Fighting games are funny when it comes to DLC. Whereas shooters and other genres tend to have bundles, fighting game DLC generally entails the release of one fighter at a specific moment, with a spotlight shone on who that fighter is. Case-in-point Mortal Kombat 11 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Both have featured similarly amazing guest fighters, though fan reactions to these characters are vastly different between the two camps. Frankly, the Smash community could learn something from the Mortal Kombat 11 fanbase.
Mortal Kombat 11 has had a pretty nice selection of fighter DLC so far. Its guest fighters, so far, have included Terminator's T-800, Joker, and Spawn, with the likelihood of Ash Williams from Evil Dead showing up. Spaced between them have been returning fighters like Shang Tsung, Sindel, and Nightwolf. And through it all, the Mortal Kombat 11 player base has accepted every fighter with open arms. The guest stars are celebrated, but so are the returning series regulars.
Yet, this enthusiasm has not been followed by the community behind Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ultimate's DLC bizarrely began with the Piranha Plant, followed shortly thereafter by the much-anticipated Joker from Persona 5. From there, we received a narrow variety of characters, including Dragon Quest's The Hero, the highly anticipated Banjo & Kazooie, Fatal Fury's Terry Bogard, and Fire Emblem's Byleth.
Most recently, it was announced that a fighter from ARMS would be joining the battle. This move received a mixed reaction from fans, though most have been underwhelmed. Add that to the rage inspired by the Byleth reveal, and there's a pattern emerging.
This is a shame because Nintendo fans seem to have forgotten that Smash Bros. is first and foremost a Nintendo-made celebration of Nintendo. Players already have the luxury of getting to choose from every character that's ever been featured in the Smash series. We should be gracious to see more Nintendo characters get a chance to shine in the game, much like how Mortal Kombat 11 fans have been more excited than unwelcoming of the returning fighters to Mortal Kombat 11. We can still hold out hope for out-of-left-field picks like Dante or Sora, but when Nintendo throws in one from its properties, there should be more acceptance.
Mortal Kombat 11 players know that every fighter can't be a Terminator, and it's time Nintendo fans remembered this too.