Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai says "there's no way" he can talk about what he's working on, so fans are doing it for him

Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai is up to something, but he's not ready to tell fans what that is. That's OK, though, because they're doing that part for him – though I suppose only he and his team know if anyone's actually got it right.

Speaking during an interview for the Famitsu 40th Anniversary Festival (translated by Genki_JPN on Twitter, below), Sakurai is asked what he's working on right now – a question that makes the dev smile, but gives an incredibly short response: "There's no way I could say that."

Well, it was worth a shot, right? The vague answer has opened the door to plenty of theories, anyway.

"It's Smash," one fan speculates, as another says: "Better be the next smash bros. It has to be." Another declares: "SMASH CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This sort of assumption was always inevitable – it's been almost eight years since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released, and while that game is obviously playable on Switch 2, it hasn't had its own enhanced version for Nintendo's latest console, so there is arguably a gap there for a new title. How the devs could top the enormity of Ultimate is another matter entirely, of course.

That's not the only game that fans are hoping for, though. "Pls be Kid Icarus," one writes, as another guesses: "It's a new kid icarus with playable palutena." The last game in the series, Kid Icarus: Uprising (which was directed by Sakurai), was one of the best 3DS games, and I'd agree that the Switch 2 would be better for any form of remake or sequel on it (especially if it used the new mouse controls).

Obviously, though, his next project could be anything – I'm not sure anyone expected Sakurai's last title to be a Kirby Air Ride follow-up, though equally, I'm not sure if one fan's guess of "Super Smash Bros Kart Racing Souls Rhythm Game" is on the money. Whatever he's doing, though, he's "still working at full throttle" as he attempts to keep up with fan demand, and is left wondering, "when will my spirit break?" …Please, Sakurai, take a long vacation.

Super Smash Bros and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai says original games will be harder for AI to rip off, but originality also makes your game harder to sell.