Nintendo Trademark Hints at a Huge Addition to the 'Smash Bros.' Roster
Donkey Kong's long-time enemy may finally join the fight.
The new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster might not feature a ton of “new” characters — even if it’s the biggest lineup in series history — but rumor has it Nintendo could be saving a few big surprises for the official release in December. With that in mind, some video game fans think they may have found evidence of another secret roster addition: Donkey Kong archenemy King K. Rool.
The reptilian villain has been floating around the Super Smash Bros. universe for years. Initially he showed up as a Trophy (essentially an in-game collectible with no real value). Then, in Super Smash Bros. Wii U, Nintendo added a King K. Rool costume for the Mii Brawler character, but still no playable crocodile. Now, with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, that may finally change.
The rumors started long before the Smash Bros. Ultimate roster was even announced, with multiple leaks suggesting King K. Rool would make it into the new game. That still hasn’t happened, but a recent character trademark has fans speculating that it could be in the works.
In a listing for the digital download of DK Jungle Climber (a Nintendo DS title that was re-released for the Wii U system in 2015), the company slapped a “TM” after King K. Rool’s name. That alone doesn’t mean much, but the fact that Nintendo allegedly finalized the Smash Bros. Ultimate roster at the same time has led some gamers to connect the dots. One fan also claims that this marks the first time the company even tried to trademark the crocodile’s name, adding even more fuel to these fiery rumors.
Of course, it’s still just a rumor for now, but over on Reddit fans of the evil croc are ready to believe. Hopefully, Nintendo won’t let them down like it did with Waluigi.
