In recent decades, the video game landscape has undergone a notable transformation thanks to globalization, rising development costs, and the rise of digital stores. In the past, Japanese video games were considered exclusive treasures, accessible in many cases only to local players. However, today, most of these titles are within reach of global audiences, a change that, while celebrated by many, has been criticized by some developers. Designers must do what they want to do, not what will please in the US Masahiro Sakurai, recognized creator of the […]
In recent decades, the video game landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to globalization, rising development costs, and the rise of digital stores. In the past, Japanese video games were considered exclusive treasures, accessible in many cases only to local players. However, today, most of these titles are within reach of global audiences, a change that, while celebrated by many, has been criticized by some developers.
Designers should do what they want to do, not what will be liked in the US
Masahiro Sakurai, renowned creator of the famous franchise Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, has shared his opinions on this trend during a recent interview, where he was honored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. Sakurai suggests that Japanese developers should focus on what truly inspires them instead of following the trend of creating “Americanized” games. According to him, foreign players seek authenticity and creativity stemming from the Japanese spirit.
“It’s not necessarily my idea, but I think the ideal is to make games the way you like them, and the people who can accept them will enjoy them,” Sakurai stated. This statement highlights the growing need for Japanese developers to connect with their cultural identity in an industry increasingly influenced by external factors.
Regarding the future direction of Super Smash Bros., Sakurai has been reserved. Despite being in a semi-retirement phase, he continues to create games, although he has admitted to not having clarity about what the future holds for the famous franchise. However, his commitment to quality and authenticity in video game development is evident, and both he and fans hope that the essence of what makes Japanese games unique will prevail in upcoming releases.
Masahiro Sakurai is one of the great creators in the video game industry. His name might not be as immediately recognizable as Hideo Kojima or Shigeru Miyamoto, but his importance is no less than those big names. Sakurai is the father of Kirby. He is the creator of Super Smash Bros. In addition to being one of the most brilliant minds in the industry, as he has demonstrated over the past two and a half years on his YouTube channel. In April 2022, Sakurai launched the YouTube channel Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games. A channel where he has periodically uploaded, twice […]
Masahiro Sakurai is one of the great creators in the video game industry. His name might not be as immediately recognizable as Hideo Kojima or Shigeru Miyamoto, but his importance is no less than that of those big names. Sakurai is the father of Kirby. He is the creator of Super Smash Bros. In addition to being one of the brightest minds in the industry, as he has demonstrated over the past two and a half years on his YouTube channel.
In April 2022, Sakurai launched on YouTube the channel Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games. A channel where he has periodically uploaded, twice a week, short videos explaining the reality of video game creation at all levels. From design and art to corporate or marketing aspects. Being the largest or best existing source today for learning everything related to the creation and development of video games, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games is an essential source of knowledge. But not infinite. Since he uploaded his final episode yesterday, October 22, 2024.
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This latest video served for Sakurai to explain how producing the channel has been during this time, giving us some valuable information about it. Explaining how much it has cost to make all his content, the fact that he hasn’t earned any money from it, that he recorded almost all the content before starting to publish anything, and how the experience has been, it is a perfect closure. Especially because he had no problem explaining what he has been doing in the meantime: preparing his next video game.
Although he has not clarified what it is about, according to Sakurai himself, his proposal for a new video game was approved around October 2021, although he could not start development until April 2022. This means that its development should take approximately two and a half years. This would mean that it is on the verge not of release, but of being announced, if it is a normal development for Nintendo, or an average Japanese studio, of three or four years.
Could it be a new installment of Super Smash Bros. for the yet-to-be-announced Nintendo Switch 2? It’s something we shouldn’t rule out. That said, Sakurai himself stated in the past that Ultimate was his last Smash Bros and that he preferred to leave the franchise in the hands of the rest of the team, so it doesn’t seem the most likely. Perhaps a remaster or port of the Kid Icarus from Nintendo 3DS, which he has said numerous times he would love to see on home consoles, would be a possibility. Although it doesn’t seem like the kind of work that would normally be assigned to a director with a profile as high as Sakurai’s. It seems more logical to think that whatever he is working on is a new title of some kind.
To know more, we will probably have to wait until the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2. If not longer. But what seems clear is that we won’t have to worry about the retirement of one of the most valuable and selfless directors in the video game industry anytime soon.
