Here is a timeline for Smash Ultimate’s development.
The timeline was made with the help of HeroTechne and IntelliHeath.
The post will be updated if there is anything missing, or if there are errors.
[Thanks to SolMerse and PapaGoku from PapaGeno’s Discord server and Scrappy-Fan92 from SmashEra Discord server for the corrections]
10/10/20: Updated the text version to include dates concerning Steve/ Alex.
10/18/21: Added Sora, Smash Ballot information.
Note: Dates are in Japan time (JST).
Note: Smash for 3DS/ Wii U Development Timeline is extremely relevant to this.
Text Version/ Sources:
April 1st 2015 – The Smash Fighter Ballot (Smash for 3DS / Wii U) begins. (Source)
2014/2015 – Negotiations for Steve begin (Source) (Source)
Pre-July 2015 – Before Iwata passed away, Iwata requested Sakurai to work on Super Smash Bros Ultimate. (Source)
October 3rd, 2015 – The Smash Fighter Ballot (Smash for 3DS/ Wii U) closes. (Source)
December 15th, 2015 – Corrin and Bayonetta Announced for Smash for 3DS/ Wii U DLC
December 15th, 2015 – Super Smash Bros Ultimate Design Document was completed on that day. The same day as Final Presentation Direct for Smash 4. (Source)
January 6th, 2016 – Sakurai announces a “breather” but next job has been decided (Source)
January 28th, 2016 – Dr. Serkan Toto reports that Smash Bros is planned to be a launch title for the Switch (Source)
February 3rd, 2016 – Corrin and Bayonetta released as the final DLC characters in Smash for 3DS/ Wii U.
(Sometime in February 2016) – Smash Ultimate project plan started (Source)
May 21st, 2016 – Source Gaming and RandomTalkingBush report on changes in Smash for Wii U which might indicate a port (Source)
November 16th, 2016 – Sakurai mentions that he’s working on a game. (Source)
December 16th, 2016 – Sakurai mentions using a rifle as a reference for a future game (Source)
November 17th, 2017 – Nintendo applies for new trademarks, including for Smash Bros (Source)
July 27th, 2017 – Daniel Kaplan leaves Mojang AB, Steve is not worked on yet. (Source)
March 8th, 2018 – Smash Ultimate initially teased and confirmed Inkling as first newcomer along with some veterans.
June 12th, 2018 – Smash E3 Presentation (Daisy, Ridley, all veterans) (Source)
August 7th, 2018 – Nintendo accidentally renames old track to “Blood Tears/ Monster Dance” (Source)
August 8, 2018 – Smash Bros. Direct Simon, Richter, Chrom, Dark Samus, and King K. Rool confirmed
September 14th, 2018 – Isabelle revealed for Smash Ultimate
September 14th, 2018 – “Box Theory” starts as an image of Smash Ultimate Bundle was uploaded to Amazon (Source)
September 18th, 2018 – Sabi posts “Blog Theory” on Reddit (Source)
September 22nd, 2018 – An image of Ken leaks onto the Internet (Source)
October 21st, 2018 – “Grinch Leak” uploaded to 4chan (Source)
November 1st, 2018 – Incineroar, Ken and Piranha Plant revealed for Smash Ultimate (Source)
November 7th, 2018 – Super Smash Bros Ultimate Fighters Pass download card announced (Source)
November 8th, 2018 – Sakurai states that Smash Ultimate’s DLC line-up is complete and decided by Nintendo (Source)
Late November, 2018 – Smash Ultimate leaks ahead of its official release (Source)
December 2nd, 2018 – Pokemon Let’s Go Spirits announced (Source)
December 6th, 2018 – Joker announced as a DLC character for Smash Ultimate at The Game Awards
December 7th, 2018 – Smash Ultimate was officially released (Source)
December 7th, 2018 – Smash Ultimate Fighters Pass download card was officially released (Source)
December 7th, 2018 – 1.1.0 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
December 13th, 2018 – 1.20 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
December 21st, 2018 – 1.2.1 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
December 27th, 2018 – Super Mario Party Spirits announced (Source)
January 4th, 2019 – “jack” and “brave” codenames datamined (Source)
January 29th, 2019 – Piranha Plant released for Smash Ultimate DLC (2.0) (Source)
Feb 13th, 2019 – Joker model shown in a Nintendo Direct (Source)
February 21st, 2019 – 2.0.1 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
February 21st, 2019 – ‘JackMenentoes’ found in the code by Dr.HyperCake (Source)
March 31st, 2019 – Best Buy publishes Joker’s render (Source)
April 2nd, 2019 – 2.0.2 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
Before April 7th – Joker ad for 7-11 posted (Source)
April 17th, 2019 – New Content Approaching – Joker trailer (Source)
April 17th, 2019 – Joker released for Smash Ultimate DLC (3.0) (Source)
April 24th, 2019 – LABO Spirits announced (Source)
April 25th, 2019 – 3.0.1 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
May 29th, 2019 – Peachette Spirit announced (Source)
May 30th, 2019 – “VR Plant Leaker” reveals LABO mode for Smash Ultimate (Source)
May 30th, 2019 – 3.1.0 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
June 4th, 2019 – Banjo reveal hinted at on ResetEra [Source]
June 11th, 2019 – Hero and Banjo announced as DLC fighters at E3 2019
June 12th, 2019 – Link’s Awakening Spirits Announced (Source)
July 24th, 2019 – Hero ad posted for 7-11 (Source)
July 30th, 2019 – Sakurai Presents, “Hero” airs
July 30th, 2019 – Hero released for Smash Ultimate DLC (4.0) (Source)
August 1st, 2019 – Recording for Mr. Sakurai presents “Banjo”
August 22nd, 2019 – Tockles (Dragon Quest) Spirit added to Smash Ultimate (Source)
September 2nd, 2019 – Nintendo UK accidentally states DLC #4 will be an SNK character (Source)
September 2nd, 2019 – Banjo and Kazooie ad posted for 7-11 (Source)
September 4th, 2019 – Sakurai Presents, “Banjo and Kazooie” airs
September 4th, 2019 – Banjo released for Smash Ultimate DLC (5.0) (Source)
September 4th, 2019 – Terry Bogard revealed for Smash Ultimate
September 7th, 2019 – Smash GDC Presentation (Source)
September 25th, 2019 – DAEMON X MACHINA Spirits announced (Source)
October 24th, 2019 – TETRIS Spirits announced (Source)
November 6th, 2019 – Mr. Sakurai Presents, “Terry Bogard” airs
November 6th, 2019 – Terry released for Smash Ultimate DLC (6.0) (Source)
November 26th, 2019 – Resident Evil Spirits announced (Source)
November 14th, 2019 – 6.1.0 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
November 20th, 2019 – Pokemon Sword and Shield Spirits announced (Source)
December 27th, 2019 – Sakurai starts uploading pictures daily to his Twitter account (Source)
January 6th, 2020 – New 7-11 ad for Fighter Pass 1 (Source)
January 7th, 2020 – 6.1.1 update for Smash Ultimate (Source)
January 14th, 2020 – Astral Chain Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
January 16th, 2020 – Mr. Sakurai Presents, “Byleth” airs
January 24th, 2020 – River City Ransom Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
January 28th, 2020 – Byleth released for Smash Ultimate DLC (7.0) (Source)
February 13th, 2020 – Cuphead Spirits announced (Source)
February 19th, 2020 – Sakurai states that 6 additional fighters are being planned, Nintendo decided the DLC. (Source)
February 27th, 2020 – Lotus from Warframe announced as a Spirit (Source)
March 11th, 2020 – Ring Fit Adventure Spirits are announced (Source)
March 23rd, 2020 – A physical card for Fighter Pass 2 is released in Japan
March 26th, 2020 – ARMS character announced for Smash (Source)
April 1st, 2020 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
April 7th, 2020 – New 7-11 Ad for FP2 shown off (Source)
May 2nd, 2020 – Sakurai records “Mr. Sakurai Presents “Min Min” (Source)
April 22nd, 2020 – Trials of Mana Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
June 22nd, 2020 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Min Min” Aired (Source)
June 30th, 2020 – 8.0 released for Smash Ultimate adding Min Min (Source)
July 10th, 2020 – Octopath Traveler Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
July 28th, 2020 – MyNintendo releases a Smash themed letter set (Source)
August 5th, 2020 – 8.1.0 drops for Smash Ultimate adding Small Battlefield (Source)
August 13th-16th, 2020 – Sometime during this time period, Sakurai records Mr. Sakurai Presents “Steve & Alex”
August 26th, 2020 – Paper Mario Origami King Spirits announced for Smash (Source)
September 21st, 2020 – 7-11 ad updates to include Min Min (Source)
September 25th, 2020 – Joker and Hero amiibo are released in Japan. (Source)
September 30th, 2020 – Nintendo set to announce new character tomorrow (Source)
October 1st, 2020 – Steve & Alex announced for Smash Bros. Ultimate (Source)
October 3rd, 2020 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Steve & Alex” airs (Source)
October 14th, 2020 – Steve & Alex released. (Source)
December 10th, 2020 – Sephiroth announced for Smash Bros. Ultimate (Source)
December 17th, 2020 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Sephiroth” airs (Source)
December 17th ~ 22nd, 2020 – Sephiroth Challenge is added to Smash Ultimate, allowing players to play as Sephiroth early. 10.0 released.
December 22nd, 2020 – Sephiroth officially released.
January 2021 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Pyra/Mythra” is filmed. (Source)
February 18, 2021 – Pyra / Mythra announced for Smash Bros. Ultimate. (Source)
March 4th, 2021 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Pyra/Mythra” airs. (Source)
June 16th, 2021 – Kazuya is announced for Smash Bros. Ultimate (Source)
June 28th, 2021 – Mr. Sakurai Presents “Kazuya” airs (Source)
June 29th, 2021 – Kazuya is released bringing Smash Ultimate to Version 12.0 (Source)
October 5th, 2021 – Sora is announced as the final DLC fighter for Smash Ultimate. (Source)
October 19th, 2021 – Sora is released bringing Smash Ultimate to Version 13.0. (Source)
- Smash Ultimate Development Timeline - May 16, 2020
- Straight from the Source: Koji Igarashi on Castlevania in Smash, Bloodstained - October 16, 2018
- Sakurai Discusses Isabelle, Echoes, and Newcomers - September 26, 2018
I think the changes for Smash Wii U should be May 21 2016 instead of March 21 2016. When you open the source for that it says May 21st 2016. Also, shouldn’t the job listings from 2014 of Smash 6 be on there as well. Otherwise this looks great! Keep up the great work.
I was going to comment something cool but I forgot it…
Oh yeah, I remember!
NVM I forgot again…