Sakurai reiterates Smash Bros.’ next DLC fighters are likely its last

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has reiterated that the current DLC Fighters Pass is likely to be the game’s last.

Last month Ultimate released its sixth DLC fighter, Min Min from Arms, and there are five more characters planned as part of the game’s second Fighters Pass.

Writing in his regular Famitsu column (translated by Robert Sephazon), Sakurai reportedly indicated that following the completion of the current DLC pipeline, “continuous Smash development from Smash for 3DS/Wii U will finally come to an end.”

The designer added that the next five DLC characters are already in development.

In a previous column published earlier this year, Sakurai said that the unannounced DLC fighters were his sole focus, meaning he was not working on a new game project. Nintendo isn’t currently planning future instalments of Smash Bros., the designer wrote in February.

The plan was originally to release all the remaining fighters in 2020. However, it’s been suggested that the pandemic may have disrupted the Smash Bros. DLC schedule.

Sakurai previously said he feels there’s “no way” the series will be able to have as many fighters or series represented again in future games.

“By having every veteran fighter, and by having a number of collaborations with various games in Spirits mode and countless songs, Smash Ultimate is the ultimate collaboration title. This kind of game is definitely unprecedented,” he wrote.