Rumors about a new Super Smash Bros. game for the Nintendo Switch have been circulating online, with an anonymous 4chan leaker claiming that the next installment in the series is coming in summer 2026. The rumor suggests that every character from previous games will return, despite creator Masahiro Sakurai’s intention to make some cuts.
According to the leak, new characters include Waluigi, Toon Zelda, Noah and Mio from Xenoblade Chronicles, Armorouge and Ceruledge from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Sol Badguy from Guilty Gear. Paper Mario is expected to be the first DLC character for day one buyers.
Some characters are said to have undergone significant changes, including Link with powers inspired by Tears of the Kingdom, Samus with a new dash ability, and Cloud with special moves based on the Remake games. Other redesigns include Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, Ryu and Ken in their Street Fighter 6 versions, Bayonetta in her Bayonetta 3 design, and Donkey Kong in his movie-inspired design.
The rumor also claims that there will be around 50-55 stages instead of the usual multiple stages found in previous games. However, this is said to be due to resource constraints, which are being redirected towards other features, such as Trophies with detailed descriptions for completing missions and playing Arcade mode.
Lastly, the rumor mentions an Adventure mode similar to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s world map and Spirit fights, featuring over an hour of cutscenes inspired by Subspace Emissary from Brawl.
Note: It is essential to take this rumor with a grain of salt, as 4chan leaks are often unreliable and should be approached with caution.
Source: https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/super-smash-bros-nintendo-switch-2-new-game-characters-release-date-rumor