User blog comment:Legendary Pop-Fizz/SSB5 Deductions/@comment-4115159-20150609001710

Well I think it's too soon to tell tbh. I mean we have no idea how these franchises will do by the time the ext Smash is released (If there is one). but I suppose I'll give it a shot.

I reckon all of the Mario characters there will be returning except for Dr. Mario. I've got a feeling they'll leave him out. Roslaina and the Koopalings are fan favourites (I don't get the koopalings though) and both have a fairly unique mechanic each. Well, Rosalina certainly. So, that's 10 Mario characters (If we include the DK characters) which is quite a handful. I mean I get that Mario is the biggest Nintendo franchise but it just seems a tad excessive. I reckon we have room for about 1 more and that'll either go to Waluigi or Toad. If it were up to me I'd cut Bowser Jr and add Waluigi, not out of personal choice but because he seems like a fan favourite and would also represent the Mario spin off games.

I don't know much about Zelda or Pokémon so I have little to say. Although I can't see Lucario and Greninja making a return and Toon Link is very toss-the-coin. I think we'll get 2 links, but whether the second one is Toon Link or not is hard to tell.

For most other franchises, it's too soon to say because that part of time hasn't happened yet. It's simply too soon. Although I suppose we'll still get Pit and Palutena, Marth, Fox and Falco, all the Kirby characters and Samus and ZS. I can see Dark Pit being cut and I can see the rest of the Fire Emblem characters being cut in exchange for a newer one or two.

Now when it comes to franchises that are only repped by 1 fighter I think we will see a lot of them stay. In fact, I think the one that is conditional is Shulk. If Xenoblade is at it's peak right now then he will almost definitely go. If Xenoblade is to move on to greater things and become a lot more popular by the next Smash then we will probably still see Shulk. It's not possible to say what reps we'll get of series that haven't been invented yet although I can probably garentee Inkling. And possibly Isaac.

Pacman, Megaman and Sonic will stay for sure. Although It's hard to say if we'll see more from their developers. And just as hard to say if we'll see anything from any other developer out there.

Miis will stay