GamesFightingSuper Smash BrosSuper Smash Bros creator says the $600k he spent on his YouTube channel was “an investment toward a brighter future for games,” so it’s fine he made no money off itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFightingSuper Smash BrosSuper Smash Bros creator says the $600k he spent on his YouTube channel was “an investment toward a brighter future for games,” so it’s fine he made no money off itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
In his final video, uploaded to the channel earlier today, Sakurai announced that he’d actually filmed almost all of his 260 releases more than two years ago,and had spent much of the time since working on a new game. The final video doesn’t dwell on that new title, however, instead explaining the lengths that Sakurai went to to bringhis video projectto life.
Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games: Finale Special - YouTubeWatch On
Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games: Finale Special - YouTube
Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games: Finale Special - YouTube
Explaining that much of the content was written and originally filmed in a six-month window between projects in 2022, Sakurai explained that for the past two years, he’d been working closely with a video editing firm, as well as a team of translators, to allow for his consistent uploads. Those two expenses, as well as a few extra costs, came to a total of 90 million yen. While he acknowledges that the weakness of the yen currently makes that figure seem bigger than it is, it still amounts to a little under $600,000 with modern conversion rates.
But for all that output, Sakurai hasn’t seen a single yen back from his project, because the entire thing isn’t monetized. It’s hard to get a true sense of how much Sakurai could have made from the videos, but having garnered 80 million views across his Japanese and English language channels, an average YouTube return of $6 per 1,000 views suggests he’d have made back a little under $500,000. With a final video (and any future views) adding to that total, there’s a chance Sakurai could have broken even on the project eventually.
He does joke, twice, that the decision not to monetise the channels was a “silly” one, but he has his reasons for making that decision. “However, and I truly mean this,” he says, “I consider this an investment toward a brighter future for games,” outlining his hopes that players will use his archive of videos to gain a greater appreciation for game design, and developers will use it as inspiration if they’re stuck. “The jury is still out for now,” he admits, “but for the money I put into it, I’d say the channel turned out well enough.”
Super Smash Bros' Masahiro Sakurai says “I’m so sorry” to players who spent “hundreds or even thousands of hours” in his fighting game.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”