Super Smash Bros. creator uncertain about the future as Ultimate’s massive size may pose challenges
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has become a massive hit in the fighting game community, but its creator, Masahiro Sakurai, is uncertain about the franchise’s future. The main reason for his uncertainty is the sheer size of the game, which may prove to be a hurdle in topping its success.
Sakurai expressed his concerns during a recent interview, acknowledging that Ultimate’s extensive roster of characters and content “went a bit too far.” He mentioned that working on such a colossal project takes a toll on his health and personal life.
The latest installment in the Super Smash Bros. series features an impressive roster of over 80 playable characters, including beloved icons from every corner of gaming. Additionally, Ultimate offers an extensive list of stages, music tracks, and other features that make it the most ambitious Smash game to date.
Despite the game’s overwhelming success, Sakurai worries that trying to top or replicate Ultimate’s magnitude in future iterations would be an enormous challenge. He mentioned that a new game would either require a substantial amount of content or introduce significant changes to justify its existence.
Sakurai discussed the importance of keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting for both casual players and the competitive fighting game community. However, he emphasized that introducing too many characters would make it extremely difficult to balance the game and maintain a fair competitive environment.
The Super Smash Bros. creator also addressed concerns about potential cuts in the next installment. He stated that including every character from Ultimate in future games would be challenging due to licensing and development constraints. Sakurai acknowledged that this might upset some fans, but he emphasized the need to make tough decisions to ensure the longevity and quality of the franchise.
In conclusion, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s immense success is undeniable, its creator’s uncertainty about the future highlights the challenges posed by its colossal size. Sakurai’s concerns regarding the game’s continued growth and the ability to maintain a fair competitive environment indicate the need for careful consideration in the development of future Super Smash Bros. games.