Creator of Super Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai, concluded his game development YouTube series with a finale video that not only explores the creation process of the channel but also unveils his involvement in a new game project.
Throughout the video, Sakurai revealed receiving and having a game proposal approved. However, the assembling of a team and the start of production were delayed, with a target release date set for April 2022. This provided him with approximately seven months between the release of the final playable character, Sora, in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the commencement of his new project.
He mentioned, “I’m sorry I can’t share more about this project, but assuming we’re able to get it made, it should be announced sooner or later.”
At the time the channel was launched in 2022, the new game was in production. With two years elapsed since then, it is either still in development or has been cancelled, placing it in the early stages based on Sakurai’s comments.
In addition to discussing the development of the new game, Sakurai also dove into the creation process of all his videos, explaining his motivations behind starting the channel. Some reasons included staying occupied during the seven-month break and sharing his extensive experience with a wider audience.
This series comprises approximately 260 videos, spanning both Japanese and English, totaling around 520 videos. Sakurai personally penned all the scripts over a month, categorized them by subject, and scheduled their release. The majority of the video footage was recorded two-and-a-half years prior. He collaborated with Hike Inc. for editing and production starting in 2022.
Sakurai, who previously worked with Nintendo at HAL Laboratory before departing in the early 2000s, mentioned that the channel incurred costs of around $600,000 (90 million yen), with the bulk going towards video editing and translation fees. Despite exceeding his initial estimates, Sakurai considers it an investment for the future of games, even though it generates no income.
He acknowledged, “Even I think that’s kind of silly. However — and I truly mean this — I consider this an investment toward a brighter future for games.”
