By Tom Phillips | Updated September 7, 2026, 10:01 AM UTC
Executive Overview
Nintendo is reportedly working on an entirely new entry in the monumental Super Smash Bros. franchise alongside a surprise revival of its beloved virtual pet simulator, Nintendogs. These explosive details hail from an increasingly reliable industry insider, setting off shockwaves across the gaming community.
While a follow-up to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate—which famously sold a staggering 38 million copies on the Nintendo Switch to become the platform’s third best-selling title—was always a mathematical inevitability, the nature of this leak changes the conversation. Rather than a localized port or a "Deluxe" edition packed with extra DLC fighters, current indications point to a brand-new standalone game. Coupled with a revived Nintendogs franchise—dormant since 2011’s Nintendogs + Cats on the Nintendo 3DS—Nintendo’s upcoming product roadmap appears to be leaking faster and more comprehensively than at almost any other point in the company’s modern history.
These disclosures arrive on the heels of a chaotic cycle for Nintendo’s public relations department. Following a series of remarkably accurate pre-announcements regarding a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and a new Switch Sports, the publisher faces an uphill battle in maintaining its signature element of surprise. As fans gear up for a pair of high-profile Nintendo Direct presentations this week—dominated heavily by the Legend of Zelda 40th-anniversary celebrations—the industry is left dissecting a slate of leaks that stretches deep into next year.
Detailed Chronology: Anatomy of a Massive Leak
The unfolding saga of Nintendo’s compromised product pipeline can be traced through a string of increasingly accurate insider reports, highlighting a structural shift in how industry intelligence leaks to the public.
The Rise of Malo932
The latest wave of leaks originates from an insider operating under the handle Malo932. Initially treated with the standard skepticism afforded to anonymous social media accounts, Malo932 quickly established an unblemished track record of credibility by correctly forecasting that Nintendo would host two separate Direct broadcasts during the first week of September 2026.
This recent coup follows an even more impressive string of previous forecasts. Earlier in the year, Malo932 correctly predicted the surprise announcement and launch windows for several major tentpole titles, including:
- A classic Star Fox release.
- A heavily requested The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake slated for a blockbuster-adjacent fall launch window.
- A brand-new iteration of Switch Sports, returning fans to the nostalgic shores of Wuhu Island.
With the revelation that an all-new Super Smash Bros. and a fresh Nintendogs are currently in active development, Malo932 has cemented themselves as one of the most accurate independent prognosticators in the contemporary games industry.
Aggregation and Industry Corroboration
The wider scope of Malo932’s intelligence report—compiled and scrutinized by industry tracking outfits like Centro Leaks—paints a picture of a remarkably busy upcoming window for Nintendo hardware. According to these coordinated reports, the broader software pipeline includes:
- Mario Kart DLC (Next Year): Featuring crossover content, including the iconic pilot Fox McCloud.
- Star Fox Adventures: A modern reimagining or sequel to the cult-classic GameCube action-adventure title.
- Wario Land: A long-overdue return for Nintendo’s greedy anti-hero in a dedicated platformer.
- New 2D Metroid: Continuing the momentum of Metroid Dread.
- The Next-Gen 3D Mario: Widely anticipated as a marquee launch or early lifecycle title for Nintendo’s successor hardware.
These claims have received crucial backing from veteran industry insider NatetheHate. Known for a formidable track record—including accurately nailing the reveal date of the Switch’s successor hardware and validating the Ocarina of Time remake rumors—NatetheHate’s corroboration has transformed these leaks from fringe internet speculation into near-certainties within the analytical community.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Weight of a Legacy
To fully understand the gravity of a new Super Smash Bros. project, one must examine the towering shadow cast by its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Released in late 2018, Ultimate achieved something unprecedented in the history of crossover fighting games: it brought together every single fighter who had ever appeared in the history of the franchise under the banner of "Everyone is Here!" Coupled with an aggressive, years-long downloadable content strategy that added iconic third-party legends like Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII), Steve (Minecraft), and Joker (Persona 5), the game captured the zeitgeist of modern gaming.
| Metric / Milestone | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Data |
|---|---|
| Total Global Sales | ~38 Million Copies |
| Platform Ranking | 3rd Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Game (Behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons) |
| Fighter Roster Size | 89 Fighters (Including DLC) |
| Last Major Update | December 2021 (Version 13.0.1) |
With Ultimate sitting comfortably as a multi-million-selling juggernaut, the engineering and design challenge facing producer Masahiro Sakurai’s spiritual successors is immense. How does a studio follow up a definitive, all-encompassing crossover event without feeling like a step backward? Stripping down the roster to build a more focused experience, or attempting to license the colossal web of third-party characters all over again, represents a monumental logistical hurdle. The existence of a "new game" rather than an "Ultimate Deluxe" implies that Nintendo is ready to take structural risks with its premier fighting franchise.
Simultaneously, the return of Nintendogs targets an entirely different, yet historically massive, demographic. The original Nintendo DS touch-screen phenomenon captured casual and mainstream audiences alike, selling nearly 30 million copies across its various versions. The subsequent 3DS entry, Nintendogs + Cats, capitalized on stereoscopic 3D and facial recognition but failed to capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle cultural saturation. A modern reinvention utilizing contemporary hardware capabilities could serve as a major lifestyle software pillar for Nintendo.
Official Statements and Industry Impact: The Cost of a Broken Pipeline
Nintendo has historically operated as a fortress of secrecy, treating the element of surprise as its primary marketing weapon. Every Nintendo Direct has traditionally functioned as a theatrical event, designed to generate instantaneous global shockwaves.
However, the rapid acceleration of high-level leaks over the past six to twelve months has fundamentally altered this dynamic. According to statements from two former Nintendo staff members, corporate leadership inside the Kyoto headquarters has been left "furious" by the steady stream of compromised announcements. The premature leaks regarding the Ocarina of Time remake and upcoming hardware milestones have forced marketing teams to pivot, dampening the visceral thrill of discovery that fans have come to expect.
Despite the leaks, the ecosystem surrounding the publisher remains remarkably resilient. Consumers no longer wait in the dark for corporate announcements; instead, they treat leaked roadmaps as an interactive guessing game, eagerly waiting to see which rumors are confirmed or debunked during official presentations.
Future Outlook: What to Expect Next
All eyes are now locked firmly on the unfolding schedule of Nintendo Direct presentations. This week’s double-feature broadcast lineup is officially dedicated to marking the monumental 40th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise.
Industry watchers anticipate that Nintendo will use these broadcasts to provide deep-dive retrospectives into the development and legacy of Ocarina of Time, alongside potential first looks at the live-action Zelda feature film currently in production.
Beyond the golden aegis of Hyrule, however, the question remains: will Nintendo acknowledge the crushing weight of the broader product leaks? It is rare for the company to directly address anonymous insider reports during a structured presentation, choosing instead to let their carefully curated trailers do the talking.
As the broadcasting window opens, IGN’s editorial team will be providing continuous, real-time coverage of every official reveal, trailer, and release date as they happen. Whether these leaked titles—from a brand-new Super Smash Bros. to the resurrection of Nintendogs—make their official bow this week or later in the fiscal year, one thing is certain: the future of Nintendo hardware and software is shaping up to be one of the most consequential eras in the company’s storied history.
