The COVID-19 emergency has certainly changed the face of 2020 in the video game industry, with the postponement of the GDC and the cancellation of E3 2020 – among the many missed appointments. This also includes the postponement of the presentation of the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character .

This was confirmed directly by the director Masahiro Sakurai , who explained to his colleagues in the Famitsu magazine that he had to «postpone the presentation indefinitely of the new fighter, due to the effects of the new type of pneumonia. “

In the same interview, Sakurai added that unfortunately, “an infected person was found in the building” where the team works, which is why the offices have been sealed and for the time being. the whole development has been blocked. Therefore, even if the announcement would be technically possible, it would not be possible to support the exit as due, due to the stop to the development team.

“The coronavirus is a big shadow on the production of video games” reasoned Sakurai, “various postponements to the games are possible, and maybe the announcements of games in development will be canceled, it is a inevitable thing. There is no way to have a plan to proceed when you have fewer men available. “

We can only hope that the person who has tested positive can soon recover his full state of health and that Nintendo can return to work at his best, in complete safety for his health.

Source: Ryokuta