Masahiro Sakurai has confirmed he is working on Smash Bros. for the Switch

Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the Smash Bros. and Kirby series, has confirmed he is working on the next Smash Bros. title for the Nintendo Switch.

The news follows the surprise announcement of the game in yesterday’s Nintendo Direct. The game was revealed alongside a new single player DLC for Splatoon 2, as well as a host of new game announcements for Nintendo’s home console.

The announcement of a new Smash title came as a big surprise to the Smash Bros. community. Sakurai openly admitted in multiple interviews during the development of Smash Bros. for Wii U that the title might be his last in the series.

While working on Smash Bros. for Wii U, Sakurai began to suffer from calcific tendinitis in his right shoulder, causing multiple ruptures in the muscles of his arms. The pain was so bad for him that he was restricted to a left hand-only lifestyle.

Two years after the development of the game completed, Sakurai said his arm had not improved and many of the symptoms remained.

It has now been three years since he made that post, and Sakurai has posted no updates in that time. Sakurai’s role in the title hasn’t been revealed at this point in time.

Indeed, not much is known about the title at all. The announcement revealed only three characters as part of the playable roster. Mario and Link will return to the series alongside the new character Inkling from the Splatoon series.