Could the Smash Bros. Series continue without Masahiro Sakurai at the helm?

The future of the series, while inevitable given its tremendous success, will require careful planning and execution. It needs a firm conviction from Sakurai, who recognizes the significance of the series and the inevitable development of a new installment.

Regardless of whether he's involved or not, Sakurai is aware that the next Super Smash Bros. title will require a tremendous effort from its developers.

Despite his enthusiasm, fans aware of Sakurai's grueling work-life balance, or the lack thereof. The pressures of maintaining the quality and success of the series have resulted in severe stress, with the designer sharing harrowing experiences such as resorting to an IV drip and pushing through physical exhaustion to continue working. However, he has taken steps towards improving his working conditions during the development of Ultimate, such as strictly adhering to leaving the office by 10 PM.

Sakurai's YouTube channel has been instrumental in providing insights into his experiences and future prospects. It presents a platform where Sakurai can discuss the past, present, and potential future of the series, often sharing behind-the-scenes stories that offer fans an inside look into the creation of the Super Smash Bros. franchise.

One such story recounts his involvement in the creation of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Sakurai shared his surprise at the announcement of the game during Nintendo's E3 2005 press conference. As an audience member at the event, he had no knowledge of the game until Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, revealed it and later requested Sakurai to lead the team.

As Sakurai delves into discussions about the future of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, he presents various possibilities like the prospect of handing over the series to a new director. However, the thought of a Super Smash Bros. title without him at the helm seems hard to envision. His words strike a chord, "I feel the same way President Iwata did when we formed the team for Smash Bros. Brawl. At present, we simply do not have someone who could take the reins."

This sentiment echoes Sakurai's previous statements, expressing how he had already poured "too much of [his] personality" into the series. There's a challenge in splitting the vision between multiple people, something Sakurai and Nintendo would need to confront if a new installment were to materialize.

Amidst these discussions, the question remains: What happens next for the Super Smash Bros. series? For now, only time will tell.

Speaking of Nintendo, the company remains mum about its plans for a successor to the Nintendo Switch. But, the evidence points towards an imminent announcement. It's believed that the next Nintendo console will be an upgrade/off-shoot of the Nintendo Switch, mirroring the earlier rumors of the Nintendo Switch Pro.