User blog comment:DBFan9000/Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch: New or Port?/@comment-3507581-20180311032751

I have the same question, but if Sakurai-san is still the Director of the series or not (he stated he would stop if his workload was still as high as before), and if the game is a new entry, this means either Sakurai started its development as soon as he was given the hardware specifications for the Switch (which would be 2016 more or less), or he's working as a Consultant and someone else is taking the reins, although given that the game is being released this year, the same it was announced, this still means the game has a rather lengthy development. Remember Melee was announced and released in 2001. This also implies the character reveals and confirmations would be more frecquent compared to SSB4 and even Brawl (as the former was released one year after its announcement, and so was the case for the latter until its delay).