Alright, I got you ****ers numbers when Snake makes it back in this time!
Granted, I don't see him all that likely either. However, I do find it VERY unlikely that Sakurai was just like "There you go, he's in. Happy? Now I can cut him next time!". Like... no. Sakurai knows that he's a popular character and, I hope, is a more proper business man than to let a personal vendetta between Kojima and Konami snuff away Snake's fanbase. Even still him "not fitting" is a worse argument. Literally, the only good argument against Snake is licensing issues. And I absolutely get that, **** happens. Even still, now that Konami is, hopefully, getting their **** together we'll see Snake return in Smash 5. I don't however see Bomberman, or Simon, or really any Konami character making it in before Snake. I feel like they'd face the same exact issues Snake did and all in all getting a veteran is a better bet.
The interview I mentioned wasn't an interview after all, but was merely a source apparently close to Kojima.
However, I did find a quote directly from Kojima from 2014 (when he still worked at Konami) and he claimed that Sakurai never even asked if Snake would return. He did ask that if Sakurai was reading to consider bringing back Snake (you can read that here:
http://nintendoeverything.com/kojima-wants-snake-in-the-new-smash-bros-but-its-not-likely-to-happen/) and would in 2015 retweet a custom Snake amiibo on a Smash base, signaling that he'd love to see it. Sakurai never responded to any of this though.
I feel like it's also worth nothing that there's a really good chance Sakurai won't head Smash Switch's development. Yeah he said Melee and Brawl were both his last Smash games, but now he has the hand problem, and I think that could really stop him from giving in and coming back. And if Sakurai doesn't come back, the reason of the favor isn't there anymore, and the only real reason would be fan demand.
This is interesting and all, and yeah, I was here through all of this. At the time we figured Kojima was just acting coy and obviously wasn't going to outright say whether Snake was in or out. However, this still doesn't confirm that Snake was never even considered. Maybe Nintendo and Konami had discussions but overall things just didn't work out. Remember how Sonic came back into Smash? Alongside an announcement of a 3 Sonic game Exclusivity deal with Nintendo. How unlikely is it that Nintendo wanted something similar from Konami? Even then, maybe Sakurai was approached by Sega to put Sonic in but never got the same from Konami, so he decided that it wasn't worth the trouble? Seriously, until something is simply stated "this is why Snake wasn't in", like poor Ridley, I feel like it's all air. No one can really know exactly how everything played out during development.
Edit: Since this was added after I quoted.
I feel like it's also worth nothing that there's a really good chance Sakurai won't head Smash Switch's development. Yeah he said Melee and Brawl were both his last Smash games, but now he has the hand problem, and I think that could really stop him from giving in and coming back. And if Sakurai doesn't come back, the reason of the favor isn't there anymore, and the only real reason would be fan demand.
I also feel Snake is more likely if Smash 5 is a port of Smash 4. In which case it would be easier to fill out an already huge roster with veterans like Snake, Ice Climbers, and Wolf while still adding a few newcomers. This port would also be likely overseen by someone else and in that case said director might take notice of the fan demand for Snake in which case maybe we'll get him.
The moment a brand new Smash game is announced and not a port is the moment I lose all hope for Snake. So don't worry guys you'll only have to hear me blather about my favorite character until then.
