It’s always nice to have a helping hand now and again – especially if it’s one from a legendary development and publishing studio. That’s right. Bandai Namco, if a tweet from an outspoken ex-employee who now plies his trade at Nintendo is any indication, are joining forces to help on Super Smash Bros. Switch.
As spotted over at ResetERA, software engineer Tiago Sonobe revealed in an ambigiously-worded (and now deleted) tweet that, while he left Bandai Namco to join Nintendo “before the production on Super Smash Bros began” he left his mark on the upcoming title. The “rendering engine [Smash Bros. Switch] is built on” was made by Sonobe himself. Sonobe’s profile was almost immediately scrubbed from Twitter, indicating the engineer put his foot squarely in his mouth.
While it may be a case of Sonobe getting his wires crossed with the wording of the tweet, it appears that Bandai Namco are indeed working on Super Smash Bros. Switch. Not only that, but a new rendering engine would hint at it’ being a completely new title. For context, this won’t be the first time Bandai Namco has worked alongside Nintendo for a Smash Bros. game, having contributed to the previous generation’s pair of titles on 3DS and Wii U.
However, the mere mention of a rendering engine (a piece of software that renders in-game graphics) should get tongues wagging. The possibility, however minute, of Nintendo borrowing or ordering bespoke technology from a peer is big news, and one that is becoming increasingly common in the new transparent age of Nintendo.
Whether that means Bandai Namco will be lending any of their published titles such as Dark Souls, Ni no Kuni 2 or Dragonball FighterZ to help swell out the ranks of the Smash Bros. Switch roster is anyone’s guess. But it sure is fun to speculate. Goku vs. Mario? Yes, please.
Again, though, it’s worth noting that this is just an unconfirmed rumor at this stage. A very likely one, yes, but a rumor all the same. Still, it only adds more and more chunks of fanboy coal onto the Smash Bros. Switch hype train. Next stop? E3 2018.
