# Super Smash Bros.’ Character Reveals: The End of an Era
In an age where the internet reigns supreme and leaks are commonplace, one video game development legend has had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape. Masahiro Sakurai, revered in the gaming world for creating the Super Smash Bros. series, has made a consequential decision regarding his approach to character reveals: the end of elaborate cutscenes.
## The Impact of Leaks
It was a bold strategy, creating cinematic art pieces to welcome new characters to the Nintendo universe. The trailers were meant to provide fans with a powerful visual spectacle, offering a unique crossover experience otherwise unavailable. They also served as special rewards for those who progressed through the adventure mode, notably seen in ‘Subspace Emissary’ for the Nintendo Wii game.
However, in a candid video posted on YouTube, Sakurai sheds light on the heart-wrenching reality that these cinematic marvels were consistently leaked online ahead of their official release.
“We put a lot of money and effort into making them, but people were already posting them on the Internet before the game even came out,” lamented Sakurai. “Even foreign media outlets did it with the pre-release copies we provided them. They weren’t a big reveal anymore, and so I decided to stop making cutscenes. These are difficult times to make games with a story.”
## A Change in Strategy
Yet, the end of one chapter inevitably leads to the beginning of another. Just as Sakurai ceased production of cutscenes, he crafted a new method to surprise and delight fans worldwide.
### New Surprises Emerging
Character reveals transformed into events themselves, orchestrated to capture attention during Nintendo Directs and similar gaming events. These fighter presentation videos became a new form of spectacle, giving players the grandeur they craved without the setbacks that previously plagued game launches.
To the joy of gamers everywhere, there have now been 37 famous trailers featuring characters drawn from across the gaming spectrum—not just the Nintendo family. Franchise heroes and icons like the Dragon Quest 11 protagonist, Persona 5’s Joker, Arms’ Min Min, Minecraft’s Steve and Alex, Final Fantasy 7’s Sephiroth, and many more have graced the screen in these beloved introductions.
## The Future of Smash Bros.
The expansive roster of ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ for the Nintendo Switch has reached such heights that Sakurai openly questions how the franchise can continue to expand. Nevertheless, the game has secured its legacy as a pinnacle installment within the series.
In our review, ‘Smash Ultimate’ was rated a resounding 9/10, confirming that “Legendary worlds come together for this great showdown that is the definitive installment of Super Smash Bros., exclusively for Nintendo Switch.” This praised title combines new and venerable fighters in a clash made richer and more elaborate than ever before, flaunting new items, attacks, defensive moves, and much more.
As the gaming community continues to evolve, and leaks remain an unfortunate but persistent reality, storytellers like Sakurai are challenged to adapt their craft. But through this adaptation, they find new ways to excite and engage their audience, ensuring that the spirit of the big reveal lives on—just in a different form.