Masahiro Sakurai

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Masahiro Sakurai Working Remotely

With parts of Japan set to be declared a state of emergency, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has revealed he is now supervising the Fighter Pass 2 remotely in a tweet that reads: “I am now working remotely. Essentially, I’m supervising the project from a distance. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a very high-security project, which makes it difficult to take it out (and work). However, we have no choice, but to do it. Everyone, let’s do our best to get through this!!” Purchase the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighter Pass 2 at this link. [Thanks, PushDustIn]

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Sakurai Asked About Kirby Air Ride Sequel

From his latest column inside Weekly Famitsu magazine: Masahiro Sakurai is asked whether he will make a sequel to the GameCube game Kirby Air Ride. Sakurai answers: “Many great games have sequels, and knowing when to release sequels takes some know-how regarding games’ maturities. It’s difficult to deliver on the images that people have in mind for sequels.” Buy Weekly Famitsu here (use the code JPNINTENDO for 5% off all physical orders above $20). [Thanks, Nokolo]

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Masahiro Sakurai Shares Health Concerns

From his latest column inside Weekly Famitsu magazine: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai says that he recently passed out at the gym due to being fatigued and dehydrated, which is something he says he has to fix. Sakurai says he’s been on a low carbohydrate diet, and eating lots of meat. Buy Weekly Famitsu here (use the code JPNINTENDO for 5% off all physical orders above $20). [Thanks, PushDustIn]

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Sakurai Worked On a New Smash Fighter Today!

At today’s Famitsu Super Smash Bros. Ultimate corporate tournament, Masahiro Sakurai told the crowd: “Today I also made things in the company, such as a fighter whom hasn’t been known by everybody yet. And I came here after the work has ended.” Thanks to BlackKite for the translation and Naruki for the clip (posted below). Please note that the image isn’t supposed to infer that Spring Man will be added to the game.

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Sakurai Talks SSBU Surpassing SFII

Masahiro Sakurai’s 592nd column in this week’s issue (No.1616) of Weekly Famitsu magazine sees the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director talk about the game surpassing Street Fighter II to become the best-selling fighting game. Sakurai says that Smash is considered an action game in Japan. Even though it has suprassed SFII in sales, he still considers Capcom’s classic to be the king of fighting games still. Sakurai says a fighting game may become stale once mastered, hence why the series is designed closer to a party game. More details are found at this thread. Translation thanks to Robert Sephazon.

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Sakurai to Appear in Dragon Quest XI S Livestream

The Dragon Quest XI S Official Live Broadcast Countdown Special #4, which is set for 26 September at 21:00-01:00 JST, will include Yuji Horii and Masahiro Sakurai. Full details here. The livestream will celebrate the Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition game’s launch at midnight. Pre-order the game here and use the code JPNINTENDO for 5% off. 

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Sakurai Is Only Working on Smash

Masahiro Sakurai’s 587th column in this week’s issue (No.1606) of Weekly Famitsu magazine sees the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director talk the Banjo-Kazooie DLC and more. Nintendo decide the line-up but Sakurai has the final say over whether the character will work. Sakurai wants to put all his efforts into Smash Bros. and is not working on another game. Sakurai does say that he is enjoying his work. More details are found at this thread. Translation thanks to PushDustIn.

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Sakurai Talks Fighter Reveal Trailers Pt.II

In his latest column in Weekly Famitsu magazine, Masahiro Sakurai talks more about making fighter reveal trailers in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Go here to read part one. Sakurai says that a great number of people are required to put together the gameplay parts of the trailer and he wishes for the footage to be as close as possible to the final build. People working on the game are usually responsible although sometimes members of the Mario Club help out.

The gameplay parts aren’t fully planned like the CG parts are. Having the sound effects and music work is hugely important. Sakurai says the CG parts are expensive but feels it is worth it, although the last DLC didn’t include any. Sakurai finishes by saying he is “deeply grateful” to work on the trailers.

Much more is detailed over at this thread courtesy of PushDustIn. Buy physical copies of Weekly Famitsu here – use the code JPNINTENDO for 5% off all physical purchases above $20.

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Sakurai Talks Fighter Reveal Trailers

In his latest column in Weekly Famitsu magazine, Masahiro Sakurai talks about making fighter reveal trailers in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. These are done both for the fans to enjoy and to create buzz. Sakurai says he writes the script for the trailers and each scene. A company called Digital Frontier help with the CG animation trailers. Sakurai checks each step and is very thankful for Digital Frontier. Much more is detailed over at this thread courtesy of PushDustIn. The next column (in two weeks) will talk gameplay. Buy physical copies of Weekly Famitsu here – use the code JPNINTENDO for 5% off all physical purchases above $20.

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