The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC saga is drawing to a close, with Sora from Kingdom Hearts arriving soon. The roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is impressive, containing some of the most recognizable heroes and villains in video game history. However, not all of these fighters to Nintendo, which could cause problems for the series in the future.
The original Super Smash Bros. game had a roster that consisted of first-party Nintendo characters. As time went on, the series started adding third-party characters, in the form of Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The addition of third-party characters quickly became the highlight of the series in the Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate eras, with characters like Joker, Banjo-Kazooie, Steve/Alex, Sephiroth, and Sora eliciting adoration from fans during their reveal trailers.
The problem with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the fact that it lives up to its name. It's easily the biggest crossover in video game history and is unlikely to be topped by anything outside of its own series. The issue is that some of the biggest names in the game belong to third-party developers. It would be easy to imagine Disney refusing to allow Sora to appear in future entries, or for Square Enix to not want any more Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy characters in the game. Microsoft and Nintendo are friendly right now, but that relationship could sour at the drop of a hat. It could also be a case of developers wanting to be paid for their character's inclusion, or wanting something else in return, and Nintendo might not want to play ball. If there are issues with bringing in the familiar third-party characters, then the Super Smash Bros. series will have to start dropping fighters in the future.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Definitive Edition Could Be Next
The next game in the Super Smash Bros. series could be a familiar sight to Switch fans. Nintendo has ported a number of Wii U games to the Switch, in the form of special editions that removed GamePad support and included all of the DLC. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Pikmin 3 Deluxe are two examples of this. If Nintendo wants to easily extend the lifespan of the Super Smash Bros. series, then a Definitive Edition of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Switch's successor is an easy way to do that. A version of the game with all of the DLC included, improved visuals, and a much-needed boost to the netcode would be enough of an incentive for lots of people to fork over the cash for another game. There's a good chance the developers could get all the third-party devs on board for a port of an existing game, even if they ask for money for their inclusion.
The Future Of Super Smash Bros.
There's only so much life that can be squeezed out of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When the time comes for a brand new Super Smash Bros. game, the best bet would be an approach that shakes up the gameplay style and launches with a smaller roster, in order to build up a new version of the brand. Will the existing fans hate a new iteration of Super Smash Bros.? It's possible. Nintendo probably knows the fanbase won't be on board for something new at first, but a fresh approach to the gameplay is the best way to continue the Super Smash Bros. series, especially if the third-party developers don't want their characters to return.