Since launching in December 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has only grown in popularity. It boasts a massive competitive scene and remains among Nintendo's most relevant titles. Throughout the course of its lifespan, series creator Masahiro Sakurai provided Smash Ultimate with incredible DLC content, introducing characters from every genre to the platform fighter. With another fan-favorite title, Mario Kart 8, receiving DLC 8 years after its initial release, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could receive the same treatment.
In October 2021, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate received its final DLC character, Sora, to the joy of many longtime fans. Shortly afterward, Sakurai announced he has no future plans for the series, leaving fans to wonder what comes next. With its growing popularity and an active community, Nintendo would be remiss to end support for the title now.
Mario Kart's Blueprint for Legacy Support
Mario Kart 8 was released for the Wii U in 2014, before being ported to the Nintendo Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in 2017. The port included all prior DLC content and has since become the best-selling title for the Switch to date. In February 2022, nearly 5 years after the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo announced the Booster Course Pass DLC. This surprise expansion includes an additional 48 remastered tracks released in 6 waves, the last of which is set to release at the end of 2023. This decision by Nintendo adds weight to the possibility that another fan-favorite title, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, could receive a similar update.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate arguably boasts some of the highest-quality DLC content in gaming. Through a mountain of effort, Bandai Namco Studios, Sora Ltd, and Nintendo acquired the rights to use iconic characters from a diverse selection of first and third-party titles. These characters and the communications Masahiro Sakurai shared with Smash fans brought many new players to the series. With the final DLC announcement revealing Sora from Kingdom Hearts, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate saved its biggest surprise for last and cemented its legacy as a fan-favorite for years to come.
The Future of Smash
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate experienced a rare storybook ending, but the game still provides a strong case for additional support. This is due in major part to its incredible competitive scene. Nintendo appeared to acknowledge the future of Smash Bros. when it announced a partnership with Panda Global in 2021. The two sought to create the first official Super Smash Bros. tournament circuit. However, the partnership fell under scrutiny due to controversy within Panda Global, resulting in the CEO Dr. Alan stepping down and the cancellation of the Smash World Tour in 2022.
Nintendo has since confirmed that it is ready to partner with organizations from all over the world to promote tournament play. Until those partnerships are formed, longtime fans both casual and competitive are left with fewer ways to participate in the larger community. Competitive play will carry on without Nintendo, but the fact remains that the company could do more to extend Smash Ultimate's lifespan.
With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's increasing popularity and long-term relevance, it's not strange to imagine that a "Fighters Pass Vol. 3" could release years from now. The Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe proves that fans are happy to return to a series when it receives legacy support. If Sakurai gets on board, he could certainly make it happen. With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's competitive future changing, it makes sense that Nintendo would provide casual players with a reason to return years down the line. Hopefully, it will not take another 8 years for an update to arrive.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate is available now for Nintendo Switch.
