Analyzing credible Smash Ultimate leaks: What they reveal about future DLC fighters
The Credible Leak’s Track Record
Among the sea of unverified Smash Ultimate rumors, one particular Japanese leak from 2018 stands out for its remarkable accuracy. Originally posted on the 5ch forum, this source correctly predicted the inclusion of both Dragon Quest’s Hero and Minecraft’s Steve long before their official announcements.
What makes this leak particularly noteworthy is its specific character references and development timeline claims that have since been validated.
Unlike many anonymous leakers who make vague predictions, this source provided concrete details about characters being developed as early as 2018, noting they were “gone” from the base game roster. The leaker’s terminology for Steve as “the default guy” from Minecraft adds credibility through its authentic development team phrasing.
Potential New Fighters Revealed
Tales Series Representation
The leak’s most exciting claims involve Bandai Namco’s Tales series, suggesting protagonists from Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia were in planning stages. This aligns with recent fan theories predicting a Tales fighter announcement during March’s Tales of Festival event, which would coincide with the next amiibo wave release.
Street Fighter’s Chun-Li
Interestingly, the leaker claims Chun-Li was originally considered as a second Street Fighter representative before being replaced by Ken. This development decision makes practical sense, as creating Ken as a Ryu echo fighter would require significantly less development resources than building Chun-Li’s unique move set from scratch.
Behind-the-Scenes Development Insights
Character Selection Process
The leak provides rare insight into Nintendo’s character selection methodology. For Square Enix representatives, Hero was reportedly chosen over Sephiroth initially, though Sephiroth later joined via Fighters Pass Volume 2. This suggests Nintendo revisits previously considered characters when planning new DLC waves.
Disney’s Influence on Sora
Perhaps the most revealing claim concerns Kingdom Hearts’ Sora. The leaker states Disney Japan opposed Sora’s inclusion without other Disney characters, corroborating former Game Informer editor Imran Khan’s reports. This highlights how third-party licensing complexities can override fan demand in character selection.
For competitive players, understanding these selection factors helps predict future DLC possibilities. Characters from companies with existing Smash relationships (like Bandai Namco) may have higher inclusion likelihood than those requiring complex new partnerships.
Evaluating Leak Credibility
Timing Considerations
While the leak’s 2018 origins and accurate predictions lend credibility, it’s important to note that development plans can change significantly over time. The leaker’s information reflects the planning stages before Fighters Pass Volume 1’s completion, meaning some details may have evolved since.
Corroborating Evidence
The leak gains additional credibility from matching other verified reports, particularly regarding Sora’s licensing hurdles. However, until official announcements confirm the Tales series representatives or Chun-Li, these claims should be treated as intriguing possibilities rather than certainties.
For Smash dataminers and leakers, this case study demonstrates how early development information can contain accurate long-term predictions, but also highlights why multiple verification points are essential before considering leaks definitive.
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