Smash Bros. is a series with a clear void in its lead development role, as Masahiro Sakurai tells YouTube channel NintenGenesis that there is currently no clear successor for his role in the fighting game series. Even so, the designer says that a new Smash Bros. game will “probably” come in the future, but that it’s not in development or currently being considered.
In the video, Sakurai expresses thanks to fans for their support of the new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game, as well as other projects like his upcoming game, Daedalus. He then admits that it’s unclear who would make a new Smash Bros. game if not him, as “there’s no one else at Nintendo who can make games like this.”
“There’s the possibility that there won’t be another Smash Bros. game after this, but if there’s a continuation, then I think it’s likely that I will be involved in some way,” Sakurai says. “Nintendo values my work, and I’m just a single person, so I don’t think they can just suddenly make a Smash Bros. title without me.”
Sakurai continues by saying that leading figures at Nintendo, such as Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma and late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, shared a similar sentiment, as they felt they couldn’t make a new Smash Bros. title without Sakurai’s involvement.
“If I weren’t involved with Smash Bros. at this point, there was a plan at Nintendo to re-release the previous game, Melee, on the Wii,” Sakurai shares. “Aonuma-san would have been put in charge of that.”
Aonuma admits that if he were in charge of Smash Bros. he would make “something that’s completely different,” but adds that he believes a Smash Bros. game without Sakurai’s spirit would be “worthless.”
However, Sakurai does confirm that there will likely be another Smash Bros. game in the future, but clarifies that it’s not currently in development or being considered. “It’s not that I’m not thinking about it, but I’m a freelancer, so if I want to work on something then I need to find a job,” Sakurai says. “If there’s a job then I’ll proceed with it, but if there isn’t then I’ll do something else.”
While Sakurai is a freelancer at the moment, he expresses his willingness to continue working with Nintendo in some capacity. “If there’s something that I can do that’s not a director or leading role, then I’d be happy to contribute in a small way,” Sakurai says.
