Nintendo Developing New Smash Bros, Nintendogs, Mario Kart DLC With Star Fox, Leaker Claims

Nintendo fans have spent the better part of a year dissecting every patent filing, job posting, and cryptic tweet for hints about what the company has planned for its next hardware cycle. The rumor mill has been particularly active lately, with speculation ranging from a new 3D Mario platformer to a redesigned Switch Pro. Now, a prominent leaker has added three more intriguing projects to the pile: a brand-new Super Smash Bros. title, a revival of the beloved Nintendogs franchise, and Mario Kart DLC that would bring the Star Fox universe into the racing fold. While all unverified claims deserve a healthy dose of skepticism, the specificity of these rumors makes them worth examining.

The Leaker and Their Track Record

The claims originate from a well-known figure in the Nintendo data-mining and leak community who has operated under various pseudonyms across social media platforms over the past several years. Their identity remains anonymous, a common practice in this space, given that Nintendo has historically pursued legal action against those who leak its internal information. Their history is a mixed bag, which is typical for the field. They correctly predicted several elements of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC roadmap and accurately identified upcoming Nintendo Online retro library additions before official announcements. However, they have also swung and missed on multiple occasions, including confidently asserting a Metroid Prime remaster would launch in 2022 (it arrived a year later) and forecasting a Zelda spin-off that never materialized.

Within the broader ecosystem of Nintendo insiders, this leaker sits in the mid-tier of credibility. They lack the institutional connections of established industry analysts, but their technical background in datamining gives them access to certain types of information that others miss. The current claims have not yet been independently corroborated by other prominent insiders, which is worth noting. In the past, when major Nintendo projects leaked accurately, multiple sources tended to converge on the same information within weeks. That convergence has not happened here, so the claims remain isolated for now.

A New Super Smash Bros.: What Could It Look Like?

The most significant claim is that a new Super Smash Bros. title is in active development for Nintendo's next-generation console. This would mark the first mainline entry since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate shipped in 2018, and only the second Smash game to skip the handheld/console split that defined earlier generations.

The question on every competitive player's mind is whether this will be a soft reboot or a continuation of Ultimate's "Everyone Is Here" philosophy. Ultimate's roster of 89 fighters was a logistical triumph and a licensing nightmare, requiring negotiations with third-party rights holders ranging from Square Enix to Microsoft. A new entry could go one of two ways: trim the roster to focus on Nintendo's first-party icons while building new mechanics, or attempt to expand an already massive lineup further.

Industry observers expect several technical improvements regardless of roster direction. Rollback netcode, conspicuously absent from Ultimate's online infrastructure, would likely be a priority for the competitive scene. As one prominent Super Smash Bros. tournament organizer noted in a recent interview, "The community has been asking for proper online play since Smash 4. If Nintendo wants the next game to be taken seriously as an esport, rollback isn't optional, it's essential." New hardware would also enable more ambitious stage interactions and potentially a proper story mode, an area where Ultimate's World of Light came up short for many players. Given that Nintendo's next console is expected to launch alongside a flagship multiplayer title, a new Smash would be a natural anchor for the system's online ecosystem.

Nintendogs Returns: A Surprising Comeback

Perhaps the most unexpected claim is that Nintendogs is being revived for modern hardware. The franchise was a phenomenon on the Nintendo DS, selling over 24 million copies across its various editions and serving as a gateway for countless casual players who never touched another game. Its appeal was straightforward: raising a virtual puppy through voice commands, grooming mini-games, and daily walks using the system's touch screen and microphone.

The franchise has been dormant since 2011's Nintendogs + Cats on the 3DS, which sold respectably but failed to recapture the cultural moment of its predecessor. A revival would seem to contradict Nintendo's current focus on core audiences, but it actually aligns with the company's recent strategy of diversifying its portfolio. The Switch has hosted everything from hardcore RPGs to fitness games, and Nintendo has shown it is willing to mine its back catalog for unexpected revivals.

Modern hardware would open up significant possibilities for a new Nintendogs. AR capabilities could let puppies interact with real-world environments through the console's camera. Online connectivity would enable pet sharing and competitive dog shows. Voice recognition has improved dramatically since the DS era, allowing for more natural commands. The casual appeal of the franchise also fits neatly into the hybrid console's portability, which was the original game's secret weapon.

Mario Kart DLC Featuring Star Fox: An Unexpected Crossover

The third claim involves Mario Kart receiving DLC content based on the Star Fox universe. This is the most curious of the three projects because it represents a crossover that Nintendo has never attempted within its own IP ecosystem in quite this way. While Mario Kart has featured characters from other franchises as guest racers in recent entries, those have been limited to properties like The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon. Pulling from the Star Fox universe is notable because it draws from a franchise that has struggled to maintain relevance in recent years, a series that has not seen a mainline release since 2016's Star Fox Zero, which received a lukewarm reception.

What form would this content take? The most likely scenario involves a new cup featuring courses inspired by iconic Star Fox locations like Corneria and Venom, complete with vehicles that swap karts for Arwings and Wolfens on certain track sections. Characters such as Fox McCloud and Falco Lombardi could join the roster as playable racers, potentially alongside the series' signature vehicles as alternative karts. The juxtaposition of Mario's whimsical racing world with Star Fox's militaristic sci-fi aesthetic would be a jarring but potentially compelling mashup, one that signals Nintendo's willingness to take creative risks with its most commercially reliable franchise.

The timing is interesting. If this DLC is intended for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it would represent a continuation of the game's surprisingly robust post-launch support. The Booster Course Pass has already added 48 tracks across six waves, and Nintendo has shown no signs of slowing down. Alternatively, this could be content planned for a next-generation Mario Kart title, which would make sense as a launch-window draw for fans of both franchises.

What This Means for Nintendo's Roadmap

Taken together, these three projects paint a picture of a company preparing for a generational transition with a portfolio designed to appeal to every segment of its audience. A new Smash Bros. targets the competitive and hardcore crowd that drives console adoption. Nintendogs reaches back to the casual audience that expanded gaming's demographic reach in the mid-2000s. And a Star Fox crossover in Mario Kart would reward longtime fans with the kind of unexpected mashup Nintendo has built its reputation on.

The timing also suggests these projects could be positioned around a new console launch. Nintendo has confirmed it will announce its next-generation hardware by March 2025, and a lineup featuring a flagship fighting game, a family-friendly pet simulator, and expanded content for its best-selling racing franchise would cover the bases for a successful launch window. There are also risks to consider: if these rumors prove false, Nintendo faces backlash from a community that has grown weary of unfulfilled speculation, and the company's reputation for secrecy could compound fan frustration.

What to Watch For

For readers wondering how to gauge the validity of these claims, several concrete signals could emerge in the coming months. Trademark filings for new Smash Bros. or Nintendogs branding would be an early indicator, as would job postings from Nintendo's internal studios seeking staff with experience in fighting games or family-oriented simulation titles. Industry event announcements, particularly Nintendo Direct presentations scheduled around the next console's reveal, would provide the most authoritative confirmation. Until any of these materialize, the claims should be treated as unverified but plausible speculation.

Of course, none of this is confirmed. Nintendo is famously tight-lipped about its development pipeline, and the company has a history of canceling projects that never see the light of day. The leaker's claims could easily be misinterpreted internal chatter or outright fabrication. But in an industry where rumors are often the only insight fans get into what their favorite developers are working on, the speculation itself carries value.

Whether it is a new Smash Bros. anchoring a console launch, a nostalgic Nintendogs revival introducing virtual pets to a new generation, or a quirky Star Fox crossover expanding the Mario Kart universe, these projects would all underscore Nintendo's willingness to surprise. Until the company makes an official announcement, the smart play is cautious optimism. For a community that thrives on possibility, that anticipation is part of the experience.