In a quick message, Sakurai offered sparse details about his team’s current situation, explaining that (via translation) he is now working remotely. According to Mr. Sakurai, he is still supervising the project, but now from a distance. He does explain whether the entire team is now also working remotely, but given the current situation, it wouldn’t be surprising if everyone on Smash Bros is now at home.
Sakurai also suggests that there were concerns about whether or not he and the other team members could work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate remotely, because it is a very high-security project. Some might not think that a Nintendo Switch fighting game that released late last year would have so much secrecy surrounding it, but chances are the build and files that Sakurai and his team are working on has some unannounced fighters included.
So while there may be a risk of information about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s next DLC fighters leaking out, Sakurai explains that is what must be done at this time. He says that the team had no choice, before closing out with a hopeful message that everyone will get through the current pandemic.
When the pandemic started to force people to work from home, there were questions about how the video game industry would be affected. Most expected that there would be delays of upcoming games, and thus far only a few (like Last of Us Part 2) have been announced. But even projects like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is available but has a schedule for releasing new content, were going to be affected.
However, it seems that rather than wait until everything calms down and going back to work, Sakurai and the Smash team are trying to keep their pace while working remotely. Nothing is confirmed but it’s possible that Smash fans might see a new DLC character while they are still encouraged to stay at home. Fans know that at least one character from Arms is on the way, but there will be more than that.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now for Nintendo Switch.
