According to a recent source leak, Nintendo Switch 2 might be getting two unexpected features. The enigmatic malo932 has seemingly revealed that Nintendo is working on a brand new Super Smash Bros. game for the console and has teased a potential revival of the beloved Nintendogs series. The projects have yet to be announced as official by Nintendo, but the claims have caught the eye because the same user has allegedly talked about other projects that Nintendo is developing before they make official announcements.
One of the main points of the rumour has to do with Super Smash Bros. and Nintendo is not just working on a Switch 2 version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, according to the comments attributed to malo932. Rather, the firm is reportedly developing a completely fresh entry into the long-running rivalries’ genre. That would be a huge step for Nintendo and would likely mean that Nintendo Switch 2 will get its own Super Smash Bros. series, and not be another enhanced version of an existing game.
Already one of the more successful and popular of Nintendo’s games and one of the more well-known games in the franchise as seen in the very large array of characters it has gathered from Nintendo’s past and beyond the gaming industry. So it is even more interesting that it may be a new game. A new entry could provide Nintendo the chance to bring in a new cast, new gameplay and maybe even some new ideas to the competitive and casual sides of the series.
The assertion didn’t come from an industry report but through a series of comments on YouTube. When someone asked if Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would be getting a Switch 2 version, malo932 apparently replied directly, “No, a new Smash is in the works. It doesn’t give any indication of the progress of the game or its release date, but it does give a clue into its features and possible roster, adding to the speculation.
Also, the history behind the statement is interesting. According to earlier reports, the posts by malo932 were the precursor to the Nintendo projects reports. The account had been spotted prior to similar reports from gaming industry insider NateTheHate by fans, who seemed to have spotted the account talking about the Zelda Ocarina of Time and Star Fox projects. The report also claimed there were hints of Nintendo Direct presentations that would be officially confirmed later.
All that history, making this new round of rumors more hard to shrug off. On the other hand, old reliable predictions don’t always mean that all future predictions from an anonymous source are true. A lot of gaming leaks always incorporate real data and speculation, outdated plans or well-intentioned misinformation, especially regarding projects which are yet to be announced.
But perhaps even more surprising is the return of Nintendogs. Players of the pet simulation series were able to take care of virtual dogs, train them, play with them and engage in a range of activities on the Nintendo DS. The franchise has been barely represented in Nintendo’s recent console menu, so any mention of a return of the franchise will receive a lot of attention from Nintendo’s loyal fans.
In this instance, malo932 most likely did not actually write Nintendogs. The account, on the other hand, left a seemingly lighthearted hint in one of their previous comments in YouTube. The report reads that the account, which is talking about Nintendo’s interest in “weird” and “relaxing” games, mentioned, “Cozy weird games are strong in Nintendo, and maybe another ‘forgotten’ cozy weird Nintendo series is coming back, barking. Wink wink, woof woof.”
There have naturally been many fans who have already been led to associate the description of barking and dogs with Nintendogs. It would also be a good fit in the wave of casual and laid-back gameplay. Collecting, decorating, farming, pets and everyday activities have proved popular with modern players and a modern Nintendogs revival is financially viable.
The original DS games could have very limited technical possibilities as compared to a Switch 2 version. With better graphics, better animation, and expanded customization, the concept of a simple pet simulation could become something much more interesting – but retain that simplicity that made Nintendogs so popular. More detailed, in-depth animal behavior and a greater degree of web usability are among some of the things that could lend the franchise a whole new look on today’s hardware.
At least, the same account has been making a number of other speculations on Nintendo’s future plans. One of these is said to be a new 3D Mario game which will be launching sometime in 2027. A new game of the Wario Land series has also been rumored to be based on the same time period. There’s another claim that says that a Super Metroid remake is already in kind of late stages.
If these projects will all come to fruition, Nintendo’s Switch 2’s lineup may greatly expand beyond the initial slate of huge games. Nintendo’s history of game franchises has been one of a balance of familiar and surprising revivals. Dormant games like Nintendogs or Wario Land, along with bigger games like Mario, Super Smash Bros. and Metroid would align with that.
But, for the SMG fans, the most interesting part of the new game is what a new SMG would look like. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate set a very high bar by usiing a massive roster of characters and content. It would be a tough sell for any successor to not only match the current expectations, but to also provide players with a reason to look elsewhere than a game already packed with a ton of content.
