Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Masahiro Sakurai Not Thinking About Sequel, But Won’t Rule One Out

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai isn’t thinking about a sequel Smash Bros. game, but he’s also not ruling one out…for now. 

Sakurai only just revealed Ultimate’s final fighter, Sora from Kingdom Hearts, last month and after over three years of DLC development, it was presumed that Sakurai would take a well-earned rest. It seems he’s doing that, but it hasn’t stopped him from speculating on the future of the Smash Bros. series.

In an issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, Sakurai said he’s not currently thinking about a sequel to Ultimate, as reported by Video Games Chronicle. 

“I’m not thinking about a sequel,” Sakurai said to Famitsu. “But I can’t say that this is definitely the last Smash Bros.” 

Sakurai famously speculates on the future of Smash Bros. following the release of each new entry in the series, often saying said release could be his last Smash Bros. game. However, it seems he’s keeping the door to a sequel open for now. He also told Famitsu that he’s not sure there is a future for Smash Bros. without him. 

“I can’t see any way to produce Smash Bros. without me,” Sakurai said. “To be honest, I’d like to leave it to someone else, and I’ve actually tried that, but it hasn’t worked out. If we continue the series, Nintendo and I need to discuss and seriously consider how to make it a success.” 

The director touches on something many fans have speculated since Sora’s release: where does the series go from here? How do you top Ultimate, which features over 80 characters, many from franchises not owned by Nintendo? It seems impossible that future installments outdo Ultimate’s roster, but perhaps a more foundational shake-up for Smash Bros. is needed. It’s something Sakurai seems to be wrestling with for now. 

For more about Ultimate, read about Sora’s reveal and then check out this breakdown of why it’s perfect that Sora is the final fighter. Read about why Ultimate doesn’t have too many “anime sword users” after that. 

What do you want to see from Super Smash Bros. in the future? Let us know in the comments below!