Masahiro Sakurai doesn't share which games he's currently playing because fans believe it's confirmation of a new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character
No, Sakurai isn't hinting at new content, he's just playing games
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate creator Masahiro Sakurai is an avid gamer and has been for the majority of his life. However, you probably have no idea what he's currently playing or what games he actually enjoys hopping into.
There's good reason for that, and in his latest Famitsu column we learn that Sakurai actually refrains from sharing what games he's playing because of fan speculation about upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate content.
"I normally play a ton of games, but if people find out what kinds of games I’m playing, they have a tendency to start making a fuss over, 'Did Sakurai just confirm so-and-so for Smash?!'" Sakurai said in the column (thanks to the translation of Nintendo Everything).
Sakurai goes on to explain that the speculation and misunderstandings rapidly spread across the internet, especially outside of Japan. In order to avoid such situations, the Smash Bros. developer opts to not share what he's playing on Twitter or elsewhere.
This even goes as far as Sakurai declining guest appearances on TV shows that are centered around a specific game.
In the defense of the fans, it is a common occurrence to see game developers take to social media to drop hints pointing to upcoming content. Here in the fighting game space, people like Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono and Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon are notorious for sharing things that end up being hidden messages about what's to come.
Even in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Direct broadcasts, we've seen small hints and Easter eggs pointing to other things, such as a Klap Trap Assist Trophy in the same presentation that would go on to reveal King K. Rool as a playable character in the game.
It's no surprise that a fan's initial reaction to seeing their favorite developers tweet about different games may be seen as a hint at a new playable character — especially when there are currently unannounced fighters for said game. All of that having been said, sometimes developers like Sakurai are just playing and enjoying other games, and want to share that with the world.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is currently in the midst of its Fighters Pass volume 2. Five new characters are set to join the cast up through the end of 2021, though with the adjustments made due to the coronavirus pandemic it is possible that things may be delayed.
The next Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter has been confirmed to be a representative from ARMS, though we have yet to learn the identity of this character. We are expected to see the reveal and subsequent release sometime this month.
Photo source: Nintendo.
