"Smash Bros Named After Friends' Beef 'Smashing'"

After 25 years since the release of the iconic Nintendo crossover fighting game, we now have the official lore behind the name of Super Smash Bros., thanks to its creator, Masahiro Sakurai.

Masahiro Sakurai Explains Why It's Called Smash Bros

Former Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Had a Hand in Forming Smash Bros

Super Smash Bros. is Nintendo's renowned crossover fighting game that brings together a diverse roster of characters from the company's extensive catalog of iconic games. Despite the title suggesting a familial bond, only a few characters are actual brothers, and some aren't even male. So, what's the story behind the name "Super Smash Bros."? While Nintendo hadn't previously provided an official explanation, Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has recently shed light on the origin of the game's name.

In a recent episode of his YouTube video series, Sakurai revealed that the name "Smash Bros" stems from the idea of the game being a platform for "friends who were settling little disagreements." He also credited the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, for playing a key role in shaping the title.

"Mr. Iwata also contributed to the naming of Super Smash Bros. Our team brainstormed a variety of potential names and words," Sakurai explained in his video. They then convened a meeting with Shigesato Itoi, the creator of the Mother/Earthbound series, to finalize the title. Sakurai further elaborated, "Mr. Iwata was the one who chose the 'brothers' part. His reasoning was that, although the characters weren't brothers, using the word 'brothers' conveyed the nuance that they weren't just fighting—they were friends resolving minor disputes!"

Beyond the lore of Smash Bros., Sakurai reminisced about his first encounter with Iwata and shared other cherished memories of the former Nintendo president. Sakurai highlighted how Iwata personally assisted with programming the code for the initial Super Smash Bros. prototype, originally known as Dragon King: The Fighting Game, for the Nintendo 64.