Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched in December 2018 to critical acclaim and went on to be the best-selling fighting game of all time. As one of the most popular games in the world, fans are always wondering when they might get to see the next game in the series. Thanks to some recent developments and a healthy amount of speculation, it looks like the next Super Smash Bros. could well be in the works.
Speculation on the future of the series is nothing new. Series creator Masahiro Sakurai has been talking about leaving the series for years and even said that he didn’t expect sequels after 2001’s Melee and 2008’s Brawl.
Obviously, that didn’t happen and Sakurai returned as director for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Now it appears that Sakurai is gearing up to be involved in yet another entry in the long-running series.
Since August 2022, the legendary game director has operated the YouTube channel “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games” in which he takes viewers through different aspects of video game development.
On 15 June, Sakurai took to X to announce that the channel is coming to an end. “We have finished recording the final episode of the channel. I think it will be a while before it is released, so please enjoy the regular episodes until then,” he wrote (auto-translated).
Naturally, the announcement has renewed conversations about the next game in the Smash Bros. series with many speculating that Sakurai is ending his YouTube channel to focus on the development of an upcoming sequel.
What’s more, Bandai Namco is no longer hiring for positions in its dedicated Nintendo teams and current Super Smash Bros. developers, Studio 2 & Studio S. Presumably, the vacancies have been filled.
Of course, this is all speculative and doesn’t necessarily mean that a sequel to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is in development. However, when taken together, these things seem indicate that something is in the works. And while Sakurai might have been trying to detach himself from the series for years, it’s hard to imagine Bandai Namco and Nintendo not wanting another game in one of their most popular franchises.
Do you think that another Super Smash Bros. game is in the works? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
