Masahiro Sakurai Says His Work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Is Now Done [IGN]

Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has said the release of the Kingdom Hearts Sora Amiibo marks the end of his work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In a post on X/Twitter translated by Siliconera, Sakurai posted a photo of the Sora Amiibo alongside a statement celebrating its release and confirming the end of his work on the Nintendo Switch game.

“Sora’s Amiibo comes out today,” Sakurai began. “Thank you to everyone who worked on it (this was an amazing accomplishment). The design was always perfect, and the details and the colours look exactly as intended. The pose and sculpting look good as well.

ソラのamiiboが本日発売!
関係者のかた､本当にありがとうございました｡(スゴいことだと思います)
元々の完璧なデザインに､色分けも精細でバッチリ｡
造形もポーズもよいですね｡

全ファイターがamiibo化され､『スマブラSP』仕事もいよいよフィニッシュでしょうか｡おつかれさまでした｡ pic.twitter.com/zUBdMtA29y

— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) February 16, 2024

“Now that all of the fighters have an Amiibo, my work on Super Smash Bros Ultimate is basically done. Thank you for everything.”

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched in 2018 and Sora arrived as its final expansion fighter in 2021. The Kingdom Hearts character wrapped up an 89 character roster for the game, which includes fighters from The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Banjo Kazooie, Dragon Quest, Persona, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, Minecraft, and many more.

It’s this expansive roster that’s made the future of the franchise somewhat unclear, however. Sakurai said in October 2023 he’s not sure where to take Super Smash Bros. next, because “it’s difficult to imagine an increase of this magnitude happening again”.

Sakurai’s future in video games at all was even in question for a while, after the famed developer started a YouTube channel in August 2022 to reflect on his career and his time making games. Fans’ hope has been restored more recently though, as Sakurai said in January 2024 he’s still focused on making games and will be leaving his YouTube channel behind sometime this year.

These developments, alongside word that Sakurai considers his work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate complete, will no doubt have fighting game fans looking to the future once again, eager to hear about the next game in the franchise.

If it does exist, Nintendo will perhaps look to line it up with its next console, which will reportedly be released in late 2024. Very little is known about what’s been dubbed the Switch 2, but more and more tidbits are emerging as the expected late 2024 release window approaches.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.