It's Here: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 3.0 Update Arrives Today, Introducing Joker, Stage Builder, & More

Nintendo has announced the details and release date for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 3.0 update. It launches today, April 17th, and features a lot of new content. Joker has arrived, as well as new Mii costumes, the heavily rumored Stage Builder mode, and a couple of other things. You can check out the announcement video below for more details.

We finally have more information on Joker. He utilizes a knife for close combat. He also has a gun, which looks similar to Bayonetta's projectiles. Upon reaching full Rebellion Gauge, Joker can summon his Persona, amplifying his abilities. Morgana appears in a taunt, and Joker's Final Smash features the Phantom Thieves.

All in all, it seems like Nintendo has faithfully transferred Joker from Persona 5 into the realm of Smash Bros. The Joker Challenger Pack can be purchased for $5.99. You can also purchase the Fighter Pass for $24.99, which grants access to Joker and the other DLC fighters as they become available.

Joker comes with a brand new stage: Mementos. The background faithfully recreates Persona's unique art style. As for the platform itself, it appears pretty standard. However, the stage hazards (such as the Morgana Car) change things up. Interestingly, the color palette of the stage changes depending on the music. Speaking of music, there are 11 Persona tracks, including arrangements. Not only is Persona 5 represented in the soundtrack, but the third and fourth games are as well. Persona fans should be pleased with the amount of content that has arrived with Joker.

There are also six new Mii Costumes, mostly Persona-related. However, Mii costumes based on Knuckles and Tails from the Sonic the Hedgehog series are available as well. They are not part of the Fighter Pass, though. Instead, they cost $.75 each, bringing the total to $4.50.

Arguably, the most awaited aspect of the update aside from Joker is Stage Builder. Nintendo accidentally revealed Stage Builder in a recent advert. Now, we have an official look, and the mode appears very comprehensive.

Like in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, you can manually draw the platforms. You can also create moving platforms, as well as spinning platforms. Some objects were revealed, including the return of ladders. There are also new hazards, such as a Warp Zone and a Bomb Block. Also, there are different layers in the creating process, which allow players to add extra details to the stages.

Nintendo showcased some fantastic stage creations, such as a remake of the curtain lifting in Super Mario Bros. 3 and a maze within a Nintendo Switch console. You can share stages with others online. Clearly, Stage Builder has returned in the biggest way possible.

Finally, we have Video Editor and Smash World. As expected from the title, Video Editor allows users to splice together videos saved on the Switch. You can edit them with subtitles, transitions, etc. This should be a useful tool for creating those epic KO montages, and, like Stage Builder, you will be able to share these created videos online.

Smash World is a new feature for the Nintendo Switch mobile app. If you have the app on your mobile device, you can view other players' stages and videos without having to turn on the Switch. If you like a stage, you can add it to the queue and the level will be ready to download when you later turn on Smash.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 3.0 update is available today.