Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

## Development

### Developer(s)

Bandai Namco Studios
Sora Ltd.

### Producer(s)

Yoshito Higuchi
Shinya Saito

## Release

### Release Date

**Nintendo Switch**
WW: December 7, 2018

### Rating

**ESRB:** E10+
**PEGI:** 12
**CERO:** A
**ACB:** PG

### Genre

Fighting

***Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*** (***Super Smash Bros. Special*** in Japan) is the sixth title in the *Super Smash Bros.* franchise (albeit the fifth installment). The game was developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd., and was published by Nintendo. It was released worldwide on December 7, 2018, exclusively on Nintendo Switch. It follows 2014's *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS* and *Wii U*.

The title features the return of every character playable in previous titles of the series, as well as several new characters, both in the base game and paid DLC. *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* also features the series' second story mode, *World of Light*, following *Super Smash Bros. Brawl*'s *Subspace Emissary*. *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* is the best-selling fighting game ever released, surpassing *Street Fighter 2*.

## Development

Development of the game began under Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd., led by director Masahiro Sakurai. The development period began during the period of time at which DLC for *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS* and *Wii U* was being released. According to Sakurai, *Ultimate* had been the final request late President of Nintendo Satoru Iwata had given Sakurai. During development, every character from former titles was set to return, alongside newcomers Ridley, Ken, Princess Daisy, Inkling, Isabelle, Dark Samus, Simon, Richter, King K. Rool, Chrom, and Incineroar being developed for the base game. Development on the DLC characters began near the release date of *Ultimate*.

## Release

The game saw release worldwide on December 7, 2018, and was met to critical success and positive reception. Following release, free DLC for a new playable character, the Piranha Plant, was developed and released on January 29, 2019 for free to those who purchased the game digitally or registered the physical version with My Nintendo by January 31, 2019. It was later made available for a price on February 1, 2019.

Following the release of the game, the development of a *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass* began. The first DLC character for the Fighters Pass, Joker from the *Persona* series, was announced during The Game Awards 2018. The character was later released on April 17, 2019.
The Hero from *Dragon Quest* and Banjo and Kazooie from *Banjo-Kazooie* were both announced during the Nintendo Direct for E3 2019, and were released on July 30, 2019 and September 4, 2019, respectively. Terry Bogard from *Fatal Fury* was announced on September 4, 2019, and released on November 6, 2019. The fifth and final character in the Fighters Pass, Byleth from the *Fire Emblem* franchise, was announced on January 16, 2020 and released on January 28 the same year.

Six additional DLC fighters, part of the *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass Vol. 2*, were announced to be in development, the first of which was Min Min from *Arms*. Min Min was initially announced vaguely, though she was fully announced on June 22, 2020 and released on June 29, 2020. Steve from *Minecraft* was announced as the seventh DLC fighter on October 1, 2020, and released on October 13, 2020, with alternate skins representing Alex, a zombie, and an Enderman. Sephiroth from *Final Fantasy VII* was announced as a playable fighter during The Game Awards 2020 and was released on December 22, 2020. During a Nintendo Direct on February 17, 2021, Pyra and Mythra from *Xenoblade Chronicles 2* were announced as the next two DLC fighters; despite being numbered as two characters on the roster, they share the same character slot. They were released on March 4, 2021. During the Nintendo Direct aired as part of E3 2021, Kazuya Mishima from the *Tekken* franchise was confirmed as the next DLC fighter; Kazuya was released on June 29, 2021. Finally, Sora from the *Kingdom Hearts* franchise was announced as the final DLC character for the game on October 5, 2021, and will release on October 18, 2021.