This article is a translation of the following Japanese article:
Original: 【Switch後継機】スマブラSPはどうなる？｜互換性・Switch 2対応・大会環境の最新予想まとめ
The Nintendo Switch 2 (commonly known as the Switch successor), released on June 5, 2025 as Nintendo’s next-generation hardware, is designed with an emphasis on compatibility with previous Switch titles. The same is true for “Smash Bros. Ultimate”, and it has been confirmed from official information and analysis that there is a high possibility that it will be playable on new hardware.
However, on the other hand, there are still many uncertainties regarding Smash Bros. In this article, while organizing the information we currently know,
. Author: “Since Smash Bros. Ultimate was released in 2018, official balance adjustments have been completed and it is in its final environment. How it will connect from here to the Switch 2 era is of great interest to competitive players and fans.” Conclusion: High possibility of play According to the information announced, the Switch 2 is designed to be backward compatible with almost all Switch titles from previous hardware. We have seen many software run smoothly on the Switch 2 and benefit from loading times and performance. In fact, “Smash Bros. SP/Ultimate” has also been officially announced as a title compatible with Switch 2
We will carefully predict and explain points such as
1. Can you play Super Smash Bros. SP on Switch 2?
- Improved frame stability and behavior
- Loading time reduced
- Some compatibility bug fixes
have been reported.
However, as of now, the new version as the “Enhanced Edition (remake version)” has not been announced. Ultimate itself will work as is on Switch 2, but it is unclear whether there will be an exclusive enhanced version or additional content.
Author: “The fact that you can play SP on Switch 2 is a big deal, but I’m looking forward to future Nintendo Directs and official announcements to see if there will be a release with additional content.”
2. Isn’t it enough just to have compatible behavior?
Enhanced Edition Possibilities
Nintendo often re-releases past titles as enhanced versions when a new model is released. Exclusive enhanced versions of “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom” have been announced for Switch 2.
Based on this trend, Rumors of a Switch 2 exclusive version like “Super Smash Bros. SP Ultra (tentative title)” are also being talked about in the community.
In the enhanced version,
- Improvement of online line (introduction of rolling netcode, etc.)
- Graphics enhancement (higher resolution and frame improvement)
- Additional characters and stages
is expected.
However, these are not official announcements, but rather predictions from fans and analysts, and are not confirmed information.
Author: “If a remake version is released, it will be easier for existing players to continue with their tournament data and the Esports environment.However, Nintendo has not yet made clear when and in what form it will be released.”
3. Technical improvements and online
Ultimate compatibility on Switch 2 is expected to have benefits beyond simple operational compatibility.
Specifically:
- Significantly reduced loading time
Loads faster than regular Switch - Improved stability
Reduced frame drops even when displaying multiple characters or in a big brawl
. This is a benefit from improved hardware performance. ([turn0search10]
On the other hand, compatibility problems were also reported immediately after release. In particular, in mixed online play between Switch 1 and Switch 2, there is an issue where the match ends immediately when using a Mii Fighter, and Nintendo has announced that it is currently working on a fix.
Although the technology is evolving in this way, there are compatibility-specific issues with online matches, so tournament organizers need to continue to improve the environment.
Author: “While I’m happy with the improvements in loading and trends, the online mix between Switch 1 and 2 cannot be called “complete” yet. We need to pay close attention to the maintenance of this area in the tournament scene.”
4. Can the tournament scene continue?
The Smash Bros. SP tournament scene continues to be exciting for both professionals and amateurs, including Genesis, Smash Con, and EVO Japan. The community has also shared that support for Switch 2 is an urgent issue, but overall there are many positive views.
With rumors of improved online connections on the Switch 2 and expectations for lower latency with the new hardware, there is a possibility that competitive players will establish the Switch 2 as the standard hardware for “practice and competitions.” This is a trend that has been seen in previous environment transitions (GC → Wii → Wii U → Switch).
However, adjustment of tournament rules and distribution settings is essential. In particular, there is discussion about how the usage environment for Joy-Con and Pro-Con will change during offline tournaments. These are expected to be gradually revealed in the information surrounding the official announcement.
Author: “Environmental preparation” is the most important thing for professional and community-led tournaments. Whether the scene will continue on Switch 2 will depend on the flexibility and preparation of the management.
5. Is there a possibility of a new work/sequel?
“Super Smash Bros. SP/Ultimate” was released in 2018 as the “definitive edition,” and characters have been added through DLC over the years. At this time, there is no official announcement of the new game “Smash Bros. 6”.
Creator Masahiro Sakurai said, “I can’t say anything about the new work,” but based on the experience he has accumulated with past works, there is a view that a new project for next-generation consoles is possible in the future.
Also, there are rumors in the community about a “Switch 2 Ultimate enhanced version (Switch 2 Edition),” and there are speculations that it will not be a remake but an enhanced version to serve as a bridge to the next new work.
Author: “If a new work is released, it is expected that it will evolve as a “competition specification” such as updating the number of characters and stages, and improving the net code.However, as of now, no official information has been released yet.”
6. Summary | Relationship between Switch successor and Super Smash Bros. SP
- Smash Bros. SP can basically run on Switch 2, and compatibility is actually progressing. ([turn0search0]
- Technical benefits (loading reduction, rendering stability) can be expected with Switch 2, but there are still some areas that need to be fixed for full compatibility.
- The tournament environment can continue, and the competitive scene is expected to develop based on Switch 2. ([turn0search4] There are rumors and analytical information regarding
- Possibility of remake/new work, and attention is focused on future official announcements.
Author: “How Smash Bros. evolves in the Switch 2 era and how the community responds will change greatly over the next few years. Be sure to regularly check official announcements and trends in the tournament scene.”
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