Official Next Smash - Speculation & Discussion Thread

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

How are we feeling about Bomberman?

He's an assist trophy and a Mii costume and I feel like he's pretty inoffensive / pleasing to everyone - feels like a major oversight to not have him in, but feel like he's rarely brought up actively. I personally would say he's top 5 / top 10 most likely third-party newcomers.

I feel like Bomberman has a pretty decent shot. I fully expect at least Castlevania to come back out of Konami's repertoire (I'd be more confident in Snake if he hadn't been cut in 4, though obviously he could stick around if Castlevania does) and they're okay with adding characters to base game, as you said he's an Assist Trophy and a Mii Costume, and the Mii Costume is a full costume with multiple colors at that.

Alongside that, if Smash had its project plan made in late 2023/early 2024 (which is unknown of course for right now, but still), then Super Bomberman R2 came out in September 2023, so it would have come out like RIGHT when the project plan was being decided or just beforehand.

 

[BrawlX10]

I feel like there are ways around this one. Old Fallout doesn't use licensed music, though it's all atmospheric. I'm also sure that new Fallout doesn't only use licensed music, but I'd have to deep dive to figure out what's what.

They could also create original music that fits the vive of the franchise if a franchise has no music to offer, whatever it be for licensing issues or not.
It's not the ideal, but it's not the first time crossovers have done it because of licensing issues.

Also, on a side note, do you think there's any "fan-rules" that might be broken next game?

 

[DemifiendEnjoyer]

Also, on a side note, do you think there's any "fan-rules" that might be broken next game?

The idea that a character can’t be an assist trophy and a playable character at the same time.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

How are we feeling about Bomberman?

He's an assist trophy and a Mii costume and I feel like he's pretty inoffensive / pleasing to everyone - feels like a major oversight to not have him in, but feel like he's rarely brought up actively. I personally would say he's top 5 / top 10 most likely third-party newcomers.

He is probably the most likely next IP from Konami to get a fighter in my opinion. Probably the reason why it didn’t happen was because he was overshadowed by Simon and Snake for requests back then.

 

[DemifiendEnjoyer]

He is probably the most likely next IP from Konami to get a fighter in my opinion. Probably the reason why it didn’t happen was because he was overshadowed by Simon and Snake for requests back then.

Part of why Snake got in was because Kojima requested him.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

The idea that a character can’t be an assist trophy and a playable character at the same time.

I mean unless we're talking DLC for this one, I don't see why they'd need to "break" this one.

Like if Isaac is on the project plan for next Smash, they'd just remove the Assist Trophy, wouldn't they?

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Part of why Snake got in was because Kojima requested him.

I should have clarified that I was talking about Ultimate when mentioning Snake. Everyone is Here was thing but lot of the returning characters getting requested higher could be a secondary reason.

 

[DemifiendEnjoyer]

I mean unless we're talking DLC for this one, I don't see why they'd need to "break" this one.

Like if Isaac is on the project plan for next Smash, they'd just remove the Assist Trophy, wouldn't they?

I meant DLC.

 

[DarthEnderX]

How are we feeling about Bomberman?

I'd say he's got a decent chance.

 

[Watuna4343]

So just for fun, What are some characters you think are particularly unlikely? No fourth parties.

Out of the names brought up as possible newcomers:
Geno is one - no, the remake doesn't boost his chances. A remake never got anyone in Smash, and the competition for Geno is too fierce for not only Nintendo/Sakurai but also Square Enix (if the company even has any content in Smash 6) to even consider adding Geno over any existing or newcomer IP from that catalogue.

Paper Mario - No, the Mario RPGs specifically don't require special treatment in the form of separate representation. The whole Mario brand is represented by the Mario characters themselves. And we are talking about a 2nd version of Mario that can't be an echo fighter. We are basically talking about spending time and resources into adding a 2nd version of a character that's already in the game just to cover a specific niche within an already represented franchise. This is just no realistic any way you slice it.

Skull Kid - This is just a Toad situation in the sense that not only is there more limited fan demand but it's also a character that would've been added already if there ever was an interest. The fan demand for Skull Kid not being there compared to a lot of other characters is the biggest kicker against Skull Kid

Midna - Same case as Skull Kid really. Brawl was the opportunity to add her but honestly people think she'd be a logical addition now?

Any Pokémon that isn't from the newest Gen not named Eevee - I think that this one is self-explanatory

Shovel Knight - There are so many other candidates for 3rd party characters, I have a very hard time seeing Sakurai/Nintendo skipping them to add Shovel Knight (and this is a genuine question I have, was Shovel Knight on anyone's requests-radar before his reveal as an Assist?)

Chibi-Robo - I feel like this one needs no explanation on why it's most likely never happening.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Midna - Same case as Skull Kid really. Brawl was the opportunity to add her

I assume the reason why she wasn’t in Brawl was because the developers chose all of the characters before Twilight Princess was finished (released in November/December of 2006).

Brawl already had its first trailer in E3 that year and was supposed to release in 2007 before being delayed.

Diamond and Pearl also released after E3 2006 but Lucario already appeared in the anime by the time of Brawl’s development.

 

[Dukefire]

Two days left for Switch 2.

 

[BuckleyTim]

It's hard to answer the question of who is unlikely just because... stranger things have happened time and again. Every context is different and this isn't that different from the inverse of the question but man I can feel hindsight locked in on whatever I say, especially if it's about a character I already dislike.

So what I'm trying to say is that Geno has horrible odds to beat even if square enix gets Ultimate-level treatment for the next 5 games straight.

 

[Oracle Link]

So besides the usual things like a new 3D Mario, a new Legend of Zelda and a new Smash Bros, what are you looking forward to most for the Switch 2 Direct?

• New IP announcements?
• Possible revivals of old IPs?
• Third Party titles?
• Maybe even a 3rd Party title exclusive to the new system, whether it's a straight-forward exclusive, a Nintendo title developed by a 3rd Party like Bandai Namco(like Pokken or New Pokemon Snap) or Koei Tecmo(like Hyrule and Fire Emblem Warriors), or maybe even a title funded by Nintendo, similar to Bayonetta 2 & 3 or some of the timed Square-Enix titles like Octopath, Bravely Default or the Live a Live remake?

Zelda Maker -with overworld, text editor, all enemies, items and stuff from lar and eow and heck have a zelda and a link mode

Kirby 3D Title

Kirby Triple Deluxe +Planet robobot hd (with multiplayer)

Kirby Maker with the ability to do cutsenes edit Bosses amd Abilitys and have the kirby quartet playable day one!
And add characters like adeline and magolor as playable and bosses

I wanna see lil Link in mario spinoffs (if zelda and co. doent get any might aswell put link, zelda and a few others in mario games)

Something Mother Related

If you dont wanna deveolop good new pokemon games, gamefreak just let me buy the old ones! (Granted i might pick up bdsp as its basically the same Game)

Deltarune Chapter 3+4

 

[BuckleyTim]

https://x.com/Wario64/status/1906598840133628105

You know what, I'm gonna scratch my previous "unlikely" post. You know what's actually unlikely at this point? The next Capcom rep being anything but Monster Hunter.

 

[DarthEnderX]

You know what's actually unlikely at this point? The next Capcom rep being anything but Monster Hunter.

I dunno. Capcom generally prefers that the Monster Hunter series be represented by the monsters, rather than the player characters. And Rathalos is already in Smash as a Boss. So MonHun might already have the exact representation that Capcom wants it to have.

 

[ninjahmos]

I think that Mario guy.

I had to.

 

[BuckleyTim]

I had to.

The true argument for Paper Mario is that Nintendo might already be really confused about how serious the layman is about wanting Mario in Smash.

 

[Gengar84]

I dunno. Capcom generally prefers that the Monster Hunter series be represented by the monsters, rather than the player characters. And Rathalos is already in Smash as a Boss. So MonHun might already have the exact representation that Capcom wants it to have.

Yeah, I think they might be satisfied with Rathalos’ role in Smash currently as well as maybe a stage. I actually think Zero is more likely since he has such a long legacy in gaming and is also an Assist trophy and Mii outfit. I feel like the lack of a true character might cause Monster Hunter to be outprioritize from other Capcom games. I feel like Chun-Li is probably more likely as well.

A lot of people say that part of the reason why a League of Legends, WarCraft, or Genshin Impact character is unlikely is because there isn’t really a singular character that people can rally around since there are so many. Some say that the games maybe very popular but the individual characters aren’t really. Wouldn’t that also apply to Monster Hunter since the playable character is an avatar? Not saying they couldn’t add them anyways but I’d say it prevents Monster Hunter from being the only clear choice for the next Capcom character.

 

[Perkilator]

I still think they can compromise with a playable MH character by choosing Rider & Ratha as one. It's still having you play as a monster in at least some fashion.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

I dunno. Capcom generally prefers that the Monster Hunter series be represented by the monsters, rather than the player characters. And Rathalos is already in Smash as a Boss. So MonHun might already have the exact representation that Capcom wants it to have.

I think that's why they gave it mii fighter outfits instead, since equipping armors to custom characters is what you do in Monster hunter, makes perfect sense to me.

 

[ninjahmos]

When they're wrong.

Corporations aren't always right.

Yeah well, that doesn't mean you're right.

How would they be aware of the results of something they'd never tried before?

What do you mean "something they'd never tried before?" They literally ported MK8 for the Switch with extra characters and courses AND a whole DLC pack which included content from Tour.

This time. Last time, it didn't. Last time is the exception.

It happened once. With Mario Kart. Just because it can happen again (whether it's for this franchise or another) doesn't always mean it should happen again.

Because the circumstances of it happening don't change the fact that it happened. And just because those circumstances were present the first time, doesn't mean they are required for it to happen again. Especially when knowledge and motivations have changed since then.

There are many games that get ported at least once or twice, whether it has extra content or not. And there are some games that still get DLC even after 5+ years. But Super Smash Bros. isn't one of those games. And it probably shouldn't be.

Like I said before, the only time Smash has ever been ported was Smash 64 for the Wii's Virtual Console. Sakurai hates ports, but that was the exception. Why do you think we haven't gotten Smash 64 on NSO so far?

Again, Smash isn't Mario Kart.

 

[Gengar84]

How many times do we have to be proven wrong when we say “Smash would never do X.”? The truth is we have no inside knowledge of what goes through Sakurai’s and Nintendo’s heads when making decisions for Smash. Some things seem logical and we can make educated guesses based on patterns but we have no way of knowing for sure. That’s why I try to avoid definite statements like that like saying something will never happen or is guaranteed to happen.

Saying “Smash isn’t Mario Kart” is true but Mario Kart itself has never done anything like that either before 8 Deluxe. I feel like people would have written the Booster Course Pass and Deluxe port itself as highly unlikely before they happened. I know circumstances are different and Mario Kart was mainly ported because of the Wii U’s failure and the Booster Pass was easier thanks to the mobile game but it did still happened regardless despite the lack of precedent for anything like it before. Patterns are useful in helping make educated guesses but that’s still all they are.

 

[cashregister9]

I do generally agree that I think Capcom likes MH's representation with just a boss and assist, but more spirits and a stage seem like a no brainer at this pont.

But I feel with enough gumption and creativity a whole monster could be playable. Even without dipping into the monsties from MH Stories.

 

[Noipoi]

Monster Hunter gets a fighter, but it’s a monster.

Maybe Rathalos gets upgraded to playable, maybe they pick another monster, I dunno.

 

[BuckleyTim]

I get the precedent has been set before and all that, but monster hunter has managed to grow exponentially despite already being big at the time of ultimate. That "ten million in one month" official figure isn't just the biggest launch/fastest selling combo for a MH, it's for anything Capcom's ever released. It's gone from large to megaton, to the point where i'd say it's the biggest thing Capcom has, legacy of its other series notwithstanding.

And I know you guys have a negative look on avatar characters (I honestly wonder what your feelings on Steve were before and after reveal), but like... The hunters have personality. I've seen a lot of spunk in their demeanor, and I think the fact that stuff like the legacy drinking animations are welcomed back by the fan base when they return as emotes says to me that the hunter could absolutely be more in smash than just a front for translating game mechanics.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

I dunno. Capcom generally prefers that the Monster Hunter series be represented by the monsters, rather than the player characters. And Rathalos is already in Smash as a Boss. So MonHun might already have the exact representation that Capcom wants it to have.

I mean the Monster Hunter appears in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite so it’s not unlikely for the character to be playable.

They could also make a monster playable like how the Pokemon are playable instead of the trainers (even PT is just a background character).

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Do we not count that as part of the Wii Fit franchise?

No, we don't.

It's not a Wii game.

 

[cashregister9]

I say all of these monster hunter things as an outsider to the series, but I feel like saying a Hunter will never get in or they wouldn't go for a hunter feels wrong to me.

Like I think a Hunter could easily justify themselves with all the weapons they could represent alone.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

I'm hoping they don't bring back transformations.

Just out of curiosity, is this a blanket hatred to the final smash type, or are you fine with the ones like Mega Lucario that just boost your numbers into the stratosphere, and just hate the limited ones like Landmaster and Super Dragon?

I honestly wonder what your feelings on Steve were before and after reveal

Generally I think people cared more about Minecraft in Smash than Steve as a character, but most did seem to recognize that the animation limitations would give him a personality. Some still found it ridiculously boring though. There was also a crowd who didn't want him because of how limited his animations would be, or were at least worried about them.

After he was revealed, most people seemed to be won over. Halland/Dalarna went so hard.

No, we don't.

It's not a Wii game.

Technically neither is Wii Fit U.

But seriously, it has a completely different aesthetic, cast, and gameplay loop. It's a different IP that just also happens to be centered around exorcise.

 

[Gengar84]

I get the precedent has been set before and all that, but monster hunter has managed to grow exponentially despite already being big at the time of ultimate. That "ten million in one month" official figure isn't just the biggest launch/fastest selling combo for a MH, it's for anything Capcom's ever released. It's gone from large to megaton, to the point where i'd say it's the biggest thing Capcom has, legacy of its other series notwithstanding.

And I know you guys have a negative look on avatar characters (I honestly wonder what your feelings on Steve were before and after reveal), but like... The hunters have personality. I've seen a lot of spunk in their demeanor, and I think the fact that stuff like the legacy drinking animations are welcomed back by the fan base when they return as emotes says to me that the hunter could absolutely be more in smash than just a front for translating game mechanics.

I don’t know if that’s a general opinion or it’s just me. I tend to prefer characters that have their own personalities and voices to avatar characters. Steve was literally my least want Smash character before he got in so needless to say, I wasn’t particularly hyped about his inclusion. I was already kind of let down by the last few DLC fighters before him at the time so I decided I just wasn’t going to buy Fighter’s Pass 2. I wasn’t upset or anything, I just didn’t feel compelled to buy them but I was happy for their fans. Funnily enough, Sephiroth was the very next character and was one of my pipe dream most wanted. I bought the whole Fighter’s Pass after that and didn’t regret it. Steve was at least fun to casually play around with for a bit so it’s all cool.

 

[Dukefire]

If anything, Summer may be the time where Nintendo and other major companies show off the heavy hitters for this year and some previews for next year.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

I say all of these monster hunter things as an outsider to the series, but I feel like saying a Hunter will never get in or they wouldn't go for a hunter feels wrong to me.

Like I think a Hunter could easily justify themselves with all the weapons they could represent alone.

I think the issue is more the monster hunter team being apprehensive to using humans in crossovers, their first instinct is too use the monters

 

[fogbadge]

If anything, Summer may be the time where Nintendo and other major companies show off the heavy hitters for this year and some previews for next year.

Well they do it every year so why stop now?

 

[RileyXY1]

If anything, Summer may be the time where Nintendo and other major companies show off the heavy hitters for this year and some previews for next year.

Yeah. I think that Nintendo's big heavy hitters this year are a brand new Mario Kart game (which they've already teased) and a new 3D Mario (we haven't had one since Odyssey in 2017 so I believe that we're getting one this year). This year is also Mario's 40th anniversary so I think they'll go all out for that.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Technically neither is Wii Fit U.

I thought the Wii U was just a controller. Was Nintendo's poor advertising of it a lie?

 

[ninjahmos]

I kinda wanna hear a Smash remix of Proof of a Hero if Monster Hunter ever becomes playable in Smash.

 

[cashregister9]

I think the issue is more the monster hunter team being apprehensive to using humans in crossovers, their first instinct is too use the monters

And that is where my previous comment about Capcom potentially being fine with MHs current representation comes in and if they really want a monster to be playable, they could do it.

I just feel like it isn't a hard line In the sand, they would use the hunter if necessary, and they also tend to use the Felynes for crossovers as well in things like Teppen and Astro Bot.

 

[DragonRobotKing26]

How are we feeling about Bomberman?

He's an assist trophy and a Mii costume and I feel like he's pretty inoffensive / pleasing to everyone - feels like a major oversight to not have him in, but feel like he's rarely brought up actively. I personally would say he's top 5 / top 10 most likely third-party newcomers.

Bomberman is my biggest pick for he being a playable character, and i know it's desappointing to have him as an assist trophy and a mii costume, Bomberman is a NES icon like the other 3rd party characters that started on NES, and it could be great to see him playable on Smash 6

 

[Will]

https://x.com/Wario64/status/1906598840133628105

You know what, I'm gonna scratch my previous "unlikely" post. You know what's actually unlikely at this point? The next Capcom rep being anything but Monster Hunter.

and then it’s dante