Why Ryu Hayabusa’s Smash Bros inclusion remains uncertain despite fan demand
The Longstanding Fan Campaign
For years, the Super Smash Bros community has championed Ryu Hayabusa’s inclusion, citing his rich Nintendo history dating back to the NES era. The ninja warrior first appeared in Western markets through the 1989 Ninja Gaiden trilogy, establishing deep roots with Nintendo’s audience.
Unlike many modern third-party characters, Ryu Hayabusa boasts authentic Nintendo heritage that predates most current Smash roster members, making his continued absence particularly puzzling to longtime fans.
The character meets all conventional criteria for inclusion: Japanese development origin (Koei Tecmo/Team Ninja), iconic gaming status across multiple generations, and existing fighting game experience through Dead or Alive appearances. These credentials surpass those of several currently included fighters.
Official Statements Analyzed
Recent comments from Team Ninja’s Fumihiko Yasuda to Famitsu revealed the studio’s official position: they’re actively awaiting Nintendo’s invitation. This mirrors Microsoft’s response regarding Master Chief, suggesting a common corporate protocol for third-party character negotiations.
The “invitation” reference specifically recalls Smash Bros’ iconic character reveal trailers, where fighters receive formal summons to join the battle. This terminology indicates Team Ninja understands the process but cannot initiate it unilaterally.
Former Ninja Gaiden director Tomonobu Itagaki separately endorsed the idea, telling Dexerto that Smash Bros provides “a stage big enough” for Ryu Hayabusa. Such cross-generational developer support is rare among potential Smash candidates.
Future Possibilities
With the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection launching on Switch in June, the timing appears ideal for a coordinated crossover. Nintendo historically times Smash reveals to complement related releases, as seen with Minecraft’s Steve.
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Community efforts could prove decisive. Successful fan campaigns previously secured characters like Banjo-Kazooie. Strategic social media pushes during Nintendo Direct prediction seasons often yield results, as demonstrated by the #BringBackNationalDex movement in Pokémon.
The clock is ticking with only two Fighter Pass slots remaining. Should Ryu miss this opportunity, fans might need to wait for a potential Ultimate port or sequel, where his chances could improve if the Master Collection performs well commercially.
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