Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Director Masahiro Sakurai Shares Online Win Rate Data, Highlights Balanced Roster

Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate Remains a Showcase for Character Balance, Says Masahiro Sakurai Since its release in 2018, Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate has become one of Nintendo Switch’s defining titles, renowned for its expansive roster and deep competitive scene.

Developed by Sora Ltd.

and Bandai Namco Studios under Nintendo’s supervision, the fighting game continues to spark discussion among players regarding character viability and tier lists.

Now, in a recent YouTube video, game director Masahiro Sakurai has provided new insight into online match data, challenging long-held community opinions about character strength within Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate. Revealing recently updated win rate statistics from online battles, Sakurai disclosed that the fighter with the highest win rate sits at 51.43%, while the lowest comes in at 47.18%.

These figures highlight what Sakurai describes as a "smooth gradation" between characters, underscoring just how tightly knit the win rates are across the entire roster.

According to Sakurai, there is just over a 5% difference between the top and bottom characters in terms of online performance. "Online discourse often amplifies certain viewpoints.

When the consensus forms around a fighter being overly strong or weak, that perspective tends to gather momentum and seems more absolute than reality would suggest," Sakurai commented via his YouTube channel.

He emphasized that based on empirical data, "any fighter has a genuine shot at victory." In his analysis, achieving even closer parity between fighters would prove extremely challenging, illustrating the careful balance achieved by the development team. These findings resonate with the competitive community, many of whom rely on published tier lists when selecting main characters.

While tier lists can be useful, Sakurai’s data-driven approach suggests that perceived character imbalances may often be overstated.

Gamers who favor less popular fighters can take solace in the fact that there is only a marginal difference in win rates, affirming the design philosophy behind Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate's roster. Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate has maintained a strong presence on Nintendo Switch and continues to be a top seller on the platform, surpassing 33 million units worldwide as of early 2024.

The game's steady online engagement and ongoing community feedback have contributed significantly to its enduring success on the eShop and its frequent features in Nintendo Direct presentations. Masahiro Sakurai’s commitment to transparency and community engagement, as reflected in sharing online statistics, reaffirms Nintendo’s dedication to competitive fairness.

For players on the Nintendo Switch, the message is clear: victory in Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate is determined as much by skill as by character choice, with every fighter offering a real opportunity for success.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Masahiro Sakurai Smash Bros Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sakurai Nintendo Switch Switch