He has said it before, and now he has said it again. Super Smash Bros. legend and creator Masahiro Sakurai has suggested that Super Smash Bros Ultimate could be the last in the series. Say it ain’t so, Nintendo, say it ain’t so. Could Super Smash Bros Ultimate be the last in the series?
Sakurai has made such comments before, however. Indeed, back after the release of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS, Sakurai noted that they were created “with the thought that there wouldn’t be any more sequels”. Look where we are now. The reality is that Sakurai (and everyone else for that matter) simply does not know whether or not the series will return. Could there, however, be more credence to what he is saying this time around?
Could Super Smash Bros Ultimate be the Last in the Series?
Sakurai’s comment (via NintendoSoup), is one that won’t reassure fans over the future of the classic crossover series, but he doesn’t outright say that Super Smash Bros Ultimate will be the last in the series:
“The Smash series may continue in the future, but I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to pull this off, so I really hope you’ll enjoy this iteration of the game.”
It’s clear that Sakurai simply doesn’t know what the future will hold for Super Smash Bros. He hasn’t signed on for a future entry and is creating Ultimate as if it is his last. Perhaps, though, Ultimate will be the last. The moniker “Ultimate” may suggest that it is deemed to be the ultimate version of the beloved fighter. Indeed, bringing back every single fighter could be an indication that Sakurai wants to go out with a bang.
While Ultimate being the last Smash would be a devastating blow to millions of fans (myself included) – perhaps it would be better for Sakurai. Developing the series has come with plenty of excruciating stresses for the Kirby developer. Brawl, for example, was announced by Nintendo even before Sakurai knew about it. Sakurai felt the full force of stress during the development of the game’s last entry. Smash Wii U and 3DS lead Sakurai into poor health. It takes a lot of effort to make a Smash Bros game.
Nobody wants Ultimate to be the last Smash, but if it allows Sakurai to finally rest, then perhaps it would be for the best?
Super Smash Bros Ultimate launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch December 7th, 2018.
