Everyone is basically holding their breath for the "Switch 2." We know it’s coming. Nintendo has already confirmed they'll talk about the successor to the most successful hybrid console ever made by March 2026. But for a huge chunk of the fanbase, the hardware specs like DLSS or RAM counts are just noise. What they actually want to know is what happens to Smash. A Switch 2 Smash Bros isn't just a possibility; it’s an inevitability, yet it’s also the most complicated project Nintendo has on its plate.
Masahiro Sakurai, the legendary creator who basically lives and breathes this franchise, has been surprisingly open on his YouTube channel about the "impossible" nature of following up Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Honestly, how do you top a game that literally had the tagline "Everyone is Here"? You can't. Not really. If you try to just add ten more characters to a roster that already tops 80, the balancing becomes a nightmare, and the licensing fees for third-party icons like Sora or Snake probably cost more than some small indie studios make in a decade.
The Roster Problem Facing Switch 2 Smash Bros
We have to talk about the "Ultimate" hangover.
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Whenever a new Switch 2 Smash Bros gets announced, the first thing people will do is check who got cut. It’s gonna happen. Sakurai has hinted multiple times that the next entry might need to be "downsized" to focus on new mechanics or a different vibe. Think about the jump from Melee to Brawl. We lost Mewtwo and Roy back then, and people lost their minds for years. Now imagine losing Cloud, Steve from Minecraft, or Banjo-Kazooie. It’s a PR minefield.
There is a very real chance that the next game isn't a "new" game in the traditional sense. Nintendo loves a good "Deluxe" edition. We saw it with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. If the Switch 2 is as backwards compatible as the rumors suggest—and most industry analysts like Serkan Toto or Piers Harding-Rolls seem to think it is—then Nintendo might just give Smash Ultimate a massive facelift.
Why a Reboot Might Actually Be Better
Hear me out.
If they keep just adding onto the same engine, the game gets bloated. Physics stay the same. The "feel" stays the same. A Switch 2 Smash Bros that starts from scratch could actually innovate. We could see a return to a more technical, movement-heavy style similar to Melee, or maybe a complete overhaul of the single-player content. Let's be real: World of Light was a grind. People miss the Subspace Emissary style of side-scrolling adventure with actual cutscenes where Bowser and Ganondorf interact.
Technical Reality and the Hardware Leap
The current Switch is struggling. Have you tried playing a 4-player match with items on on a stage like Fountain of Dreams? The frame drops are subtle but they're there.
The Switch 2 is rumored to be using Nvidia’s T239 chip. This means we’re looking at a jump to something roughly equivalent to a portable PS4 Pro, but with better AI upscaling. For a Switch 2 Smash Bros, this means 4K output when docked and, more importantly, much better CPU performance. This matters because Smash is a physics-heavy game. More CPU power means more complex interactions, better lighting, and maybe, finally, some decent online netcode.
Nintendo’s online is, to put it lightly, a disaster. Playing Smash Ultimate online feels like playing underwater half the time. If the next hardware doesn't come with a dedicated ethernet port on the dock as standard and a complete rework of their server architecture, it won't matter how many characters are in the game.
The Third-Party Licensing Nightmare
Don't expect the same level of third-party representation.
Negotiating with companies like Disney (for Sora) or Square Enix (for Sephiroth) is an exhausting process. Sakurai has mentioned that Ultimate was a "miracle" that happened because of the specific timing and relationships he had built. For a Switch 2 Smash Bros, some of these contracts might expire. It's totally possible that the next game leans harder back into Nintendo’s own IP. We’ve still got plenty of B-tier Nintendo characters that deserve a slot. Waluigi? Still waiting. Isaac from Golden Sun? Still a trophy.
What the Competitive Scene Thinks
The pros are worried. They’ve spent years mastering the specific frame data of Ultimate. If Nintendo decides to go the "Live Service" route with the next game—adding characters slowly over five years rather than a massive launch roster—it changes the competitive landscape entirely.
There's also the "Slippi" factor. The community saw what was possible with fan-made rollback netcode for Melee. If Nintendo doesn't implement industry-standard rollback in the Switch 2 Smash Bros, the community might stay on the old hardware. Nintendo has historically been pretty stubborn about this, but they've seen the success of Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. They know they can't ignore it forever.
Development Timeline Speculation
Nintendo usually launches a Smash game about 18 to 24 months into a console's lifecycle.
- N64: 1999 (3 years after launch)
- GameCube: 2001 (Launch year)
- Wii: 2008 (1.5 years after launch)
- Wii U: 2014 (2 years after launch)
- Switch: 2018 (1.5 years after launch)
If the Switch 2 hits shelves in 2025, we are likely looking at a late 2026 or early 2027 release for the next Smash. That’s a long time to wait. But it gives the team enough time to figure out if they're doing a "Greatest Hits" version of Ultimate or something entirely fresh.
The "Sakurai" Variable
Is he actually doing it? The man needs a break. He’s been saying he’s "semi-retired" for a while now, but he keeps coming back. It’s hard to imagine a Smash game without his specific brand of perfectionism. However, if he steps away, a Switch 2 Smash Bros could look very different. It might lose some of that quirky "toy museum" feel and become a more streamlined eSports title. That would be a tragedy for some, but a godsend for others.
The reality is that Smash is a system-seller. It’s the game that makes people buy extra controllers. It’s the game that keeps the Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions active. Nintendo knows this. They aren't going to rush it, but they aren't going to let it sit on the shelf for a decade either.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're gearing up for the next generation of Smash, there are a few things you should actually do instead of just scrolling through "leaks" on X (formerly Twitter).
- Don't trade in your GameCube controller adapters. Nintendo has supported these for three generations now; there is a very high probability they will work on the Switch 2 via the USB ports.
- Manage your roster expectations. Start getting used to the idea that your "main" might not make the cut if they aren't a core Nintendo character like Mario, Link, or Pikachu.
- Watch Sakurai's "Creating Games" YouTube channel. He drops genuine nuggets of wisdom there about how the series is built, which gives you a better idea of his design philosophy than any "insider" leak ever will.
- Wait for the official Nintendo Direct. Historically, Smash is almost always revealed with a "One More Thing" style cinematic at the end of a major June or September presentation.
The Switch 2 Smash Bros represents a turning point. It’s either the end of the "Everything" era or the start of something more focused and technically refined. Either way, it’s going to be the most talked-about game on the planet the second that flaming logo appears on screen. Keep your expectations grounded, especially regarding the roster size, and focus on what the new hardware can actually do for the gameplay feel rather than just the number of fighters.