Official Next Smash - Speculation & Discussion Thread

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Also even though the series icon is technically supposed to be Falchion, Ike still has an important sword in Ragnell, so it can technically still work for him since the FE symbol is something as basic as a sword lol
And for Dragon Quest, the others don't have different series icons because they're alts.

I just think it'd be weird for a character like Aigis to have the Phantom Thief insignia as her series icon even if Joker does come back with her lol

There's precedent to a series getting an entire logo change, at the very least

So Persona getting a more encompassing logo rather than the Phantom Thieves logo is not out of the realm of possibility

 

[Wonder Smash]

I still don’t see what Cuphead being an indie game matters, it seems like you’re suggesting indie games are inherently lesser.

What does Contra have to prove its popularity in comparison? It’s one of the pioneers of side scrolling run and gun games, the series has a sizable amount of titles, and the early games are iconic amongst hardcore gamers, beyond that what else can you say?

Contra lacks the massive casual audience Cuphead has, and the series has time and again failed to reach the levels of success the games from the 80/90s did, which were successful, but nowhere near as successful as Cuphead.

If you want to say Contra had a bigger impact on gaming that’s one thing, but more popular? I don’t think so.

Lesser as in what? I'm just saying there's a difference in the companies here.

You said Cuphead is more popular because it sold more than the Contra series. The thing is, we don't know how much Contra has sold by now. All we got is what they sold way back in 1996. There's no telling how much it has sold since then. Though even with this all this, Contra has been around for a long time where as Cuphead is still a much newer game that was made during a scene that was pretty much on the rise. I wouldn't be so quick to say this one game that just came out is more popular than a whole franchise that continues to entertain fans to this day.

 

[Watuna4343]

I want to ask something a bit irrelevant, there's apparently a project that Sakurai is working under that is debated on whether it's a new Smash or not but can someone clarify if the supposed project started in 2021 or 2022? Because I hear about both years

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

There's precedent to a series getting an entire logo change, at the very least

So Persona getting a more encompassing logo rather than the Phantom Thieves logo is not out of the realm of possibility

Yeah, like if we get Persona characters from other games, I could see the series icon changing to be a tarot card instead like the games use to symbolize the various Arcana.

I want to ask something a bit irrelevant, there's apparently a project that Sakurai is working under that is debated on whether it's a new Smash or not but can someone clarify if the supposed project started in 2021 or 2022? Because I hear about both years

According to Sakurai, I believe the project plan for the game was written "lightning-quick" sometime in 2021 (I think he mentions it was during the production of Kazuya's showcase?), but he had to wait for a team to be put together to make it, so actual production started in April 2022.

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

I want to ask something a bit irrelevant, there's apparently a project that Sakurai is working under that is debated on whether it's a new Smash or not but can someone clarify if the supposed project started in 2021 or 2022? Because I hear about both years

2021 for when project was drafted; 2022 when production started.

 

[Guynamednelson]

I want to ask something a bit irrelevant, there's apparently a project that Sakurai is working under that is debated on whether it's a new Smash or not but can someone clarify if the supposed project started in 2021 or 2022? Because I hear about both years

Sakurai said in the finale of his YouTube channel that the videos were actually filmed "two and a half years ago" by October 2024's definition of it, so that would put it around April 2022 when he wrapped up that project plan.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Sakurai said in the finale of his YouTube channel that the videos were actually filmed "two and a half years ago" by October 2024's definition of it, so that would put it around April 2022 when he wrapped up that project plan.

No no no no. The project plan was drafted in June 2021 but he still had Ultimate's DLC to go through and there was still a need for a team to be built which wouldn't happen until April 2022, which is how the idea of the YouTube channel came in the first place.

It's something he wanted to do to fill the gap between Ultimate and whatever his next project is.

In other words, even when the man is on vacation, he still works all day.

 

[Speed Weed]

TBH my potentially hot take is that I don't actually think Contra is much of a pioneer, per se. It's definitely inspired plenty of games, but I think that's more owed to it being a high-profile and visible example of what it does rather than it actually doing anything really new. A lot of the ideas it presents were already being kicked around by other games in arcades and elsewhere - it's still an important series, but I just wanted to get this off my chest bc I'm seeing this conversation mentioning it being a pioneer of the genre multiple times and I think that's an idea that's very influenced by the fact that it happens to be The One That Blew Up Overseas.

My other potentially controversial take is that to be honest I don't think run-and-guns are a significant enough genre that you need to get all the pioneers in first. Like, I don't really think of either Cuphead or Contra getting in explicitly to represent that genre rather than on their own merits and we all know Metal Slug's the superior option anyways

 

[Watuna4343]

2021 for when project was drafted; 2022 when production started.

Sakurai said in the finale of his YouTube channel that the videos were actually filmed "two and a half years ago" by October 2024's definition of it, so that would put it around April 2022 when he wrapped up that project plan.

Huh, that's interesting in a not so good way because... see, if the project started in 2021, I have found an article published in 2021 (I HAVE to note that Idk if it has been posted here before) that kind of confirms that a new Smash didn't start then

This is the article.

Basically this was published on December of 2021 and at the end of the article, at the very final question, it says this:

I think we’ve reached the limit, at least in terms of volume of content and fighters. Basically, if I were to have the opportunity to work on another Super Smash Bros. game, that means we would have to shrink the roster, but we need to think about whether fans would be pleased about that.
Also, I’ve been doing too much of the work myself, so I’d need to resolve that, too. The current Super Smash Bros. has too much of my personality poured into it. In order for a long-time series to continue thriving today, we need to think about eliminating the series’ dependence on just one person’s vision.

Of course, this is the way it is now because we weren’t successful in splitting the vision between multiple people before. This would be a challenge for the future and something that needs to be discussed with Nintendo, if there were to be a next installment in the Super Smash Bros. series.

But by this, because again, the article was published on December of 2021, that kind of has to confirm that whatever the alleged project is isn't Smash right? Unless Sakurai is lying here, which I have no reason to believe he does, he is planning for something else.

 

[RileyXY1]

Looks like it's pretty much confirmed that Sakurai's new project is something else entirely.

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

In terms of Pokémon newcomers, I really want something original.

No starters, no trainers, no Pikachu clones.

Will you settle for an anime swordsman?

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Huh, that's interesting in a not so good way because... see, if the project started in 2021, I have found an article published in 2021 (I HAVE to note that Idk if it has been posted here before) that kind of confirms that a new Smash didn't start then

This is the article.

Basically this was published on December of 2021 and at the end of the article, at the very final question, it says this:

While I personally think too much stuff is lining up against the idea of it being Smash, I'm going to still play Devil's Advocate here and mention that Nintendo's three favorite letters are NDA.

If the project written in 2021 and developed since 2022 was indeed a Smash game, Sakurai would not be allowed to mention it's being worked on due to a non-disclosure agreement so he would likely have to pretend it doesn't exist in that situation.

Still don't think it's Smash but him acting like it's not a thing is not a hint at it since he'd have to say the same thing if it was actively being worked on.

 

[Wonder Smash]

I should've just said:

That sales numbers report is outdated, Your Honor.

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

While I personally think too much stuff is lining up against the idea of it being Smash, I'm going to still play Devil's Advocate here and mention that Nintendo's three favorite letters are NDA.

If the project written in 2021 and developed since 2022 was indeed a Smash game, Sakurai would not be allowed to mention it's being worked on so he would likely have to pretend it doesn't exist in that situation.

To continue advocating the Devil, wasn't Sakurai also like that towards Smash in the same period he was drafting the project proposal for Ultimate?

 

[Shinuto]

Looks like it's pretty much confirmed that Sakurai's new project is something else entirely.

No...?

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

To continue advocating the Devil, wasn't Sakurai also like that towards Smash in the same period he was drafting the project proposal for Ultimate?

I don't remember and I'm too lazy to look up every interview, Direct and Famitsu column to see if that's the case but I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

Huh, that's interesting in a not so good way because... see, if the project started in 2021, I have found an article published in 2021 (I HAVE to note that Idk if it has been posted here before) that kind of confirms that a new Smash didn't start then

This is the article.

Basically this was published on December of 2021 and at the end of the article, at the very final question, it says this:


But by this, because again, the article was published on December of 2021, that kind of has to confirm that whatever the alleged project is isn't Smash right? Unless Sakurai is lying here, which I have no reason to believe he does, he is planning for something else.

I mean saying it's interesting in a "not so good way" depends on your perspective, because I'm like "yo, the next Smash might actually include characters from the tail end of the Switch's life" since the 2021 cutoff was so rough on most big games in the latter half of the Switch lol

Also side note, I also kinda don't think it's Smash because he said he wrote the proposal "lightning-quick" or whatever his wording was (someone can correct me if I'm wrong on this), and since Ultimate Deluxe isn't likely due to backwards compatibility and Smash's lack of ever doing ports, I don't think a new Smash would be something you COULD make a proposal for "lightning-quick" considering you're most likely not doing Everyone Is Here again, so you have some hard decisions to make on who to prioritize making it back alongside any newcomer selections.

 

[RileyXY1]

I think Sakurai's next project might actually be the remake of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War that's been rumored for years.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

Okay now i KNOW that guy is trolling, that's such an obvious bait post.

 

[Watuna4343]

Okay now i KNOW that guy is trolling, that's such an obvious bait post.

What? Referring to me? Because I posted something that might suggest a new Smash didn't begin development in 2021? Sorry but if you know for a fact that I am trolling, you are way off mark...

 

[Guynamednelson]

What? Referring to me? Because I posted something that might suggest a new Smash didn't begin development in 2021? Sorry but if you know for a fact that I am trolling, you are way off mark...

He's referring to Riley who loves to make absurd claims for the sake of doubting anything happening.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

What? Referring to me? Because I posted something that might suggest a new Smash didn't begin development in 2021? Sorry but if you know for a fact that I am trolling, you are way off mark...

No, he's referring to Riley's post.

 

[Shinuto]

What? Referring to me? Because I posted something that might suggest a new Smash didn't begin development in 2021? Sorry but if you know for a fact that I am trolling, you are way off mark...

Dude he didn't even quote someone, simmer down

 

[BrawlX10]

Honestly, April 2022 always has seemed too early to lock the roster in, anyway, i was doubting it begin Smash in that alone.
Chances are that Smash 6 started development sometime in 2024, honestly.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

It’s seemingly the longest development time if its actually 2021 since the developers generally only plan 2-3 years ahead.

Smash 6 is presumably 2026-7 which would mean a 5-6 year development time.

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

Honestly, April 2022 always has seemed too early to lock the roster in, anyway, i was doubting it begin Smash in that alone.
Chances are that Smash 6 started development sometime in 2024, honestly.

Roster wouldn't have been locked in April 2022 anyway.

It'd been much earlier, as in, when the proposal was drafted in June/July 2021.

 

[ninjahmos]

I'll be honest, I don't think Sakurai's next project is Smash either, because 2021-2022 does seem a little too early for production to start on a new title in the series. In fact, I'm pretty sure it could either be an entirely new IP or another revival of Nintendo's old IPs. 2024 actually seems more likely for starting development on Smash 6.

Of course, I could be wrong…but I still have my doubts.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

Honestly, April 2022 always has seemed too early to lock the roster in, anyway, i was doubting it begin Smash in that alone.
Chances are that Smash 6 started development sometime in 2024, honestly.

I've been figuring it actually started development after Namco's new Nintendo support studios stopped hiring, which if I remember right is around June 2024.

Never made sense to me for Namco to seemingly start hiring for six months after development was already in full swing for two years, not to mention Ultimate's extra Spirit events happened right in the middle of that hiring period, which makes more sense for that to be before the whole team is put together than randomly making Spirit events for Ultimate WHILE you're making the next Smash instead of just putting those collectibles in the next Smash lol

 

[ninjahmos]

If we get anymore Mario Party content in the next Smash game, I think either Mario's Rainbow Castle or Western Land could work pretty well as a stage.

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

If we get anymore Mario Party content in the next Smash game, I think either Mario's Rainbow Castle or Western Land could work pretty well as a stage.

Only if I can force people to hootenanny in the latter even if it is no benefit to me.
(I am someone who does this with friends when we play MP2 or Jambooree).

 

[NotGenerico]

Huh, that's interesting in a not so good way because... see, if the project started in 2021, I have found an article published in 2021 (I HAVE to note that Idk if it has been posted here before) that kind of confirms that a new Smash didn't start then

This is the article.

Basically this was published on December of 2021 and at the end of the article, at the very final question, it says this:


But by this, because again, the article was published on December of 2021, that kind of has to confirm that whatever the alleged project is isn't Smash right? Unless Sakurai is lying here, which I have no reason to believe he does, he is planning for something else.

Sakurai has straight up lied before, though.

The last two DLC fighters for Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U, Corrin and Bayonetta, are now available. At long last, development on Smash for 3DS/ Wii U has ended!! To all of the staff who were involved in this project, thank you for all your hard work. To all who supported and followed the game and its development, thank you so very much. Personally, I’m happy I can finally take an extended vacation.

This is an excerpt of his Famitsu column after Corrin and Bayonetta released. As we know now, he never took any extended vacation. He immediately began working on Ultimate after finishing up with Smash 4.

 

[Louie G.]

According to Sakurai, I believe the project plan for the game was written "lightning-quick" sometime in 2021 (I think he mentions it was during the production of Kazuya's showcase?), but he had to wait for a team to be put together to make it, so actual production started in April 2022.

Not gonna lie, admittedly spurred on a bit by hopium, but here's what I think happened with that in mind.

A Smash project plan would be hard to draft up so quickly. Lots of consideration needs to be put in place for character playstyles, new gameplay modes and so forth. Unless it's a port, something that I do not think is happening, it's not the kind of game I see them trying to rush that way. Factor that in with my general skepticism about the game being drafted so early, I just don't think it's Smash Bros.

But I do think it could be the ever-hopeful Kid Icarus Uprising remake. Knowing Sakurai's commitment to his own games, such as how he feels obligated to remain involved with Smash, I think he would be asked to helm a remake and would prefer to head it over handing it to a different director. But a plan would be in order to determine how Uprising can function with the new hardware (assuming this is in fact a Switch 2 title) and perhaps a couple extra gameplay modes... but this is definitely something that could have been drafted up "lightning-quick" since the actual game would remain largely the same. And honestly, the Switch 2's presumed joycon mouse could be the perfect substitute for a touch-screen reliant game like Kid Icarus Uprising.

If Sakurai was in charge of this remake, I believe he is capable of multitasking. Uprising HD could exist adjacent to a Smash game being drafted up toward the tail end of its development - frankly, whatever Sakurai started working on in 2022 is probably done or nearly done and just waiting on the Switch 2 to come out proper. I believe it's been said that Nintendo finishes their games well ahead of their release, all the more important when it's a console launch year title. So if Uprising HD began development in 2022, a Smash project plan intermittently drafted sometime in 2023, and Sakurai's attention as director shifting from one to another in say mid to late 2024... that feels very, very reasonable to me. But your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Ivander]

Sakurai has straight up lied before, though.



This is an excerpt of his Famitsu column after Corrin and Bayonetta released. As we know now, he never took any extended vacation. He immediately began working on Ultimate after finishing up with Smash 4.

He didn't.

Personally, I’m happy I can finally take an extended vacation.

He said he can, not that he said he will. There's a big difference.

 

[ninjahmos]

You know what I think would be a nice little, insignificant detail to add in the next game? They could add in this sound effect every time a Bob-Omb appears.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

If Sakurai was in charge of this remake, I believe he is capable of multitasking. Uprising HD could exist adjacent to a Smash game being drafted up toward the tail end of its development - frankly, whatever Sakurai started working on in 2022 is probably done or nearly done and just waiting on the Switch 2 to come out proper. I believe it's been said that Nintendo finishes their games well ahead of their release, all the more important when it's a console launch year title. So if Uprising HD began development in 2022, a Smash project plan intermittently drafted sometime in 2023, and Sakurai's attention as director shifting from one to another in say mid to late 2024... that feels very, very reasonable to me. But your guess is as good as mine.

I mean that's basically what happened with the original Uprising and Smash 4, since Smash 4 started development in early 2012, just before Uprising released, so presumably the project plan would've been drafted in 2011 when Uprising was nearing the end of development.

 

[BrawlX10]

I've been figuring it actually started development after Namco's new Nintendo support studios stopped hiring, which if I remember right is around June 2024.

Never made sense to me for Namco to seemingly start hiring for six months after development was already in full swing for two years, not to mention Ultimate's extra Spirit events happened right in the middle of that hiring period, which makes more sense for that to be before the whole team is put together than randomly making Spirit events for Ultimate WHILE you're making the next Smash instead of just putting those collectibles in the next Smash lol

June '24 sounds believable.
The extra spirit events also add up, as aparently it hapened in early 2024.
...I wonder if the extra spirits chosen mean anything for Smash 6 in this case? Possible new Fighers, Mii Costumes, Assists...? Also Power Pros is a Konami propiety and 13 Sentinels a SEGA/ATLUS propiety....hmm....

 

[Ivander]

June '24 sounds believable.
The extra spirit events also add up, as aparently it hapened in early 2024.
...I wonder if the extra spirits chosen mean anything for Smash 6 in this case? Possible new Fighers, Mii Costumes, Assists...? Also Power Pros is a Konami propiety and 13 Sentinels a SEGA/ATLUS propiety....hmm....

I'm pretty sure this was chosen because Sakurai really loved 13 Sentinels and the Switch release helped with getting the spirit in.

Masahiro Sakurai Praises 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and George Kamitani

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Director Masahiro Sakurai: There never was and there will probably never be a game similar to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, everyone should play it.

www.dualshockers.com

 

[PersonAngelo53]

I'm pretty sure this was chosen because Sakurai really loved 13 Sentinels and the Switch release helped with getting the spirit in.

Masahiro Sakurai Praises 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and George Kamitani

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Director Masahiro Sakurai: There never was and there will probably never be a game similar to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, everyone should play it.

www.dualshockers.com

I mean since he loved the game so much even more reason to get something next smash. Maybe not a character but maybe some music or a stage or mii costume would be nice from 13 sentinels.

 

[ninjahmos]

Power Pros would be an interesting Konami IP to see in Smash, especially as a sports rep. Although, I still would also like to see someone from Wave Race or 1080° get into Smash.

Speaking of Konami, and it'll probably never happen, but I think it'd be interesting to see Bishi Bashi represented in Smash somehow.

 

[CommanderZaktan]

Will you settle for an anime swordsman?

A good choice since we need a dual wielding sword user that isn't Pit/Dark Pit, but my only concern is how it'll grab items, ledges, and other fighters?