Nintendo Drops Free Smash Bros. Update, Includes 'Small Battlefield'

Nintendo released a surprise update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The version 8.1.0 update includes a free new stage, Small Battlefield. As the name suggests, Small Battlefield takes on the same look as Battlefield, a staple stage in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. However, instead of the classic tri-platform look, Small Battlefield ditches the top platform to give the stage a fresh look.

A Super #SmashBrosUltimate update, Ver. 8.1.0, is available now! This update includes a new stage, Small Battlefield. Plus, you’ll now be able to select from all music tracks when playing on Final Destination and Battlefield stages! pic.twitter.com/eqo3Hu7Ije

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 5, 2020

The update also comes with a redesign for the stage selection screen. Nintendo has added new icons for random Battlefield and random Final Destination matches. Players can also choose any song they want from any series on Battlefield, Big and Small Battlefield, and Final Destination. Take a look at some images from the new stage and redesigned menu: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=super-smash-bros-ultimate-small-battlefield-screenshots&captions=true"] This update also tweaks the online experience in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Elite Smash, a mode you can only access with a high Global Smash Power score, has been adjusted to allow more players into the game type. The update also fixed issues with gameplay. The last update for Smash Ultimate was released on June 29, when Min Min from Arms joined the fight as the first DLC character from Fighters Pass 2. We do not yet know the next fighter planned for the pass. For more, read about when you can expect the next Smash Bros. amiibo to hit store shelves. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/30/super-smash-bros-ultimate-9-minutes-of-min-min-online-gameplay"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.