A recent interview with Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has brought some insight on the future of the latest entry, as well as the continuing career path for the legendary game maker. This comes alongside an announcement that the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter reveal has been delayed indefinitely due to complications created by the Coronavirus outbreak.
The interview appeared in the most recent Famitsu, where Sakurai made a number of comments about how development of the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass has been developing. However, while the news of a delay was cause enough for alarm, it's the developer's career prospects after production on this next round of DLC completes that is the largest cause for alarm.
In the interview, Sakurai mentions that his major focus at the moment is the upcoming DLC and he doesn't tend to look much further into the future than his current project. It is hardly a surprise from a seasoned developer to put his focus solely on the task before him, but what does come as a surprise is a passing comment he made about possibly not working on any more games after Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's second Fighters Pass is finished. While Sakurai never confirmed whether or not his latest title would be his final game, his comment does paint the picture that he is preparing to step away from his role as a game director.
Though, honestly, there's no guarantee I'll keep making games after this. Right now, all I'm thinking about is the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC development. Once that's done, I actually have absolutely nothing lined up.
The final part of that quote is likely the most insightful, as having nothing lined up after the current project is a fairly rare circumstance for leading developers like Sakurai. This could just be the developer confirming that there is no third Fighter's Pass currently being planned, but generally developers have a laundry list of projects lining up, often for separate projects or DLC. In fact, one project that Sakurai would be expected to have on the back burner would be a new Kirby title, another franchise that he created and has continued to work on during his tenure at Nintendo.
One influence on this decision to either lighten the developer's load outside of his continued work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate may have to do with the way that his work has often affected his health. In the past, the creative director has admitted to working while hooked up to an IV drip as well as Sakurai recently fainting while dieting and exercising at the gym. Whatever the reason is, many players will be sad to see the legendary developer stepping down, but if it is for the sake of health, most fans would likely rather see Sakurai retire healthy rather than work himself into illness.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on Switch.
Source: Event Hubs