Masahiro Sakurai, known for creating Kirby and developing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, launched a YouTube channel after completing the game’s DLC in 2022. He produced 256 videos, sharing insights into game development without monetization, costing around $600,000. Following this project, he quickly wrote a game proposal, hinting at a potential new title, possibly revisiting Kid Icarus or a new Smash Bros., although he acknowledges he may have reached his limit in character and content creation.
A Japanese-Style Break
In 2022, Masahiro Sakurai completed his work on the final downloadable content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, featuring the iconic character Sora from Kingdom Hearts. Following this milestone, Sakurai found himself presented with an extraordinary opportunity—a full two and a half years without professional obligations. Rather than opting for relaxation or travel, he decided to embark on a new venture: becoming a YouTuber. Sakurai shocked his audience in his latest YouTube video by revealing that he had recorded all the content for his channel well in advance!
Across his two channels—one for Japanese viewers and another for English-speaking fans—Masahiro Sakurai has uploaded 256 videos, where he shares essential insights into the video game development process. In his last YouTube installment, he disclosed that he allocated approximately $600,000 to support this informative project, which has not generated any revenue. If you doubt that a busy developer could produce such a wealth of content, you may not fully appreciate Sakurai’s dedication! Every aspect was meticulously planned: before filming each episode, this director crafted detailed scripts. Known for his exceptional attention to detail, he even enlisted the help of Hike for creating miniatures and animations, and collaborated with composer Yuzo Koshiro (renowned for Streets of Rage and Actraiser) to craft the music for the intros and outros, who also worked on audio for the latest iteration of Smash Bros.
Back to Work!
In April 2022, Sakurai received a request to draft a game proposal, which he completed in record time. During his video, he mentioned, “I’m sorry, I can’t share more right now, but trust me, we successfully pulled it off, so an announcement should be coming soon.” Given Sakurai’s esteemed reputation in the gaming world, it is likely he is working on a project tied to a major franchise, but which one remains a mystery. Fans are eager to speculate: could it be a revival of Kid Icarus, a series he previously directed for the 3DS, or perhaps a new installment of Super Smash Bros.?
While the latter idea is worth exploring, it should be approached with caution. In a discussion with The Verge, Sakurai admitted that he feels he has reached his creative limits in terms of content and characters. Nonetheless, this possibility cannot be dismissed entirely; after all, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ranks as Nintendo’s third best-selling title, moving approximately 34.6 million copies, trailing only Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Although Masahiro Sakurai may appear youthful at first glance, at 54, he is already contemplating retirement. However, it’s doubtful he will consider resting any time soon!
The Verge