Speculation surrounding the next game in the Super Smash Bros series is skyrocketing following the release of a quiet patch for Smash Ultimate and reports of GameCube controller reproductions.
Ever since Kingdom Hearts’ Sora was revealed as the latest DLC fighter for Smash Ultimate, fans have been wondering what the future of the series will look like after Masahiro Sakurai retires.
Rumors swirled after Sakurai, now a YouTuber, said he “couldn’t imagine” a Smash game without him and that he would like to collaborate again with Nintendo on a future opus.
Although it is still uncertain whether Smash 6 will be an entirely new fighting game or a “deluxe” edition of Smash Ultimate, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, new clues suggest that the development of a new game may be in progress.
NintendoNintendo could be preparing a new announcement for Smash.
On October 11, according to a report fromEventHubsa ResetEra user noticed a shipping manifest that could include a new GameCube controller, a Smash staple since Melee’s release in 2001.
This controller uses a motor TRW1230the same as the one present in the Nintendo 64 controller for the Nintendo Switch Online service, which could indicate that Nintendo is preparing to release GameCube games via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. However, it could also set the stage for something else.
What’s interesting is that on October 8, a small patch for Smash Ultimate was deployed. Although it doesn’t feature any balancing changes, many fans are convinced that this means development of a new game is underway.
“This may be a hot opinion, but the next Smash is 100% in development right now, and the fact that they’re still patching Ultimate is a clear sign that they’re building on it for the future“, said a user on X.
“The last update was in February 2024 and before that the game hadn’t been updated since 2021. It seems obvious to me that the Smash Bros team is working on the next game in the series again“, commented streamer Stealth40k.
Last year, job postings for the Smash development team, now called Studio 2/Studio S, indicated that the studio was looking for new talent with experience in action games, particularly those with a side view.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but with the Switch 2 being the talk of the town, it wouldn’t be surprising if a new Smash game was revealed at the same time as the new console.
