Throughout the course of development for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS series creator Masahiro Sakurai highlighted the demands of producing the titles. With ever-increasing modes and a growing roster, Sakurai-san often used his Famitsu Weekly article to emphasize the impact of development on his personal life, discussing long hours and medical issues resulting from his work.

In his most recent article for the magazine Sakurai-san has re-emphasized - perhaps in the most forthright terms yet - that he may step away from the franchise, and also game development as a whole. Below are the translated quotes in response to a reader question (via Kotaku):

Reader: Hello, Mr. Sakurai. It sounds like development of Smash Bros. was really, really hard. Reading your column sent shivers up my spine. I've never seen you so worn out. It made me appreciate the new Smash Bros. more than ever.

Sakurai-san: It was very tough this time around... I doubt I'll be able to go on making games if it continues like this. But, I consider myself lucky that so many people seem to enjoy [Smash Bros.]

Read more at NintendoLife

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Considering the amount of times he's spoken out about how Smash has affected his health, this may be a very real possibility. Would be shame if true, as I'm not sure who else would take the lead should he retire. Hopefully he recovers though, and makes the decision he feels is best for his own well-being and happiness.

If this does happen though, any ideas what Nintendo might do with the series?

Darn, would be a shame but understandable! SSB is one of my favorite series and Sakurai really knows how to make excellent games like that. There hasn't been a SSB that I havn't liked and its all thanks to Sakurai and his fap worthy decisions. I hope he doesn't quit but I do understand that all good things must come to an end (even though I am pretty sure Nintendo will continue it since its so profitable)

If he does, I hope he spend quality time learning how to play his own games, because damn, he's bad at Smash xD

He's' not a robot. He has a life too. I hope he does whatever makes him content with life

I hope he goes then. All I ever hear from him is whining. He hardly has anything positive to say about his games or fans. Just whining how he wishes he would stop making SSB games and games in general. I felt that Sm4sh was rushed in terms of content and stages. His attitude further makes me think this.

Point is, he has done his part for the Smash series. Now it's time for a new director who won't loathe every minute of the development process but instead enjoys doing it.

From my favorite video game developer, i hope he gets the break he needs. Its a loss for amazing games, but he's done enough and work extremely hard!!!

Smaller titles would probably be better for him, all things considered.

I'm not sure if people have seen this here or who follows game theory but this episode is pretty damn spot on about Sakurai's thoughts and the game's secret "lore." Again, it's a theory but it makes tons of sense seeing this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_2OPd25FOw

I am wondering if this is an indication of the pressure Nintendo is putting on its internal development teams to try and turn out games faster?

It's amazingly spot on. This video is the first thing I taught of when I saw the thread title.