Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has expanded with new DLC since it released, and we’ve still got six more fighters to look forward to. We’re not sure who is being added, but according to game director Masahiro Sakurai, it’s possible that reveals and releases will be delayed due to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
In Sakurai’s latest column in Japanese Famitsu magazine (as translated by Siliconera), Sakurai has spoken about the impact of the pandemic on the development of new fighters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. “My plans to present new fighter proposal(s) to publisher(s) have been delayed indefinitely as I haven’t been able to meet up with those involved,” he said.
Sakurai also noted that the entire building would be locked down if anyone was found to be infected, “and game development will be completely halted.”
“Even if we are able to announce a new fighter, there is the possibility we are not able to work on development as scheduled,” he said. As of right now, all six characters are due to have been released by December 2021, but that could change depending on how things pan out.
It’s likely that we’ll see more games affected over time–for instance, Final Fantasy VII Remake might be hard to get a hold of if you want a disc copy at launch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also scheduled to be a major part of Evo 2020, which has, as of yet, not been canceled.
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