In an announcement that has Nintendo fans buzzing, legendary game designer Masahiro Sakurai has revealed he has finished filming his informative YouTube video series breaking down the intricacies of game development.
Sakurai, best known as the guiding force behind the hugely successful Super Smash Bros. franchise, had previously stated his intention to wrap up the educational videos once a new game project came calling.
That crucial hint, combined with recent job listings at developer Namco Studios for roles focused on first-party Nintendo games, strongly suggests Sakurai is preparing to embark on his next major creation.
“I have finished filming my informative YouTube videos on game development,” Sakurai shared on X (formerly Twitter). His videos over the past two years have provided a rare insider’s glimpse into his creative process and philosophy.
One of the latest videos delved into the collaborative efforts required to nail the tight controls and impactful collision animations in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As Sakurai explained, animators and designers worked in lockstep to strike the right balance between visual fidelity and gameplay feel.
“To an extent, it’s okay if the visuals and collision don’t line up, assuming it makes the game more fun,” Sakurai said. “But even if the animation’s positioning is off, things will start to feel even more broken.”
This keen attention to merging aesthetics and mechanics in service of an enjoyable experience has been a cornerstone of Sakurai’s game design ethos. His willingness to share these insights ultimately benefited gamers and developers alike.
Now, with that particular video series reaching its conclusion, speculation runs rampant about what Sakurai’s next project might entail. While he’s most closely associated with Smash Bros., his versatility spans multiple genres from the shoot-em-up Radiant Silvergun to the innovative side-scroller Kirby Air Ride.
As vacancies are filled for new Nintendo projects at Namco, the smart money is on Sakurai returning to develop another major first-party franchise for the company’s latest hardware. Regardless of the game’s genre, fans can expect the same pursuit of fun allied with technical craft that Sakurai has become renowned for.
After generously imparting his wisdom to viewers, Sakurai can now refocus that passion into creating his next paradigm-shifting title. For Nintendo and its fans, that’s undoubtedly a smashing prospect.
