Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has included some truly surprising characters since its launch in 2018. Every announcement has brought about new theories and speculation regarding the next fighter. Among the fan favorites is Sora from Kingdom Hearts, who once again began trending on Twitter today, as one spot remains in the final Fighters Pass for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Previously Nintendo has shown the capability to secure high-profile third-party game characters to include as fighters in Super Smash Bros. One can start with the original monumental inclusion of Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, announcements that came in a time before the influence of social media. More recently, Nintendo brought Steve from Minecraft and Banjo & Kazooie into Ultimate last year, demonstrating that even the unlikeliest characters were still possible for Smash Bros. With today's fighter presentation for Kazuya from Tekken, the speculation of the final character has begun.
During the presentation, Director and Creator of Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai announced that after Challenger Pack 11, the final pack of the second Fighters Pass, there will be no more added fighters. In the wake of this reveal, Twitter exploded with tweets for Sora, getting upwards of 75,000 posts. While some of these posts include references to Sakurai himself, whose Twitter handle is @Sora_Sakurai, the majority of the tweets are simply fans expressing their desire to see Sora come to Smash Bros. This is not the first time Sora and Smash Bros. have destroyed the internet, though.
Sora is the protagonist of the popular Disney and Final Fantasy crossover series, Kingdom Hearts, developed by Square Enix. Emerging on the scene in the original 2002 PlayStation 2 game Sora's journey through countless Disney worlds to save his friends Riku and Kairi has resonated with millions of people. Sora's classic spiky hair, large yellow shoes, and vast move set with his instantly recognizable Keyblade would fit right into the long list of Ultimate's fighters. With Nintendo already partnering with Square Enix to put both Cloud Strife and more recently Sephiroth into Smash Bros., it seems like the necessary connections are already in place to make Sora happen.
Despite these developments, there is unfortunately still many factors working against Sora's inclusion in Ultimate. For starters, to include Sora in Smash Bros. means navigating the legal minefield that is Disney. From the Mickey Mouse emblem on the key chain of Sora's Kingdom Key to much of the series' story occurring in the worlds of popular Disney franchises, including Sora in Smash Bros. would also mean including those franchises to some extent. Another reason, more simply, is that Sephiroth's inclusion may have canceled Sora's chances, to begin with.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available on the Nintendo Switch.
