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Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and president of Sora Ltd., has been developing a new game since April 2022. He revealed this during the final episode of his YouTube series, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games.”, which was uploaded on October 22, 2024.
In this 46-minute finale, Sakurai explained how his channel came to be and provided insight into the timeline of his next game project. He noted that all the footage from previous episodes was recorded over two and a half years ago.
Sakurai shared, “It was around July of 2021. I was busy working on the downloadable content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. To be precise, I was putting together the video for ‘Mr. Sakurai Presents: Kazuya.’” While managing these tasks, he received a request to write a game proposal, which he finished “at lightning speed.” He added, “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.”
After the release of Sora (from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) in late October 2021, Sakurai wrapped up his commitments. “There was, of course, that new game proposal I had written,” he explained. “I’d been given the OK to move forward with production, but it was going to take some time to assemble the right team. The target timeframe was [starting] April 2022.”
This period marked a unique moment for Sakurai, as he usually transitions directly from one project to another. “Directors tend to stay involved in projects longer than anyone else,” he stated. However, by a stroke of luck, he found himself with several months of open schedule.
While he initially considered taking a break or even traveling, he decided to use this rare opportunity to plan his YouTube channel, saying, “I could have used it to recharge, but I felt as though this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sakurai launched his YouTube series in August 2022, providing insights into game design and development, drawing on his extensive experience in the industry. Each episode features him discussing various aspects of game creation, from character design to gameplay mechanics. He also showcases gameplay footage, offers commentary on classic games, and even answers fan questions, making it a valuable resource for aspiring developers and fans alike. His engaging and informative style has garnered a significant following, and many viewers appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at game development from one of the industry’s most respected figures.
By the time the channel launched, production on the new game was already underway, requiring him to balance both ventures simultaneously. Although Sakurai did not share more specifics about the game, with over two and a half years since its production began, fans can anticipate an announcement soon.
