As one of the most popular fighting game series in the world today, Super Smash Bros. has quickly secured a place in the hearts of gamers that desperately hope to see their favorite gaming mascots pummel each other. Everyone from Nintendo all-stars like Mario and Pikachu to special guests like Pac-Man and Solid Snake have appeared as playable characters in the franchise, making it an oddity in the world of gaming.

After much anticipation, Super Smash Bros. is officially going to release on the Nintendo Switch, and fans the world over have begun all sorts of speculation about the forthcoming product. As a result, there are a lot of news and rumors circulating online, and we’ve gathered all of them up to keep fans satiated until the game releases.

SUPER SMASH BROS SWITCH RELEASE DATE SET FOR 2018


Super Smash Bros. releases on the Nintendo Switch in 2018. An official window hasn’t been given, but Nintendo did confirm in the game’s debut trailer that it will be arriving at some point in 2018. Given that Super Smash Bros. Switch will be playable at E3 2018, it’s safe to say that the title won’t be available until much later in the year.

SUPER SMASH BROS SWITCH PLAYABLE CHARACTERS



Nintendo hasn’t confirmed much of what fan can expect from the finished game in terms of the final roster, but the reveal trailer for Smash‘s Switch iteration confirmed a few characters. Namely, Splatoon‘s Inklings look set to make their debut in Super Smash Bros., while other mainstays like Mario and a newly-outfitted, Breath of the Wild-inspired Link will be making a return.

Following the trailer, however, speculation quickly began running rampant as fans began to analyze it and its fiery silhouettes. A few of these characters, all of which appear to be returning veterans, are easily identifiable (such as Bowser and Donkey Kong), but a few are a little more difficult to identify. Fortunately, one fan shared a clearer recreation of the characters on Twitter (Nibroc Rock), which provides a better look at who may be making the cut this time around (above).

Based on this depiction, Yoshi, Pit, Donkey Kong, Peach, Ness, Marth, Mario, Link, Sheik, Pikachu, Kirby, Samus, Zelda, Bowser, Fox, Captain Falcon, and Wario will all being returning. It’s possible, if not likely, that a few of the shadowy characters featured within the trailer have been misidentified, but that information will be revealed around E3 2018.

IS SUPER SMASH BROS SWITCH A PORT OR A BRAND NEW GAME?



The jury is still out on whether or not Super Smash Bros. will be an updated port or a brand new game, but a previous report that ousted the existence of a new Smash game and a 2018 release date seems to indicate that it’s not really one or the other. Instead, it sounds as if the Wii U iteration was ported over and then evolved into what has become Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for fans hoping to see the biggest roster in franchise history.

If the game and its entire roster (guest character rights pending) were ported over, then Nintendo would be able to bring over the Wii U version’s 58-fighter selection screen with little problems. Then the focus could shift over to improving existing fighters (a la BotW Link), adding new content (like the Inklings), and building brand new modes for fans. While word from Nintendo on the matter is still missing in action, this scenario appears to be best for those that enjoy seeing as many playable characters as possible.

SUPER SMASH BROS SWITCH COULD FEATURE ICE CLIMBERS



The Ice Climbers have long been a fan-favorite in the Super Smash Bros. series following their debut in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is why gamers were so disappointed to see the duo axed in the latest installments on Wii U and 3DS. According to franchise creator Masahiro Sakurai, however, this wasn’t originally the case. The developer stated in a column in Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu that the Ice Climbers were actually up and running in the Wii U version but had to be cut because the Nintendo 3DS version wasn’t powerful enough to render them. In order to keep the roster exactly the same across both iterations, they were ultimately removed from both games entirely.

Now, a rumor from a notorious tipster has arrived stating that the Ice Climbers will be making their much anticipated return in Smash Switch. Whether or not they do remains to be seen. Still, since a majority of the work on the character(s) was completed for the Wii U version, it’s not surprising to hear that they’re set to return.

SUPER SMASH BROS SWITCH HAS THIRD-PARTY CHARACTERS



Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog kicked off guest character inclusions in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and ever since then, it has become a focal point for the series. The Wii U and 3DS iterations included the aforementioned Sonic, as well as Mega Man, Pac-Man, Bayonetta, Street Fighter‘s Ryu, and even Final Fantasy 7‘s Cloud Strife. While the addition of those characters was more than enough to turn heads, Super Smash Bros. could have several other third-party characters on Nintendo Switch if a recent rumor is to be believed.

The same source that claimed that the Ice Climbers will be making their return also stepped forward with news that “third parties will be heavily represented in the newest in the game as well.” It’s still a dicey mumbling to buy into at this point in time, but bringing in desirable and relevant newcomers like Shovel Knight, Bomberman, or even a Rabbid (especially after the latter’s run-in with Nintendo’s Mario in the Switch-exclusive Battle Kingdom) makes a lot of sense. Solid Snake could even make a return.


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