is inevitable

and I’d hope for a sequel to arms or something completely new. maybe a genre Nintendo haven’t done much with before

I certainly hope we get to find out more about the playtest

 

[Kirbeh]

Sure, but I'd rather see Peppino. I beat Antonblast last month and liked it, but Pizza Tower left so much more of a lasting impression on me that if we're gonna get an indie character from a Wario-like, I'd much rather vouch for the chef.

We'll get a character from a Wario-like before we get Wario.

 

[fogbadge]

I could see Animal Crossing happening much earlier in the system life span than the Switch 1 with New Horizon. I could see it being pushed as a year 1 title for Switch

Doubtful I have to say. The team that do animal crossing also do splatoon and it hasn’t been that long since splatoon 3 support ended. I don’t think a new animal crossing game will be ready that quickly. Well not a main line title. A spin off maybe

 

[Golden Icarus]

Getting Smash, Mario Kart and Animal Crossing out as soon as possible would have to be the smartest thing Nintendo could do. The quicker people can play Smash or Mario Kart will always help push Nintendo consoles. And now they have an online service to sell and aren’t afraid of DLC. They can literally have their cake and eat it too by getting all the heavy hitters out within the first year, while still being able to milk each game as long as they please.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Smash 6 feels like a 2026 release where it will be prioritised like what happened with Ultimate.

 

[Jave]

3D Mario and Mario Kart are guaranteed to be revealed before Switch 2 is out. They need to start strong to keep the momentum started with Switch 1 so nothing better than having two of their biggest sellers ready out of the gate. My guess is that one of them will be a launch title and the other release a couple of months after, probably as a Holiday title assuming Switch 2 releases on June/July/August.

Metroid Prime 4 will probably be revealed as cross-gen.

A new Fire Emblem will probably be revealed as well, most likely a remake of Genealogy of the Holy War (Sigurd's game) since that one's been rumored for a long time now. I also think a new Fire Emblem Warriors is possible, maybe taking advantage of Engage's recent crossover aspect to make a game with more legacy characters.

Animal Crossing would probably be revealed shortly after release for an early 2026 title.

And if Sakurai's game that started development in April/May 2022 is indeed Smash 6 (99% positive it is), then I think we might get a teaser for it this year, followed by a full reveal after Switch 2 is out, and thus the pre-release Smash cycle begins again until a mid/late 2026 release.

 

[Laniv]

Worth noting, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., so we're going to get at least a couple of Mario-related things, be it Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario, or even something like Mario Wonder 2.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Not 100% sure if Zelda will have a release for 2025 since they are likely going to take their time after Tears of the Kingdom and EoW.

WWHD and TPHD? Although these could also be for 2026 as anniversary titles since 2026 will be Zelda 1's 40th anniversary.

 

[Perkilator]

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

1. Definitely a new 3D Mario and Mario Kart, considering this year is the Super Mario franchise's 40th anniversary. Which one releases first is up in the air.
2. We know for a fact that Nintendo intends to reveal it before the end of the fiscal year. Maybe we'll get a special February Direct if not January?
3. Probably late May / early to mid-June to get its foot in the door with summer sales.
4. Again, definitely Mario since his franchise turns 40 this year. Maybe also Animal Crossing and a new IP. Maybe also Metroid Prime 4 and the long-rumored FE4 remake, but for the Switch 1 since Switch 2 is backwards compatible.

 

[Gorgonzales]

Worth noting, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., so we're going to get at least a couple of Mario-related things, be it Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario, or even something like Mario Wonder 2.

Can't wait for 3D All-Stars Deluxe, which now includes Galaxy 2, but the bundle now costs 70 dollars and is only available for 2 weeks.

 

[ninjahmos]

Worth noting, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., so we're going to get at least a couple of Mario-related things, be it Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario, or even something like Mario Wonder 2.

Imagine if they also made Super Mario Maker 3, which hopefully includes Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Land 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder as game styles.

Although, if they were planning that, I guess they'd probably start development on it post-release of the Switch 2.

 

[Ivander]

Imagine if they also made Super Mario Maker 3, which hopefully includes Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Land 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder as game styles.

Although, if they were planning that, I guess they'd probably start development on it post-release of the Switch 2.

I mean, Mario Maker 1 was released in 2015(almost 3 years after the Wii U launched) while Mario Maker 2 was released in 2019(2 years after the Switch launched). Super Mario Maker 3 in within 1-2 years doesn't seem that far-fetched, especially after Super Mario Bros Wonder released in October last year.

 

[Diddy Kong]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

I always hope for a new Donkey Kong, but am always disappointed. Yeah DKCR is there, but if a next mainline game is coming? Not too sure.

I do at the very least expect Smash related news within the first year of the Switch 2 being released. And it being quite far in development to showcase some serious stuff, like Ultimate back in the day.

Outside of that, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Splatoon seem safe bets. As well as Xenoblade being there, someday. I also expect a new Metroid in the same format as Dread. And a new 3D and 2D Mario.

Zelda will probably have to wait for later. Unless there's another topdown Zelda game using Links Awakening and Echoes as base.

 

[BritishGuy54]

In terms of a Switch 2 timeline…? I… have no clue.

But I’ll do my best to get a basic prediction out of the way.

I’m leaning towards 3D Mario at launch. Animal Crossing not long after launch. A NSMBW port announced on Mar10 Day for the Switch 1, Mario Kart as the holiday title.

Legends Z-A is likely coming in November or December. Pokémon’s always a bit late when it comes to making the generational leaps. While Mario or Zelda typically opens a new system’s life span, Pokémon typically ends it, just see Emerald, B2W2, or USUM.

Metroid Prime 4 comes before the Switch 2.

 

[NintenRob]

Nintendo will probably want something Zelda related on the system, but it seems improbable to be mainline 2D or 3D Zelda. What we could see however is:

Ports of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess
Breath of the Wild upcaled or something
New Hyrule Warriors
Maybe a new indie crossover like Cadence of Hyrule
Perhaps a new kind of Zelda spinoff.

 

[NintenRob]

Yearly Zelda since switch

2017 Breath of the Wild
2018 Hyrule Warriors DE
2019 Links Awakening
2020 Hyrule Warriors age of calamity
2021 Skyward Sword HD
2022..... Majora's Mask on NSO?
2023 Tears of the Kingdom
2024 Echoes of Wisdom


Most years have Zelda, this should be doubly true for the launch of a new system. The question is what can we expect?

 

[ninjahmos]

Here's another song from the Metal Gear series that I'd like to hear if Snake makes it into the next Smash game:

 

[Ivander]

You know what? How about this for something new. Before the Switch 2 is shown, take a franchise or game you've seen mentioned in a recent leak(Can't be one from you, it has to be one from a notable leaker) regarding the Switch or Switch 2 and predict that game or franchise will appear on the Switch 2.

Why something like this? Cause I recently saw a leak talking about a notable Chinese leaker and details that they posted about and one of the details and games they posted about was that the ARMS dev team is making a Custom Robo sequel. Sure, I'll believe it when I see it to begin with, but:

1. First off, that's a bold claim that the ARMS team is making a new Custom Robo game. Like it's not just that there was no mention of Custom Robo's original developer Noise, but also the fact that the ARMS team is responsible for the newer Mario Kart games and is more than likely working on the new Mario Kart. Custom Robo before Mario Kart after making ARMS?
2. Second, I don't know if it could've been a mistranslation in regards to one of the words, but note that it's not "Custom Robo game" and it's "Custom Robo sequel". For one, it's a series with 5 games and two, aside from possibly Custom Robo for Gamecube, all the other Custom Robo games after the first game are sequels. Heck, the first "sequel" to Custom Robo was Custom Robo V2 and it actually is a sequel to the first game, with the main characters from the first game appearing in the 2nd game. Custom Robo GX takes place after V2 and Custom Robo Arena takes place after GX. Meanwhile, Custom Robo GC is either an alternate timeline or in the distant future.
3. Now, if I want to give that rumor any sort of plausibility, Custom Robo is kinda right up ARMS' alley. Much like ARMS' gameplay, where you fight with two different ARMS, battle in a big arena and some characters having a good deal of mobility, Custom Robo has a good number of similarities, with one hand holding a Gun, the other hand holding a Bomb Gun, having access to a Pod which sends out a number of explosives, and even the general art direction focusing on flashy character designs for both series kinda fit each other.
   That said, aside from the fact that it's not the original developer developing the game, ARMS and Custom Robo, despite having similar features and a similar kind of gameplay, still play notably different. ARMS plays from a 3rd-Person angle while Custom Robo is mainly from a Top-Down perspective(although in Custom Robo Gamecube, you could unlock a special 1st-person perspective mode that allows you to play the game with a 1st-person view that tracks the opponent Robo. It's not bad with the ranged combat, but doing Charges is very awkward).
   So something I could imagine plausibly, assuming the ARMS team is not working on or is finished with the new Mario Kart, is that it may not have been Custom Robo they saw, but a different kind of game with similarities to Custom Robo, but is actually a different take on the ARMS formula that focuses on a Robot/Gundam-like setting rather than ARMS' fighting game tournament setting, and instead of the fist-like ARMS, it's outright different Robo guns, attachments or whatnot. Basically, the ARMS team's attempt at a Robo game, similar to Gundam, Custom Robo, Medabots, Gotcha Force and whatnot.
   Sure, it's the pessimistic in me talking, but that just seems alot more plausible to me of happening than the ARMS team making a new Custom Robo, let alone a new Custom Robo happening to begin with.

All that aside, I'm going to humor the leak and predict that Custom Robo will be shown with the Switch 2 and have a new game on the Switch 2. What is your "game mentioned by notable leaker will be revealed with the Switch 2" prediction?

 

[KneeOfJustice99]

So, we're finally in 2025.

What are some things you expect this year, and when?

We know four big games that Nintendo is developing right now.

• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
• Pokemon Legends Z-A
• Metroid Prime 4 Beyond

We also know that we'll have some news on the Switch 2 before the end of March.

What games do you expect to be revealed this year?

When do you think we'll get Switch 2 news?

When will the Switch 2 release?

What franchises will be present for the Switch 2's first year?

I think an underdiscussed element of 2025 specifically is that it'll mark the 10th anniversary of the Splatoon series; and with Splatoon 3 having essentially ended service last year, it seems plausible to me that there'll at least be something in the works for the series. As for what exactly that'll look like... I'm not exactly sure, given I don't follow the series too closely, but I feel like the series is big enough at this point that a Splatoon title could feasibly be a launch title for the system - or at least released very early in its lifespan.

There's three ways of approaching this that spring to my mind.

• Straight up "Splatoon 4". Whether that's a continuation of the current trilogy or not remains to be seen, but generally a new Splatoon centred on new environments with new characters and whatnot. I'd wager that "four" would be a theme throughout, too; Splatfests having four teams (and larger maps as a result) might not be a bad shout.
• Some kind of spinoff, however that might look. I've been of the mind of thinking a real-time tactical RPG could be a fun way to handle it (but stylised and a little faster-paced, something loosely akin to Mario + Rabbids?), but I could also see anything from a rhythm game inspired by the series' music to a party game inspired by the series' mechanics and anything inbetween. (This actually feels less plausible to me as a launch title, though.)
  • A side note here; I'll also give consideration to a generally "smaller" title that acts as a stop-gap between 3 and 4 while the next mainline title is developed. This seems maybe a little more plausible, but I'm not entirely sure what that'd look like; maybe something like an 8-bit styled top-down Splatoon game in the "99" style?
• Some kind of "best hits" collection of stuff from the first three games, whether that be weapons, maps, and so forth, intended as a kind of celebration of the 10th anniversary of the series. Obviously they do this already to a smaller extent, but some sort of "Splatoon Anniversary Edition" doesn't seem entirely implausible to me. (Of course, you'd have to wonder if that'd get supported long-term.)

Idk, seems like it'd be a missed opportunity not to do something with it. But then they barely did anything for Donkey Kong's 40th so who's to say.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

You know what? How about this for something new. Before the Switch 2 is shown, take a franchise or game you've seen mentioned in a recent leak(Can't be one from you, it has to be one from a notable leaker) regarding the Switch or Switch 2 and predict that game or franchise will appear on the Switch 2.

Why something like this? Cause I recently saw a leak talking about a notable Chinese leaker and details that they posted about and one of the details and games they posted about was that the ARMS dev team is making a Custom Robo sequel. Sure, I'll believe it when I see it to begin with, but:

1. First off, that's a bold claim that the ARMS team is making a new Custom Robo game. Like it's not just that there was no mention of Custom Robo's original developer Noise, but also the fact that the ARMS team is responsible for the newer Mario Kart games and is more than likely working on the new Mario Kart. Custom Robo before Mario Kart after making ARMS?
2. Second, I don't know if it could've been a mistranslation in regards to one of the words, but note that it's not "Custom Robo game" and it's "Custom Robo sequel". For one, it's a series with 5 games and two, aside from possibly Custom Robo for Gamecube, all the other Custom Robo games after the first game are sequels. Heck, the first "sequel" to Custom Robo was Custom Robo V2 and it actually is a sequel to the first game, with the main characters from the first game appearing in the 2nd game. Custom Robo GX takes place after V2 and Custom Robo Arena takes place after GX. Meanwhile, Custom Robo GC is either an alternate timeline or in the distant future.
3. Now, if I want to give that rumor any sort of plausibility, Custom Robo is kinda right up ARMS' alley. Much like ARMS' gameplay, where you fight with two different ARMS, battle in a big arena and some characters having a good deal of mobility, Custom Robo has a good number of similarities, with one hand holding a Gun, the other hand holding a Bomb Gun, having access to a Pod which sends out a number of explosives, and even the general art direction focusing on flashy character designs for both series kinda fit each other.
   That said, aside from the fact that it's not the original developer developing the game, ARMS and Custom Robo, despite having similar features and a similar kind of gameplay, still play notably different. ARMS plays from a 3rd-Person angle while Custom Robo is mainly from a Top-Down perspective(although in Custom Robo Gamecube, you could unlock a special 1st-person perspective mode that allows you to play the game with a 1st-person view that tracks the opponent Robo. It's not bad with the ranged combat, but doing Charges is very awkward).
   So something I could imagine plausibly, assuming the ARMS team is not working on or is finished with the new Mario Kart, is that it may not have been Custom Robo they saw, but a different kind of game with similarities to Custom Robo, but is actually a different take on the ARMS formula that focuses on a Robot/Gundam-like setting rather than ARMS' fighting game tournament setting, and instead of the fist-like ARMS, it's outright different Robo guns, attachments or whatnot. Basically, the ARMS team's attempt at a Robo game, similar to Gundam, Custom Robo, Medabots, Gotcha Force and whatnot.
   Sure, it's the pessimistic in me talking, but that just seems alot more plausible to me of happening than the ARMS team making a new Custom Robo, let alone a new Custom Robo happening to begin with.

All that aside, I'm going to humor the leak and predict that Custom Robo will be shown with the Switch 2 and have a new game on the Switch 2. What is your "game mentioned by notable leaker will be revealed with the Switch 2" prediction?

This game was the one I mentioned in my post earlier about a revival of a dormant series being on my mind due to recent rumors I'd seen lmao

I don't necessarily believe it, mostly because I think the Custom Robo trademark is still dead though that could obviously change, but I think the funniest/scariest thing about the Switch era is I can't entirely rule it out because the Switch brought back Big Brain Academy, Advance Wars, Famicom Detective Club, Endless Ocean, Pokemon Snap, F-Zero (even if only to an extent with F-Zero 99), and Another Code lol

I do think it'd be really funny to cast all expectations aside and see something like CUSTOM ROBO releasing in the Switch 2's first year though lol

As for the actual hypothetical, I don't really keep tracks of leaks very well unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your outlook), so aside from the stuff in this post that included Custom Robo, I have no idea what's even been leaked/rumored recently.

 

[KneeOfJustice99]

You know what? How about this for something new. Before the Switch 2 is shown, take a franchise or game you've seen mentioned in a recent leak(Can't be one from you, it has to be one from a notable leaker) regarding the Switch or Switch 2 and predict that game or franchise will appear on the Switch 2.

Why something like this? Cause I recently saw a leak talking about a notable Chinese leaker and details that they posted about and one of the details and games they posted about was that the ARMS dev team is making a Custom Robo sequel. Sure, I'll believe it when I see it to begin with, but:

1. First off, that's a bold claim that the ARMS team is making a new Custom Robo game. Like it's not just that there was no mention of Custom Robo's original developer Noise, but also the fact that the ARMS team is responsible for the newer Mario Kart games and is more than likely working on the new Mario Kart. Custom Robo before Mario Kart after making ARMS?
2. Second, I don't know if it could've been a mistranslation in regards to one of the words, but note that it's not "Custom Robo game" and it's "Custom Robo sequel". For one, it's a series with 5 games and two, aside from possibly Custom Robo for Gamecube, all the other Custom Robo games after the first game are sequels. Heck, the first "sequel" to Custom Robo was Custom Robo V2 and it actually is a sequel to the first game, with the main characters from the first game appearing in the 2nd game. Custom Robo GX takes place after V2 and Custom Robo Arena takes place after GX. Meanwhile, Custom Robo GC is either an alternate timeline or in the distant future.
3. Now, if I want to give that rumor any sort of plausibility, Custom Robo is kinda right up ARMS' alley. Much like ARMS' gameplay, where you fight with two different ARMS, battle in a big arena and some characters having a good deal of mobility, Custom Robo has a good number of similarities, with one hand holding a Gun, the other hand holding a Bomb Gun, having access to a Pod which sends out a number of explosives, and even the general art direction focusing on flashy character designs for both series kinda fit each other.
   That said, aside from the fact that it's not the original developer developing the game, ARMS and Custom Robo, despite having similar features and a similar kind of gameplay, still play notably different. ARMS plays from a 3rd-Person angle while Custom Robo is mainly from a Top-Down perspective(although in Custom Robo Gamecube, you could unlock a special 1st-person perspective mode that allows you to play the game with a 1st-person view that tracks the opponent Robo. It's not bad with the ranged combat, but doing Charges is very awkward).
   So something I could imagine plausibly, assuming the ARMS team is not working on or is finished with the new Mario Kart, is that it may not have been Custom Robo they saw, but a different kind of game with similarities to Custom Robo, but is actually a different take on the ARMS formula that focuses on a Robot/Gundam-like setting rather than ARMS' fighting game tournament setting, and instead of the fist-like ARMS, it's outright different Robo guns, attachments or whatnot. Basically, the ARMS team's attempt at a Robo game, similar to Gundam, Custom Robo, Medabots, Gotcha Force and whatnot.
   Sure, it's the pessimistic in me talking, but that just seems alot more plausible to me of happening than the ARMS team making a new Custom Robo, let alone a new Custom Robo happening to begin with.

All that aside, I'm going to humor the leak and predict that Custom Robo will be shown with the Switch 2 and have a new game on the Switch 2. What is your "game mentioned by notable leaker will be revealed with the Switch 2" prediction?

Not quite what you had in mind, but this opinion article from gameindustry.biz features a little something interesting...

I also know that Nintendo is actively meeting with independent developers to find new partners. Some of that is around publishing indie games, which Nintendo does from time-to-time, but it's also seeking studios that could work on some of its IP. Nintendo regularly works with third-party teams, including Bandai Namco, Team Ninja, Platinum Games, MercurySteam, WayForward and Grezzo. But the company is looking to add to that roster, and I know of three studios that are deep in conversation around making games based on Nintendo brands.

This suggests two things to me.

1. The one people seem more excited about; the idea of indie studios getting to work with Nintendo IP, in a manner similar to Cadence of Hyrule. I don't think this would be entirely unprecedented, to be completely honest - but I do think it'll be the kind of thing we'd struggle to predict at a glance, and it'll almost certainly be more prominent indie developers who get their shot at this, presumably those with more than a single developer. What this would look like... well, the sky's the limit, but I don't imagine something as big as Mario would get involved. Though...
2. Some kind of new "collaborative" project with a larger company in a vein akin to Mario + Rabbids. I don't think we're likely to see a third game in the series - the second game didn't sell too well and Ubisoft's in a precarious state right now - but more collaborative projects seems like pretty much a foregone conclusion. The main one that springs to my mind is a new Warriors spinoff featuring a Nintendo IP (Xenoblade Warriors seems like a popular concept?), but beyond this, I could totally imagine something more unprecedented to level of Mario + Rabbids or Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. If I had to throw my hat into the ring with a wild guess... I'll say some sort of Nintendo-themed LEGO game. (A LEGO Zelda game seems like it could be pretty interesting.)

Idk. Seems like Nintendo's getting a bit more open with this kind of thing, and especially when we consider their more proactive support of indie development for the Switch, working with larger indie devs seems plausible; not to mention new collaborations. Anyway, can't wait for Itadaki Street Switch 2 featuring Sylvando and Foreman Spike

 

[Ivander]

This game was the one I mentioned in my post earlier about a revival of a dormant series being on my mind due to recent rumors I'd seen lmao

I don't necessarily believe it, mostly because I think the Custom Robo trademark is still dead though that could obviously change, but I think the funniest/scariest thing about the Switch era is I can't entirely rule it out because the Switch brought back Big Brain Academy, Advance Wars, Famicom Detective Club, Endless Ocean, Pokemon Snap, F-Zero (even if only to an extent with F-Zero 99), and Another Code lol

I do think it'd be really funny to cast all expectations aside and see something like CUSTOM ROBO releasing in the Switch 2's first year though lol

As for the actual hypothetical, I don't really keep tracks of leaks very well unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your outlook), so aside from the stuff in this post that included Custom Robo, I have no idea what's even been leaked/rumored recently.

Oh, I don't deny that Custom Robo could somehow come back in regards to the Switch. I just think the notable things in that specific case just make it more harder to believe. Custom Robo, much like the other games that got Switch titles, is basically a "It needs to be announced to believe it." deal.

And here's the detailed rumor regarding the insider.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1hrp9rw/a_known_chinese_insider_posts_several_new_details/

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

Not quite what you had in mind, but this opinion article from gameindustry.biz features a little something interesting...

This suggests two things to me.

1. The one people seem more excited about; the idea of indie studios getting to work with Nintendo IP, in a manner similar to Cadence of Hyrule. I don't think this would be entirely unprecedented, to be completely honest - but I do think it'll be the kind of thing we'd struggle to predict at a glance, and it'll almost certainly be more prominent indie developers who get their shot at this, presumably those with more than a single developer. What this would look like... well, the sky's the limit, but I don't imagine something as big as Mario would get involved. Though...
2. Some kind of new "collaborative" project with a larger company in a vein akin to Mario + Rabbids. I don't think we're likely to see a third game in the series - the second game didn't sell too well and Ubisoft's in a precarious state right now - but more collaborative projects seems like pretty much a foregone conclusion. The main one that springs to my mind is a new Warriors spinoff featuring a Nintendo IP (Xenoblade Warriors seems like a popular concept?), but beyond this, I could totally imagine something more unprecedented to level of Mario + Rabbids or Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. If I had to throw my hat into the ring with a wild guess... I'll say some sort of Nintendo-themed LEGO game. (A LEGO Zelda game seems like it could be pretty interesting.)

Idk. Seems like Nintendo's getting a bit more open with this kind of thing, and especially when we consider their more proactive support of indie development for the Switch, working with larger indie devs seems plausible; not to mention new collaborations. Anyway, can't wait for Itadaki Street Switch 2 featuring Sylvando and Foreman Spike

I mean WayForward did make the Advance Wars remake I think? They're listed in the article of course, and I dunno that the results of that game would be very favorable, but I have thought for a while now that they'd probably be able to make a pretty good Wario Land style game...

As for new indies making games for Nintendo franchises, I'd be very curious to see who the studios are and what they're doing, but I guess only time will tell on that front lol

 

[Ivander]

I mean WayForward did make the Advance Wars remake I think? They're listed in the article of course, and I dunno that the results of that game would be very favorable, but I have thought for a while now that they'd probably be able to make a pretty good Wario Land style game...

As for new indies making games for Nintendo franchises, I'd be very curious to see who the studios are and what they're doing, but I guess only time will tell on that front lol

Something I think WayForward could do well with is a new 2D Kid Icarus game. Kid Icarus Uprising did a good job with it's character designs and art direction and I think WayForward could re-create and apply the design and direction favourably in a 2D format.

 

[Captain Shwampy]

On the discussion on VF, you could technically make Ryo Hazuki a echo fighter of Akira. Ryo knows Bajiquan after all and it goes back full circle with Ryo originally being a younger Akira when Shenmue was just going to be a VF RPG on the Saturn.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

I always hope for a new Donkey Kong, but am always disappointed. Yeah DKCR is there, but if a next mainline game is coming? Not too sure.

My prediction is that it will happen but probably sometime after MP4 if Retro is returning.

I think the development of that game was why there wasn’t anything new on Switch outside of ports.

 

[Stratos]

Maybe there's no way that's going to happen, but I hope they give Waluigi the chance to star in his own video game, after all, there are countless fans who want it and besides, many characters from the Mario franchise have starred in their own video games. Although Daisy and Toadette haven't starred in their own video games, they were two of the playable characters in Super Mario Bros Wonder, as was Rosalina in Super Mario 3D World. Also Waluigi is well known he is almost as famous as Mario, Luigi and Wario who have their own series of video games so let him be given a chance to star in his own video game on Switch 2, what has Nintendo lose out of this?

 

[NintenRob]

I don't need a Waluigi game, no idea what that would even be. But I do think it's a missed opportunity for Waluigi not to show in any Wario Ware games. Those games already have such a wide zany cast, Waluigi would fit right in and it's weird he's not in them already.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

I don't need a Waluigi game, no idea what that would even be. But I do think it's a missed opportunity for Waluigi not to show in any Wario Ware games. Those games already have such a wide zany cast, Waluigi would fit right in and it's weird he's not in them already.

Genuinely, it's bizarre and kind of hilarious to me that Cractus from Wario Land 4 showed up in a Wario Ware game (he's in Move It! in Kat and Ana's stage) before a character like Waluigi lol

 

[KneeOfJustice99]

...I think a Waluigi Pinball game could actually be pretty cool. Maybe he's trying to make money from a pinball parlour in Diamond City by becoming a pinball champ and getting high-scores, and there's absolutely potential in more traditional-looking takes on pinball tables inspired by elements from throughout the Mario universe. Plus, give him a gimmick where you can jostle the table to move the ball a little, and it ties into his cheating nature decently well - while his spinoff focusing on electromechanical arcade games would kind of mirror Wario's spinoff series focusing on digital video games.

Or something. Maybe I just want the Switch's capacity to (theoretically) be used vertically in handheld mode to finally be used.

 

[Stratos]

The truth is that Waluigi, as Wario's long-time partner, should appear in games in the Wario series.

 

[Verde Coeden Scalesworth]

Waluigi was created for a partner in the Mario Tennis games.

Spoiler: Long

He pretty much shows up mainly in the spin-offs to partner with Wario, though can vary. He was never designed for Wario Land, and WarioWare has nothing to do with him. Of course he doesn't show up in Wario games. He was made as a Super Mario-specific character whose story is mainly tied to Wario. It's a very different thing from an actual Wario-series character. Besides that, they don't even define their relationship at all beyond them working together in often jerkish acts of sorts. Are they friends? Family? Etc. Waluigi's existence also is heavily based upon being an Evil Luigi type of character(the same reason for Wario's existence), and never really broke out into his own subset of games to define him heavily(at most, he played sometimes a villainous role, but even then, other characters also had it in the same games). The second factor is what makes him quite different from Wario. Other than a similar archtype in terms of creation, and working together in Mario-based games, they really don't have much to do with each other.

Sure, that seems weird to say, but Wario's two game series; Land(which World is more or less part of in terms of overall playstyle) and Ware do their own things that define Wario and his series pretty well. Land gave him skills that are very unique(though it is based upon Super Mario Land's skill concept, something which Mario doesn't do nearly as much anymore. He still does from time to time), while Ware completely cut off Wario from the Mario style entirely. Waluigi doesn't really fit into either series since his main thing is being about sports and other competitive games. In a sense, you could call him a king of spin-offs too(RPG's aside). One of the biggest difference is that others who debuted in spin-offs tend to rarely cameo in mainline games either, but Waluigi did get a seat as a costume in Super Mario Maker and Odyssey, as well as his colors deliberately used when using the Wario and Luigi Badges in The Thousand Year Door(justified, as Waluigi is basically a Wa - Luigi intentionally. Same concept as Wario, but based upon Luigi, as I noted a bit back).

To note, Daisy seems almost the same, it's just that she debuted in a mainline game(Super Mario Land), and was reused fully in Super Mario Run(which is officially a mainline game too). She was never designed as a spin-off character. It's just that the spin-offs gave her actual personality to work with. So a tad different in how things go. Naturally she's seeing slightly more use in the mainline games than Waluigi because they have different purposes. That said, the franchise isn't designed where this much matters. It's just that some aren't going to see use in a sub-series if they're not really tied to it. While Yoshi does see some of the Babies in the remake of Yoshi's Island, that's... kind of it. Wario meanwhile only had Mario temporarily in it and then his cast of characters. Here and there some Super Mario characters have very minor cameos or references, but it's generally his own world. Yoshi at least makes more sense to use Super Mario enemies(though he has his own unique set of enemies too) due to the fact that some games are literally his past interactions with Mario.

You can start to see how they go about things; it's not whether they have remote ties in the same big universe. It's whether they really fit into said sub-series based upon their origins and purpose. If they don't really serve a purpose in a sub-series beyond "just happening to know the character", then it doesn't really add to it. Besides that, when a sub-series super branches out, it doesn't rely on the core series for things, which makes sense. That just hurts its uniqueness(Yoshi doesn't entirely rely on Super Mario either). And even Donkey Kong Country, which is a sub-series to DK Arcade in particular, didn't even bother with Super Mario at all. Super Mario still has DKC characters appear, and sometimes DK Arcade stuff, but doesn't heavily use them either way. Mainly cause it's not exactly a franchise heavily focused on relating to Mario beyond three characters interacting(Mario, classic DK, and DK Jr). And that's not even counting Stanley the Bugman, who is directly tied to DK, not Mario at all(though is clearly designed to be somewhat of a replacement for Mario in the DK Arcade games).

I would love to see Waluigi get some actual starring roles beyond a single starter villain role(Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix) too, likewise beyond his story roles in some spin-offs(Mario Party 3, for instance), but it seems pretty unlikely anyway they'll do much beyond having him as a simple character to use among many fun additions to various spin-off titles, etc.