Smash Bros series director Masahiro Sakurai isn't sure what's next for the franchise

by Danny Craig ·

Nintendo

Masahiro Sakurai, the legendary game designer and director of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, has stated that he is unsure of what is next for the fighting game series as he believes it would be "difficult to push it any further" than Nintendo has already.

The details:

In the latest video posted to his YouTube channel, Sakurai discusses the various changes and new features added to Smash Ultimate from previous entries to better appeal to both new and returning players, as well as the difficulties caused by lower-capacity Switch cartridges and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toward the end of the video, the designer discusses the franchise's future, stating that despite his role as director, he is still "not sure" about the next installment since the development team has continued to push the boundaries with each release. “Every time, we managed to make a game that I had previously thought impossible, so I can’t say for certain there won’t be another, but I do think it would be difficult to push it any further than we have," said Sakurai.
Sakurai has now stated that he is "semi-retired" from game development, prompting him to launch a YouTube channel to share design tips and insights into the development process of various titles. Despite this, he shared in July that he was still undecided about making another Smash game and that he "can't imagine a Smash Bros. title" without him directly involved, as Nintendo had no one to take control of the series.

More gaming news:

According to reports, Microsoft will begin prohibiting the use of "unauthorized accessories" on Xbox consoles. This will prevent players from using devices that support mouse and keyboard controls without native support, as well as unofficial fighting sticks.
Following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox leadership team has been restructured. Sarah Bond, corporate vice president, has been designated president of the brand, with Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, serving as president of game content and studios.