Super Smash Bros. Next: Big Xenoblade Chronicles Expansion Revealed!

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The iconic series Super Smash Bros. continues to be one of Nintendo’s most acclaimed franchises, boasting impressive fighting mechanics and unique crossover elements that span various gaming worlds. This game is a favorite among many gamers, and each character announcement feels like a significant event, fueling even greater anticipation for the franchise.

As Nintendo’s announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 draws near, excitement among fans is growing, particularly with regards to the potential release of a new installment in the Super Smash Bros. series. While it remains uncertain whether Nintendo will continue the “Everyone Is Here” approach seen in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or scale things down, there’s little doubt that the next game will include some fresh faces. It appears that the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise may see a more significant presence in the upcoming title.

Super Smash Bros. and Xenoblade Are Closely Tied Together

Xenoblade Was A Cult Classic Before Smash Bros.

To some degree, the popularity surge experienced by the Xenoblade Chronicles series can be attributed, in part, to its association with the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The original game of Xenoblade Chronicles, launched in 2012, might not have been localized without a significant fan-led initiative called Operation Rainfall. Even though the campaign was successful, the game was only made available in small numbers towards the end of the Wii’s lifespan. This limited release contributed to its classification as a “cult classic” at launch.

Back when they launched Super Smash Bros. for both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, I was thrilled to see my favorite character, Shulk, join the roster. Though this didn’t instantly turn Xenoblade into a household name for Nintendo, it certainly boosted its recognition. And just as the franchise was gaining momentum, Nintendo cleverly re-released the game on the New 3DS system. Finally, in 2020, they brought out Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition onto the Nintendo Switch, which I believe is a testament to their commitment to nurturing beloved franchises like Xenoblade.

Smash Has Helped Xenoblade Grow In A Big Way

Ever since Nintendo Switch’s debut, the popularity of Xenoblade Chronicles has skyrocketed. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 managed to sell more than two million copies on this platform alone, making it not just the most successful game in the Xenoblade franchise but also the highest-selling title within the broader Xeno series. The creators of Smash Bros. couldn’t ignore its success either; while series director Masahiro Sakurai didn’t include a character from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 at the game’s initial release, he later added Pyra and Mythra as downloadable fighters during the second phase of the game’s Fighter Pass.

After wrapping up additional content for Super Smash Ultimate, Nintendo has launched two fresh installments in the Xenoblade series – Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and the updated version Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. The growing popularity of Smash Bros. might have played a significant role in Nintendo’s increased attention towards the Xenoblade series, which suggests that if another Super Smash Bros. game is developed for the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s highly likely we’ll see a new character from the Xenoblade universe.

Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles has catapulted itself in popularity.

Smash Bros. Has A Couple of Options For Xenoblade Representation

There’s some uncertainty about whether Nintendo will focus on a character from one Xenoblade game or another, or combine characters from both. The team behind the Xenoblade series, Monolith Soft, has confirmed they will continue the series after Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and hinted at creating Xenoblade Chronicles X2 as well. This means the Smash Bros. team might need to wait and see what the next Xenoblade game on the Switch 2 brings before deciding how to incorporate it into Smash.

Despite the ongoing development of the upcoming “Super Smash Bros.” game on the Switch 2, it appears that the “Xenoblade Chronicles” franchise is poised to make an even bigger impact this time around. The series has experienced significant growth in large part thanks to “Smash,” and the release of numerous successful games since the end of “Ultimate’s” DLC provides a vast playground for Sakurai and his team to explore. While it may be some time before we see the next iteration of “Smash,” rest assured that when it’s ready, there will be more “Xenoblade” excitement in store.

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2025-03-26 06:05