With the identity of Smash Bros Ultimate's first Fighters Pass Vol 2 combatant now officially confirmed as Min Min from the ARMS franchise, it's time that Nintendo knocks thew socks off of fans by revealing a gaming icon like Halo's Master Chief. Ever since the reveal of the latest Smash character, gamers have understandably shifted their attention to who may be the next character to join the fray. To Nintendo's credit, the company has done a great job of diversifying Smash Ultimate's roster of fighters.
Gamers were especially elated when Banjo and Kazooie were announced for Smash Bros Ultimate back at E3 2019, reuniting Nintendo players with characters from a beloved franchise that first debuted on the N64. The addition seemed obvious but the reality of the collaboration involved Microsoft and Nintendo working together for what's still a very fresh concept. Even then, it's a bridge that the pair of companies have shown they are willing to cross if and when it makes sense. This is why Master Chief from the Halo franchise joining the Smash Bros roster doesn't seem as absurd as it once did.
The promotional side of things appears to be clear enough for Microsoft. The much-anticipated Halo Infinite is set to arrive in Holiday 2020 alongside the brand-new Xbox Series X, and a crossover featuring Spartan-117 duking it out with the likes of Mario reaches a new audience for promotional purposes. Then there are rumors that Microsoft is planning to bring Xbox Game Pass to Nintendo Switch, which would mean that fans could stream all of the Halo titles to the platform – unless they're ported to Switch, which is also rumored as of this writing.
But what would Nintendo gain out of this transaction? More or less exactly what the company gained from adding Microsoft's Banjo and Kazooie. Chief joining the fray would create a major splash in the industry that would help to sell Smash Ultimate's Fighters Pass Vol 2. It's a win-win situation and one that further elevates both brands in the process. Plus, if Halo is planned for Nintendo Switch, Master Chief's Smashing debut would make for some very strong promotion that taps directly into the audience Xbox is hoping to target.
While some Nintendo purists may want to see a reduction in guest characters in Smash, it's clear that the franchise has evolved beyond a need to only include first-party characters. At this point, it's more of an interactive gaming hall of fame. With that in mind, it's difficult to think of another gaming character more deserving of a spot in Smash Bros Ultimate than Master Chief.
And for those insistent that character needs to have been on a Nintendo console to be considered for Smash Bros, feel free to download the Master Chief skin in Minecraft for Nintendo Switch.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate is currently available exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The game is set to receive at least five more new fighters after the arrival of Min Min on June 29, 2020.