A Smash Ultimate rollback netcode mod is in development, working on improving online play for Nintendo's flagship fighting game -- but only on modded consoles and emulators.
Development of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is effectively at an end. Nintendo revealed the final DLC fighter late last year and followed it up with the game's final major update a few weeks later. Unfortunately, one feature that wasn't included in this final update was rollback netcode. Now, a modder is making this feature a reality.
As promised, more details on the current improvement on the Rollback mod for smash Ultimate.
— DShad (@DShad66) March 12, 2022
Watch the video first (sorry in advance for my english 🤣) and read below for a summarized info. pic.twitter.com/CIxCSsrBL7
Smash Ultimate Rollback Netcode Mod Looks Promising
The Smash Ultimate rollback netcode mode was created by Dshad (as highlighted on Reddit), a software engineer who is apparently an enthusiast for rollback netcode. Dshad, however, has taken things a step beyond enthusiasm by actually working to bring the online gameplay feature to games that don't usually have it.
A video uploaded to Twitter by Dshad shows what he claims is a "technical proof of concept" for the Smash Ultimate rollback netcode mod. According to him, the test was done over the Internet and not through his local network. Furthermore, this mod should effectively be cross-platform.
Nintendo had apparently considered bringing rollback netcode to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but it ultimately decided against implementing the feature due to "substantial" side effects. There's always the chance that the feature is added on at a later date, however -- one such example is SNK adding rollback netcode to The King of Fighters '98 last year.
While this looks very promising, Dshad cautions players to keep their expectations "moderate." The Smash Ultimate rollback netcode mod is still in development and he isn't entirely certain if it will work as intended. For now, all we can do is hope that this mod gets the job done -- perhaps it will serve as an example for fighting game developers to follow.