The release date for the next DLC fighter in Final Fantasy 7 will arrive in the game today, but only if players can beat him in a challenge. The people who can't beat the Sephiroth Challenge will have to wait until December 23.

Minecraft was coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Sephiroth was a huge surprise, considering that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate already has a Final Fantasy 7 character, as well as another fighter from a Square Enix franchise, in the form of Hero from Dragon Quest.

Related: Will Safer Sephiroth Be A Boss In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Masahiro Sakurai hosted a 35-minute long presentation about Sephiroth, where it was announced that he will be released on December 23. However, there is another way to claim Sephiroth, as a limited-time event is being held in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that will allow players to earn him early. Those who can defeat the Sephiroth Challenge between December 17 and December 22 can unlock Sephiroth and his stage early. The Sephiroth Challenge can only be accessed by people who purchase him or who own the second Fighter's . Sakurai's announcement of the Sephiroth Challenge can be seen in a video on the official Nintendo YouTube channel.

 

The Sephiroth Challenge involves defeating Sephiroth on the new Northern Crater stage. The player will have a choice of three difficulty modes when facing Sephiroth, including Easy, Normal, and Very Hard. Sakurai explained that the reason why Sephiroth is getting such special treatment is that he is a boss character, and one of the most iconic video game villains of all time. Sephiroth's Classic Mode is a boss rush mode, where he takes on the likes of Rathalos and the Ganon end boss battle from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This gives him a chance to prove that he is the best villain in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. 

The concept of the Sephiroth Challenge is an incredible idea and it will give fans across the world a chance to test their skills against an awesome-looking fighter. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn't Sephiroth's first appearance as a fighting game character, but it's shaping up to be his most memorable.

Next: SSBU: What Sephiroth's Moveset Will Be Like In Smash Bros.

Sephiroth is coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on December 17 as part of the Sephiroth Challenge event, and he'll be available to all players on December 23, 2020.

Source: Nintendo