This article is a translation of the following Japanese article:
Original: 【スマブラSP／Ultimate】最終アップデート後の現状まとめ｜13.0.4から現在までに何が変わったのか
Final balance adjustment and summary of corrections｜June 2025
Ultimate (English title, commonly known as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has many fans as an action fighting game for the Nintendo Switch, and although a long time has passed since its release, the latest update “Ver. 13.0.4” was released in June 2025, improving the game’s stability and online environment.
Author: “Smash Bros. Ultimate is nearing its final stages of official balance adjustment, and it is unlikely that there will be any major balance changes, but there is still room for small bug fixes and online stabilization to continue.”
1. Latest patch “Ver. 13.0.4” distribution overview
According to the official support information, the latest update distributed on June 24, 2025 (25th in Japan time) updates the title to “Ver. 13.0.4”.
This patch is focused on bug fixes, rather than major balance changes.
2. Main fixes (patch contents)
Offline side fixes
- Fixed an issue where thumbnail images were not generated correctly when creating/editing Mii fighters in Various Plays” mode.
This is a fix for an issue where the thumbnail displayed on the character selection screen, etc., may be displayed incorrectly when creating a new Mii Fighter or after changing it.
Online-related fixes
The following fixes are included in online matches:
- Fixed an issue where the match would end immediately when using a Mii Fighter in an online match between Nintendo Switch 2 (next generation) and the previous Nintendo Switch.
This is a fix linked to the Nintendo Switch 2 system update (version 20.1.5) released on June 18, 2025, and is intended to improve the stability of online matches between different hardware.
3. Final stage and current status of official balance adjustment
“Smash Bros. Ultimate” has undergone many updates (Ver.13.0.3 etc.), but
- Ver.13.0.2: Delivered on February 14, 2024
- Ver.13.0.3: Delivered on October 8, 2024
There is a history of modifications such as consistent balance adjustments and online bug fixes.
In particular, it is important to note that The latest version, 13.0.4, “emphasizes stability corrections rather than balance changes”. This is a specification change appropriate for the final stage of the series, and at the same time, it can also be said to be proof that a major patch is coming to an end.
Author: “Strengthening and weakening of major characters was completed around Ver.13.0.0, and subsequent updates will focus on improving the playing environment.”
4. Why are there likely no more balance changes coming
The trend in series development is to complete major balance adjustments several years after release, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is no exception.
- New fighters and stages added via DLC
- Balance adjustments were made in past major updates
- Patches concentrated in 12→13 series
The flow is as follows.
Since the latest version 13.0.4 is a patch that focuses on bug fixes,
- No further large-scale balance changes may occur
- Minor bug fixes and online compatibility improvements may continue
The view can be read naturally from the official update history.
Author: “From now on, the focus will be on “optimizing the online experience” and “system stabilization,” and there are little expectations for major updates in terms of balance.”
5. Notes regarding online connection environment and replays
Official support also points out the following caveats regarding online play and replay functionality:
- Replay data may not be compatible with older versions (Ver.8.1.0 or earlier) (recommended to visualize before updating).
To use the online battle function, Nintendo Switch Online membership is required.
These surrounding circumstances are also important points that players who have been playing for many years should understand.
6. Community reaction (supplementary)
Even in the player community, regarding the 13.0.4 patch
- “Mainly fixes Mii fighters, almost no balance changes”
- There were many comments such as “It’s good that they fixed the online compatibility between Switch 2 and Switch.”
This is also an opinion that shows that games are entering a “maturity period” from an industrial perspective.
Summary | “Smash Bros. Ultimate” update trends
The current official update status of “Smash Bros. Ultimate” is as follows.
- The latest version is Ver.13.0.4 (delivered in June 2025) and mainly includes bug fixes.
Most balance adjustments were completed in past updates.
Improving online compatibility is an important factor.
- In the future, updates will likely focus on stability enhancements rather than large-scale balance changes.
Author: “Smash Bros. Ultimate is now a complete fighting game.” Although it is difficult to expect major balance changes, there is a possibility that adjustments to the online system will continue, and I get the impression that “consideration is being taken to ensure that the user experience is not compromised until the very end.”