Masahiro Sakurai, director of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, has shared with us an unfortunate piece of news after the conclusion of today’s Direct.

Incineroar, which was revealed as the final playable fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, was voiced by the Japanese voice actor Unshō Ishizuka, who passed away in August. Ishizuka is best known as the voice of Professor Oak in the Pokemon anime. This is very likely to be Ishizuka’s last job before he passed away. Sakurai asks his fans to pray for his soul.

ちょっと湿っぽい話ですが…
このムービーでリングに乱入するファイターの声は、オーキド博士を演じられていた、石塚運昇さんです｡『スマブラ』用の新録をしていますが、今年8月に亡くなられました。改めて､ご冥福をお祈りします｡https://t.co/dh7lgGZTBQ https://t.co/xFdthSvvo9

— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) November 1, 2018

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