'Smash Bros. Ultimate' Leaks, Release Date, DLC, Roster, Rumors,  and Demos

The Nintendo Switch already boasts an impressive lineup of games to choose from, but the portable console is about to level up. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches this December for the Switch, bringing the biggest cast of characters ever seen in the iconic fighting game series.

In this article, you’ll find everything we know about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate along with the game’s now-finalized roster at launch and rumors surrounding Nintendo’s plans for additional DLC characters. We’ll also be updating this page on a regular basis as more news rolls out. So be sure to check back regularly.

When is the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate release date?

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches December 7. That’s more than four years after the previous entry in the franchise, Super Smash Bros. Wii U, hit stores on September 13, 2014.

Can I play a demo of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Ahead of the game’s official release, Nintendo is teaming up with Best Buy to offer in-store demos across the U.S. The demo schedule began in early September, starting with New York, and stretches all the way into October. Check out the full list of locations and dates here.

Nintendo’s also discussed the possibility of offering an early demo for all Nintendo Switch owners, but hasn’t made any sort of official statement. However, in an interview with IGN (via Yahoo), the company seemed to suggest it was possible:

“Very good question. Right now they’re focused very much on getting the game ready. We have a few other things to be talking about down the road between now and when it launches in December. We’ll hopefully have some news on that as we get closer to launch.”

Additionally, the company just announced what it’s calling the “The Nintendo Switch Holiday Experience,” which will offer fans the chance to try out Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and other upcoming games from November 10 until December 16 at stores across the U.S.

• These demo stations will be free, but you can probably expect to wait in line depending on when you go. Here’s the daily schedule:
• Monday-Thursday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

And here’s the full list of participating locations:

• Mall of Georgia in Buford, Georgia

• Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois

• Memorial City Mall in Houston, Texas

• Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California

• The Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida

• Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota

• Queens Center in Elmhurst, New York

• King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

• Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale, Arizona

• Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California

• Tysons Corner Center in Tysons Corner, Virginia

Does Super Smash Bros. Ultimate have a plot?

Not exactly. The plot of Super Smash Bros. has always really just been about taking your favorite video game characters and smashing them together. That was literally the plot of the original game, and it hasn’t changed much since.

Then again, Nintendo is introducing a new adventure mode for Ultimate similar to the optional [Subspace Emissary](https://www.inverse.com/article/47901-smash-bros-ultimate-new-mode-could-be-subspace-emissary-campaign] story in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. We still don’t know much about this story, but it seems to begin with a bunch of Master Hands joining together to kill every single hero in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As dramatic video below show, only Kirby manages to survive, setting up what should be a pretty epic adventure to bring back his friends.

What console do I need to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

The new game will be available exclusively as a Nintendo Switch title. Sorry, 3DS fans, but it seems pretty clear that the previous Smash game’s dual release on Wii U and 3DS was a one-time deal.

Who are the characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Here’s a full list of every character in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster:

• Mario
• Samus
• Kirby
• Bowser
• Link
• Donkey Kong
• Fox
• Falco
• Marth
• Zelda
• Sheik
• Villager
• Mewtwo
• Meta Knight
• Sonic
• Peach
• Pikachu
• Ice Climbers
• Inkling (new)
• Captain Falcon
• Zero Suit Samus
• Wii Fit Trainer
• Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle/Ivysaur/Charizard)
• Ness
• Lucas
• Ryu
• Ganon
• Ike
• Cloud
• Snake
• Jigglypuff
• Pichu
• Roy
• Olimar
• Diddy Kong
• Lucario
• Lucina
• Robin
• Bayonetta
• Mr. Game & watch
• Greninja
• Dr. Mario
• Duck Hunt
• R.O.B.
• Pit
• Dark Pit
• Palutena
• Corrin
• Bowser Jr.
• Toon Link
• Young Link
• King Dedede
• Rosalina
• Mii Brawler
• Mii Gunner
• Mii Swordfighter
• Wario
• Little Mac
• Pac Man
• Shulk
• Wolf
• Megaman
• Luigi
• Yoshi
• Daisy (new)
• Ridley (new)
• Simon Belmont (new)
• Richter Belmont (new)
• Chrom (new)
• Dark Samus (new)
• King K. Rool (new)
• Isabelle (new)
• Ken (new)
• Incineroar (new)
• Piranha Plant (new, included specifically with pre-ordered copies of the game)

Are there any other rumored characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

The only thing better than Super Smash Bros. Ultimate news is the rumors that come with it, and this game definitely hasn’t disappointed. One leaker, who goes by the name Vergeben, has stood out as a reliable source of information, accurately predicting the inclusion of Ridley, Simon, Isabelle, Incineroar, and others.

We already have the full list of characters the game will feature at launch, but Nintendo also confirmed that it plans to continue to release additional fighters in the form of DLC, with five coming within a year of launch.

Smash series director Masahiro Sakurai later confirmed that those DLC characters have already been finalized, and it didn’t take long for Vergeben to chime in with a [few new leaks](https://www.inverse.com/article/50594-smash-ultimate-dlc-leaks-geno-minecraft-waluigi0. Specifically, they claimed that Steve from Minecraft and Geno from Super Mario RPG would eventually join the fight.

For good measure, we also threw Waluigi’s name into the ring, under the assumption that Nintendo will finally get the message and give fans the one new character they truly want.

Another popular rumor is that Medusa from the Kid Icarus series could join the fight as an echo of Palutena. This would fit into the heroes-and-villains theme Nintendo’s been promoting in its animated character announcements. It also makes sense since Smash director Masahiro Sakurai also created the most recent Kid Icarus game, so it won’t come as a huge surprise if she takes up one of those DLC slots too.

What stages are in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Here’s a full list of all the stages announced so far:

New Stages

• Dracula’s Castle

• Great Plateau Tower

• Moray Tower

• New Donk City Hall

Old Stages

• Dream Land

• Final Destination

• Hyrule Castle

• Kongo Jungle

• Mushroom Kingdom

• Peach’s Castle

• Saffron City

• Super Happy Tree

• Battlefield

• Big Blue

• Brinstar

• Brinstar Depths

• Corneria

• Final Destination

• Flat Zone

• Fourside

• Fountain of Dreams

• Great Bay

• Green Greens

• Jungle Japes

• Kongo Falls

• Mushroom Kingdom II

• Onett

• Pokémon Stadium

• Princess Peach’s Castle

• Rainbow Cruise

• Temple

• Venom

• Yoshi’s Island

• Yoshi’s Story

• 75M

• Bridge of Eldin

• Castle Siege

• Delfino Plaza

• Distant Planet

• Flat Zone 2

• Frigate Orpheon

• Green Hill Zone

• Halberd

• Hanenbow

• Luigi’s Mansion

• Lylat Cruise

• Figure-8 Circuit

• Mario Bros.

• Mushroomy Kingdom

• New Pork City

• Norfair

• PictoChat

• Pirate Ship

• Pokémon Stadium 2

• Port Town Aero Dive

• Shadow Moses Island

• Skyworld

• Smashville

• Spear Pillar

• Summit

• Wario Ware Inc

• Yoshi’s Island

• 3D Land

• Arena Ferox

• Balloon Fight

• Dream Land GB

• Find Mii

• Gerudo Valley

• Golden Plains

• Living Room

• Magicant

• Mute City SNES

• Paper Mario

• PictoChat 2

• Prism Tower

• Reset Bomb Forest

• Spirit Train

• Tomodachi Life

• Tortimer Island

• Unova League

• Big Battlefield

• Boxing Ring

• Coliseum

• Duck Hunt

• Flat Zone X

• Gamer

• Garden of Hope

• Gaur Plain

• Great Cave Offensive

• Kalos League

• Mario Circuit

• Mario Galaxy

• Midgar

• Mushroom Kingdom U

• Pac-Land

• Paletuna’s Temple

• Pilotwings

• Skyloft

• Super Mario Maker

• Suzaku Castle

• Town and City

• Wily Castle

• Wii Fit Studio

• Windy Hill Zone

• Wrecking Crew

• Wuhu Island

• Umbra Clock Tower

Rumor has it the final game will feature 108 different stages, according to an article in Japanese gaming magazine CoroCoro. So that means you can expect another five stages before SmashBros Ultimate launches later this year.

Each new DLC character will also come with a related stage, which helps explain those missing five stages.