Over two years ago, we were told outright that version 13.0.1 for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would feature the final fighter adjustments for the game. While this has remained true up to this point, there’s at least a slim possibility that this could change with some of the recent news and rumors we’ve been hearing about.
As it turns out, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is slated to receive an update at some point here in January 2024. For now, the only thing we know for sure that this update will be doing is adding new Spirits to the game.
Additionally, the Sora amiibo will also be releasing on February 16, 2024. While it’s likely that this upcoming update will only add the new Spirits and Sora amiibo compatibility, there’s that small possibility that the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate developers could actually apply new fighter adjustments two years after saying they wouldn’t.
This new patch is apparently being worked on to commemorate Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s fifth anniversary back in December 2023. Of course, it’s also been pointed out that the year 2024 marks the Super Smash Bros. series’ 25th anniversary. Rumors suggest that Nintendo has plans on celebrating this occasion throughout 2024.
More than likely, Nintendo is probably aware of the impact that Steve has been having on the competitive scene considering that they previously knew about just how much the Japanese scene was really beginning to despise Min Min, prompting nerfs in the 13.0.1 patch.
In a video released back in December 2022, Masahiro Sakurai noted that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was designed in such a way so that tweaks to character parameters were simple to make. Specifically, even those without programming experience can make adjustments using an Excel-like program.
While the developers are already working on new Spirits and Sora amiibo support, they could also add a few balance tweaks as a surprise to commemorate the aforementioned fifth anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the 25th anniversary for the Super Smash Bros. series as a whole. This entire process has apparently been streamlined to be simple.
Recently, Masahiro Sakurai said that he’s still involved with creating games. Coincidentally, Studio 2/Studio S of Bandai Namco also recently listed a job posting for those with experience in developing action games of the “side-view” variety.
With rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 suggesting that the console is to be released this year in 2024, it’s possible that development for the next entry in the Super Smash Bros. series has already begun. This would certainly make sense considering that the latest entry is still selling strong at over 32 million units since launch.
Theoretically, we could see a repeat of what happened with how Bayonetta was nerfed in the true final balance update for Super Smash Bros. 4 back when she was considered to be the best character. We now know that the developers were able to do this because development had already begun on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Regardless, we’ll ultimately have to wait and see if things really play out this way. We for sure know that some sort of news announcement for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is expected to happen this month, so we should know for sure about the possibility of new balance adjustments soon enough.