As EVO Online approaches, a new type of event is occurring. The new main games will be ones who have excellent netcode such as Them’s Fightin’ Herds and Killer Instinct. The games meant to be on the main stage will still get some attention online, with one major exception. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will not see any presence at EVO this year, due to having netcode that is extremely lacking. Online matches in Smash are a frustrating affair, and have been ever since online was first introduced in Brawl. Smash uses location based netcode, which does not take into account the quality of one’s connection. In other words, if you are in Chicago, you are more likely to be matched with someone in Chicago who has bad internet connectivity over someone in San Diego with great connectivity.
This cannot be written off as a Nintendo issue though, because Nintendo’s other fighting game Arms uses rollback netplay as the online works extremely well in that game. The difference between the two is that Arms is internally developed, while Smash is developed by Sora and Bandai Namco externally. Bandai Namco typically uses delay based netcode for their fighters, so the use of location based netplay in this collaboration is unusual. Masahiro Sakurai did a great job developing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a game that would appeal to hardcore fighting game fans, and casual fighting game fans, as well as those who do not play fighting games. The netcode however, is an issue that holds Smash back from achieving a higher level of greatness as a competitive game.
It is not too late for the game though, as many developers have been going back to their fighting games and adding in rollback netcode. It has happened with SNK and with Netherrealm Studios. If Nintendo is willing to use rollback netcode when it comes to Arms, then they should take Smash’s removal from Evo as a reason to insist rollback netcode be added to Smash. It would not only help bring players back to Smash who have dropped it already, but would be a way to get even more players to give it a look. The means to do it is there, and Nintendo is obviously not opposed as we see with Arms. Therefore, Sakurai and Bandai Namco need to pull the trigger and redo the online to use rollback netcode. It will also give a head start for the inevitable Smash sequel or port.
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