Nintendo Is Removing Native American Imagery From Smash

There's a whole lot of hype surrounding the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch, but that excitement hit a snag recently when players discovered that a character in the game used Native American imagery that many found offensive. Fortunately, that imagery won't last in the final product.

In a statement made to Eurogamer, Nintendo vowed to make changes to the Mr. Game & Watch character, which uses character sprites based on Native Americans from the game Fire Attack.

"Nintendo has been planning to distribute an update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that removes the feather from the silhouette of Mr. Game & Watch," Nintendo told Eurogamer. "The original game on which this depiction of the character is based was released more than three decades ago and does not represent our company values today."

From the sounds of it, the update Nintendo speaks of might be a patch, which means the Native American character in question could still be a part of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's retail release. If that's the case, it'll be interesting to see how quickly Nintendo is able to push the update out to players.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be Nintendo's biggest Smash game yet, packing 75 characters into a roster that will also be supplemented with DLC next year. In a recent Direct, Nintendo revealed the final two fighters that would be joining the main roster: Ken from Street Fighter and Incineroar from Pokemon Sun and Moon. Piranha Plant will also be available to those who purchase the title and it on My Nintendo before Jan. 31, 2019.

The five planned DLC packs for Smash will cost $5.99 apiece. A Fighters Pass, which will include all DLC releases, will also be available for $24.99.

Players can look forward to picking up Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — and hopefully, the patch to remove the offensive Mr. Game & Watch art — on Dec. 7.