Masahiro Sakurai reveals that Super Smash Bros. could have never existed without Satoru Iwata

Franchise creator talks about the influence of the former Nintendo president on his career

If today Super Smash Bros. is one of the biggest franchises of Nintendo, we owe that to Satoru Iwata. That's what Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the series, stated in a recent interview with the Japanese website Hoshino. According to him, without the support and vision of the former Nintendo president, the game might never have come to fruition - and, worse, it could have completely disappeared after its release.

In one of the most impactful parts of the conversation, Sakurai revealed that Iwata was crucial both in the birth and the continuity of Smash Bros.. The former Nintendo president not only created the first prototype of the franchise while still working at HAL Laboratory, but also insisted that Sakurai develop Super Smash Bros. Brawl, even after he had left the studio.

The impact of Iwata on Sakurai's trajectory

Sakurai's story with Iwata began long before Smash Bros. When asked about the impact of his first contact with the former president, Sakurai said that, without Iwata, he might never have even joined HAL Laboratory.

"Without a doubt, he influenced me in many ways," Sakurai said. "But that influence was more about the direction of my career than about my way of developing games - that I learned on my own."

Challenges at the beginning of his career

Despite the great opportunity, joining HAL Laboratory was not a bed of roses for Sakurai. He remembers that one of his veteran colleagues was extremely harsh when answering a basic question about the difference between a game proposal and a technical specification.

"I asked what the difference was between a proposal and a specification," Sakurai said. "And the answer I got was: 'one is a proposal, the other is a specification'."

This frustrating experience made Sakurai realize that he would have to pursue a self-taught path.

Sakurai's legacy - inside and outside of games

If the cold reception at the beginning of his career was a challenge, today Sakurai is one of the most respected personalities in the industry. With several iconic titles in his resume, he managed not only to establish Smash Bros. as one of Nintendo's main franchises, but also to expand his influence beyond games.

Recently, he was honored by the Japanese government for his contributions to the industry, including his series of educational videos on YouTube, where he shares his experience and knowledge with aspiring developers.

Although Sakurai followed a self-taught path, he makes a point to emphasize: "That doesn't mean you shouldn't learn from the great masters." And, for him, Satoru Iwata was one of the greatest.