When it comes to the fate of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, it is likely to create a new game for the Nintendo Switch 2. With that possibility in mind, fans often speculate what the next entry can do to be considered much better than all previous installments, especially Ultimate.
While many would say something like more third-party characters or a story mode that enhances what Brawl's Subspace Emmisary established, I believe there's another thing the next game can do that will improve the overall experience: provide a proper online rank system.
Super Smash Bros. was intended to cater to casual players, but fans realized that it had the potential to become something more serious and go beyond being a series of party games. This was eventually proven true, as every entry had unique qualities that allowed for spectacular one-versus-one or two-versus-two matches without any item-related gimmicks, resulting in many asking for modes that the competitive side can better appreciate.
Although mostly against the idea of Super Smash Bros. having any semblance of a competitive scene, Nintendo eventually understood that the fans who belong to it must be satisfied as well, which is why Ultimate had its own take on a competitive online matchmaking mode via Elite Smash.
The mode involves choosing any character, each with its own Global Smash Power (GSP), which can be raised through achieving victories. Players are matched against others who have the same GSP average, and the more one wins, the higher that number goes. Reaching a certain GSP threshold with a particular character means granting it the Elite Smash status, ensuring that opponents found with it are only among some of the best of the best, allowing for a unique rank system.
The mode certainly did its job in providing an online option that the competitive side of Smash players could care about. However, the problem was that it didn't do it well enough. As soon as someone reaches the GSP number threshold, which tells them they're part of the group of high-caliber players, there really isn't an incentive to push forward further. While you could work towards getting every character the Elite Smash status, doing so feels more like a chore.
If the next Super Smash Bros. game plans on having an online ranked system, which it should, then it needs to do something that makes players want to care about it. One of the best options is to remove the GSP concept entirely and follow how other fighting games handle their rank systems: by providing tier leagues and divisions.
Moving to the top of the ladder and achieving different titles while doing so provides a better incentive to play an online competitive mode, as such a system acts as a better skill indicator compared to relying solely on numbers. Also, since losing now has consequences due to potential demotions, people will likely play more to improve and prevent that, ensuring the game can remain relevant for a long time.
Another good reason to stray from GSP and adopt a more traditional rank system is that it allows people to know who the best players are with ease. By learning who they are and showcasing their prowess via posts or videos, it can go a long way in promoting the competitive aspect and the game in general, which can essentially be a huge win for the franchise and its fans.
So, if there's one thing that the next Super Smash Bros. can do to make it more popular than its predecessors, it's by giving fans a better online ranked system. If it happens, it may very well lead to entries that the fanbase could have only dreamed of, which should be a good enough incentive for Nintendo to make it a reality.
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