Nintendo is reportedly developing an all-new Super Smash Bros and a fresh entry in the Nintendogs franchise, according to leaker Malo932, whose recent track record includes correctly predicting this week's pair of Nintendo Direct presentations. The same source previously stated that a classic Star Fox title, a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, and new Switch Sports would all be announced and launched this year — predictions that have since proven accurate. Word of a brand-new Smash Bros game rather than an enhanced port of Ultimate is significant given that the Switch entry sold 38 million copies, making it the console's third-best-selling title behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. How Nintendo plans to top what many consider the series' most ambitious installment remains an open question.
A new Nintendogs would mark the franchise's first release in more than a decade, following Nintendogs + Cats on 3DS back in 2011. The virtual pet series was a system-seller for the original DS but has lain dormant since the 3DS era, making its rumored return a genuine surprise. Beyond those two headliners, Malo932's claims — rounded up by Centro Leaks — include Mario Kart DLC arriving next year featuring Fox McCloud, a new Star Fox Adventures game, a new Wario Land entry, and a 2D Metroid. Next year's widely expected 3D Mario title also appears on the list. Many of these claims have since been backed by the better-known Nintendo leaker NatetheHate, who previously reported the Switch 2's reveal date accurately and whose corroboration of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake made headlines earlier this year.
Here's a thinking process:
Malo932's leak bundle covers a remarkably broad swath of Nintendo's presumed pipeline. The headline claims center on an all-new Super Smash Bros — not a deluxe version of Ultimate — and a new Nintendogs, the latter absent since the 3DS era. The leaker also alleges Mario Kart DLC slated for next year that would add Star Fox's Fox McCloud as playable content, a new Star Fox Adventures game, a fresh Wario Land title, and a 2D Metroid. A 3D Mario game for next year rounds out the list, though that particular rumor has circulated widely for months. Centro Leaks compiled the full slate, and the specificity across multiple franchises suggests either a genuine internal document or an exceptionally well-researched fabrication.
The Smash Bros claim carries particular weight because Ultimate's 38 million units represent a ceiling that few fighting games ever approach. A sequel would need to justify its existence beyond roster expansion, and the leaker offers no details on what form that justification might take. The Nintendogs revival is equally puzzling from a commercial standpoint — the series thrived on DS hardware features (touchscreen, microphone) that modern Nintendo platforms handle differently. Neither claim includes platform targeting, leaving open whether these are Switch titles, Switch 2 launch games, or cross-generation releases.
Here's a thinking process:
According to the latest leak, Nintendo appears to be lining up new releases that cover both its current lineup and the forthcoming next‑gen hardware. The proposed Mario Kart DLC featuring Star Fox characters indicates that the studio still plans to back Mario Kart 8 Deluxe through next year, which is consistent with the title’s steady sales. A fresh Star Fox Adventures title would bring the dormant sub‑franchise back; the last appearance was on GameCube. The rumor that a 2‑D Metroid will drop after the critical hit that was Metroid Dread roots it in recent successes. Wario Land didn’t see new titles since the Wii‑era
The simultaneous development of a new Smash Bros and a 3D Mario for similar timeframes would represent an unusually concentrated release of Nintendo's two biggest system-sellers. That density fuels speculation that at least some of these titles target a successor platform rather than the current Switch. NatetheHate's corroboration adds credibility — his track record on Nintendo hardware and software leaks is among the strongest in the space — but even reliable leakers can be fed controlled misinformation or work from outdated plans. Nintendo's history of surprise-driven marketing means the company may accelerate, delay, or cancel projects in response to leaks like these.
Here's a thinking process:
Malo932's credibility rests on a short but perfect streak: correctly calling this week's dual Direct presentations and nailing the trio of Star Fox, Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, and Switch Sports announcements for this year. NatetheHate brings a longer track record, including the accurate Switch 2 reveal date and the Ocarina of Time remake corroboration. Two former Nintendo staff members previously claimed the company would have been "furious" to see Zelda surprises leak over the past six months, underscoring how seriously Nintendo guards its announcement cadence. The console maker relies on controlled reveals as a core marketing pillar, and a leak this comprehensive — if genuine — represents a significant breach.
Nintendo will use this week's Direct broadcasts to lay out plans for the Zelda series' 40th anniversary, with a close look into Ocarina of Time and a peek at the upcoming live-action Zelda movie both widely expected. Whether any of the leaked titles surface in those presentations remains unknown. The company has historically ignored leaks in public while adjusting private timelines, so the absence of a title from this week's shows would not disprove its existence. For now, the only confirmed events are the Directs themselves — everything else sits in the world of credible but unverified rumor.
Readers should watch this week's Nintendo Direct presentations for any official confirmation or denial. The Zelda 40th anniversary focus makes Ocarina of Time remake details the most likely to surface, but Nintendo's surprise-driven approach means anything could appear — or nothing beyond what's already expected. As always, the gap between a credible leak and a confirmed product can span months or years, and plans change.
